The Kyrie included an impassioned crescendo to the line ‘Christe eleison’ (Christ have mercy). This was followed by a variation on the normal words of the confession, including the words ‘we have wounded your love and marred your image in us’, poignant indeed given current world events. The readings were followed by the traditional Commemoration of the Faithful Departed, including many names familiar to members of the congregation. After the Peace, the choir sang the powerful Domine Jesu Christe, starting with a sombre and lugubrious introduction from the organ, moving to a forte anguished entreaty from the full choir that the souls of the faithful departed be delivered from the pains of hell! This was followed by a beautiful baritone solo, starting quiet and cowering before soaring to forte asking God to receive our sacrifices and prayers.

The Sanctus started with the Quiristers and the Altos resembling a reverie of angels praising God, followed by a huge crescendo from the full choir with the words ‘Hosanna in excelsis’. The Pie Jesu was a beautiful trio of solo Alto, cello and organ, fusing and separating, concluding with the Alto and organ holding the final note while the cello eventually joined them.

The Lux aeterna included a serene passage with the Quiristers taking the tune while the other voices accompanied them with long, wordless notes. After the Communion came the Libera Me with the haunting final line ‘Libera me, Domine, de morte aeterna’ beautifully sung by the tenors. The final movement was the In paradisum, again starting with the Quiristers before concluding with a mysterious chord which left one feeling we’d reached resolution, but perhaps this was not the end – fitting for the whole theme of this wonderful service.

Henry Barda
Quirister parent