Our focus for the day was going to Evensong at St. Thomas on Fifth Avenue. However, in the morning we enjoyed going to the church we belonged to for 50 years. We sang the anthem with the choir and went down to sit in the congregation for the rest of the service.
Friend Ruth left church with us, and we drove to Manhattan from Long Island. As John wove through city streets, he directed daughter Kate uptown via phone as she came from New Jersey. How he could do that is totally beyond me. We pulled into the parking garage closest to St. Thomas, and Kate was right behind us. We hurried to the church, knowing there would be a crowd. The boys and choral scholars of Kings College Cambridge were singing evensong with the St. Thomas choir of men and boys. It was going to be a fantastic worship treat.
The choirs rehearsed an hour before the service began. In the photo below, Daniel Hyde was directing the double choir. He stood out wherever he was, because he is 6’10” tall. Mr. Hyde is the current director of the St. Thomas choir.
We were interested in seeing Stephen Cleobury, who has directed the English choir since 1982. He is retiring, and Daniel Hyde will be taking his place. I zoomed in on the man as he sat listening to the choirs. Both of the men are world-class musicians, at the highest peak of liturgical church music.
If you’d like to hear this service, go to www.saintthomaschurch.org. Click on “Calendar”, click March 31, 2019 and scroll down to Festal Evensong. I know you won’t be able to pick out our voices, but we four were singing all the congregational hymns. The bishop who was preaching lost the screen that had his sermon. He controlled his panic and soon has the words in front of him again. David and I listened to the broadcast and found they edited out this painful interlude.
We went to a classic New York diner in Queens for a light meal. John chose it because it was near the best road for Kate to use to go home. After eating, he talked her through the route as he drove in the opposite direction.
Mehrling Muse 
What an entertaining evening and then rounded off nicely by something at a diner. Why would one choir be named the English choir. Is there a different style of singing in that choir?
xxx Massive Hugs xxx
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The two choirs sound similar. Both directors are from England. St. Thomas is in Manhattan, and Kings, of course, comes from Cambridge, England. We went to evensong at Kings once when we lived in England.
xxx Kingly Hugs xxx
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What an amazing church! Yes, I have to hear it now after seeing what the church looks like!
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There is nothing else in the world like a good choir in a big stone church.
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Thank you for sharing 😊
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You are brave soles venturing into the heart of Manhatten in a vehicle. There are not many sane folks who would do so. Last week on the way back from CT via 9W to GW bridge, making good time I might add, things came to an abrupt halt as I circled upward to cross over into NJ. Two cars ahead of me, all traffic was blocked as a large flatbed truck with traffic cones, workers atop and on a rear platform began putting the cones out blocking the right lane. They were followed by a flashing NYPD vehicle to protect them. It was all of a 25 minutes trip behind this parade leading group to the NY/NJ Line atop the GW. Isn’t there a saying somewhere, “I love NY”, NOT! Shall listen to the music later today. I’m enjoying your trip.
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New York is John’s hometown, so that should explain a lot. Your trip would not have been complete without some awful stoppage.
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Cant wait to listen. These big old church buildings just were made for chiors.
John could have bee an air traffic controller.
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John can do several things at once. I’m surprised I can walk and breathe at the same time.
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You had a full agenda while you were gone!
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John always has a tight schedule. We can still breathe.
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He is very flexible … I don’t know how he gets all those trips under his belt in short turnaround time … I’d be exhausted!
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He drove the round trip to NY nine times last year. He is not likely to break that record, since the boys are down South now.
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Yes, I remember you saying he picked them up and took them back several times and you had a wedding too I think … I don’t know how he does it!
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John has amazing stamina. I can get worn out just thinking of doing things.
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I can too – as a matter of fact I am ready to go to bed now – I am caught up on comments/Reader and e-mail, so doing to seize the opportunity to go to bed early … I wish I had John’s stamina!
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I have to go to bed now, too. It will take days to catch up with the Reader.
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I went early as I know today would be a long day — Robb is still in negotiations and three days next week. I had a lot of accounting stuff to do – got behind as we’ve been so busy. We never get the invoices out as late as the 5th of the month, unless 4th of July weekend fell over a weekend. I didn’t want my eyes running together from lack of sleep. You miss Reader one day, you are behind – two days and you’re sunk. You’ll be similarly bleary eyed!
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I might be able to catch up tomorrow.
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That’s promising – I thought it would take you longer.
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John was gone, so I didn’t talk a lot.
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Great account of an eventful day. In the Music World, there are many, all of the talent, and few without experiences. One day I must account for my experiences as I have little talent.
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