Chapel Choir tours Belgium for concerts and commemoration
Over the first weekend of half term, the Chapel Choir travelled to Belgium for a short but memorable tour, combining music-making with acts of remembrance and cultural exploration.
On Saturday 14 February, the choir began with a visit to Tyne Cot Cemetery, designed by Old Tonbridgian Sir Herbert Baker, before spending the day in Ypres. In the afternoon, they performed a concert at St George’s Memorial Church to a warm and appreciative audience. Later that evening, the choir took part in the renowned Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate, singing to an audience of more than 500 people. This daily act of remembrance, which has taken place for almost a century, features selected choirs who sing while wreaths are laid at the memorial. The choir performed “View me, Lord” by Richard Lloyd and “We shall keep the faith” by Choirmaster Julian Thomas, a setting of words by Moina Michael that pays tribute to those who died in Flanders Fields.
The following day, the choir travelled to Brussels to give a concert in the magnificent Gothic surroundings of Brussels Cathedral. Situated in the heart of the city, the cathedral’s generous acoustic provided an inspiring setting for the performance, attracting a large audience of concertgoers as well as many tourists who paused to listen throughout the recital. The programme showcased a broad range of Anglican choral music, with highlights including Bairstow’s “Let all mortal flesh keep silence”, Wesley’s “Wash me throughly” and Wood’s “O Thou the central orb”.
Reflecting on the tour, Choirmaster Julian Thomas said: “These overseas trips are such an important part of the life of the Choir. The opportunity for the boys to spend several days together socially really boosts their sense of togetherness and this undoubtedly helps their music-making too. The two concert venues were lovely to sing in but completely contrasting in size and acoustic, and this ability to adapt in the moment is a key skill for musicians to learn, the boys did fantastically well, adjusting very quickly. For many of us, the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate was a real highlight because it is a totally unique experience.”
Alongside their musical commitments, the choir also enjoyed time exploring Ghent, Ypres and Bruges, making the most of the cultural opportunities on offer and, by all accounts, ensuring that the local chocolate shops did particularly good business during their visit.
