MEMBERS of Truro Cathedral’s choir were pleased to be stranded on the Isles of Scilly, where they were performing last week, after the boat that was due to return them to the mainland developed a fault.
James Anderson-Besant, the Master of the Choristers and organist at Truro Cathedral, who has toured the world working in cathedral music, told the Church Times that the trip ended up being “my very favourite”.
A faulty engine last Friday left about 20 young people, aged between eight and 13, six school staff, and 12 adult singers with a weekend to fill. The party returned to Truro on Monday.
The choir was performing at St Nicholas’s, Tresco, and, while there, “news reached us that the Scillonian III had developed a fault and we would not be able to return to the mainland”, a social-media post from the choir said.
The post described the choir’s unexpected adventure from the beginning: “We woke up bright and early, had breakfast and a short chorister rehearsal, before heading out on our boat to Tresco. When we arrived, we rehearsed in the wonderful St Nicholas’ Church, before giving a short concert there . . . to a large and appreciative audience. We were then provided with lunch at the community centre, and let off some steam with some football. . .
“We are so very very grateful to our wonderful hosts on St Mary’s who have gone the extra mile to facilitate our extended stay. . .
“We walked around Tresco’s stunning scenery before returning to St Mary’s, where we rehearsed for our big concert there. . . A few choir members down, our back row were unexpectedly covering other voice parts, and we were even able to enlist the help of Harley, a lay clerk at Ely Cathedral, who is here on holiday.”
After enjoying fish and chips, the choir performed their concert, which included music by Vaughan Williams, Hadley, Stanford, Parsons, Wesley, and “particularly memorable” renditions of Tallis’s Salvator Mundi and Allegri’s Miserere.
“There were also moments of choristers having to cover others’ solos at very short notice due to illness, and those who were feeling tired digging deep and giving their all,” the choir’s social-media post said. “The church was packed with a very supportive audience, and we now look forward to joining to sing for their Sunday service as well. . .
“We are so lucky to have an amazing team of school and choir staff who have gone the extra mile to sort things.”
Mr Anderson-Besant said: “It was a surreal yet wonderful experience to have the opportunity to have our trip extended, even though it wasn’t our choice. The generosity of the islanders, and the dedication of staff, was extraordinary to see.”
He continued: “I’ve never known a group of children as choristers who are as much like an extended family, and are such perfect representatives of the chorister tradition in this country. Working with them is never a chore and a great privilege.”
Truro Cathedral Choir enjoys an unbroken tradition dating back to the 1880s.
