The choirs began by singing four highlights from Benjamin Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols, including favourites such as Deo Gratias and This Little Babe, which both sing every year. Following this, the visitors to our workshop, albeit a little shy, stepped onto the platform to sing the hymn All praise to thee, my God, this night, with the words written by Thomas Ken, chaplain at Winchester College from 1669-1679.

The hymn’s tune, Tallis’s Canon, of course, must be sung in rounds, so the combined choir split into four groups, each setting off at staggered intervals, and revealing the rich polyphonic texture of the melody.

After a short break, the second half of the workshop consisted of learning new songs and playing choral games.

In the first portion Director of Music, Mr Russell du Plessis taught some pieces with tunes recognisable to those who had spent time at Pilgrims’ during their Pre-Prep days (such as Have you ever been to Quebec?) Afterwards, Mr Joshua Stephens introduced additional material such as Psalm 23, along with a selection of games, most notably ‘Tony Chestnut’, which both the singers and visitors responded to enthusiastically (despite its challenges).

The afternoon’s fun concluded with a mini‑concert, showcasing some of the songs the group had learned.

Thank you to everyone who attended for a most enjoyable afternoon.

Will W
Y8 Quirister