It has been another good long while since I've posted. Again. I've been busy, come on! Also my computer is very ill beast indeed, I'm quite lucky it's working enough to maintain a stable connection.
So, you know the tagline at the top. Although perhaps I won't rant. We'll go in reverse order though, just to keep the excitement ramping up!
Standing at Can Alto 1 might well ensure that I am the closest Choral Scholar to the Master, but is far away from the poor end of the stall. In fact, quite the opposite.
Just last week I was finally allowed to assume the role of John the Baptist in Orlando Gibbons' most famous verse anthem, This is the Record of John. I've only been singing Countertenor for 7 years, but after all that time I've done the most important solo to me in a Cathedral evensong. Some things are just too important to miss doing, and there's one. Perhaps it seems strange that for me, especially as a high Countertenor known for laying on recitals of American art songs, should put so much into this one verse anthem, but seeing as that solo was basically the reason I wanted to become a Cathedral Alto, I think I can be allowed to make a fuss about it. The upshot is that I was allowed, indeed awarded the chance to perfom this mighty item, which I gave my best shot even though I panicked ridiculously when we got to the service. Consequently I am on the whole less than happy, but through constant, positive reinforcement am slowly coming round to the idea that actually I did a really good job.
Other than that great and personal triumph, I have been doing pretty well, caning out hymns (because some things will never change) and generally giving as much oomph as I can, because...some other things never change either! Importantly, I do not recieve complaints from the director, which as I always say, is a welcome change from my last appointment.
I haven't done much in the way of Organ playing though sadly, I am accordingly becoming a little rusty. Speaking of rust though, the damp climate down here is an absolute killer! My joints are no longer friends with me accordingly, but at least it's alot better than last year's embarrassment of incapacitation. While I may have a hefty limp again, at least I can still walk. The damp in the Scholary is at quite a low level, thanks to having an effetive central heating system (thank God...) at the least. The constant drizzle means that laundry can be quite difficult to sort out, seeing as my room is so ill-organised that there is nary enough room to stand a clothes horse in here... There is so much chaos in here that it is in constant danger of tipping the balance but I have it just under control. I must do a large-scale white was though soon!
My life outside of my scholarship is somewhat looking up though. I'll be taking up a full time job from the 5th of January at Truro School, as the Music department Administrator, on a temporary contract for the whole of the Lent term for starters, and then with the possibility of renewal for Trinity, and perhaps even full time! This is very exciting. I have been working in the Cathedral office since October, filling in for the lunch hour on the phones and passing messages on and being a general dogsbody, you know that sort of thing. I have cut out several hundred church windows and stars for the Education Officer in order to fulfil the needs of various School visits, and also led a visit all by myself with children who have profound learning difficulties. I was shit scared about doing that all on my own but came through and even scored some major points through the use of my signing. Knowing a little bit of BSL can be helpful, especially seeing as the teachers spoke with the children in Maketon. While I may well be happy with working there, I could really do with more to do and of course, some more money would be very helpful...
Of course, had I said that answering the telephone to random callers would terrify me (which of course it does), I would never have got a job in the office, and would therefore never have got anywhere near this gig at Truro School.
I am, however, beginning to suffer from a...mutation of the vowels. Remember how I spent three years in Norfolk without picking the accent up? Yeah, not so down here. I do say though, that I will never truly forget my grim northern vowels. I believe my soft palate is the wrong shape to really sound Cornish. Just like when I became an honorary Gog though, it is because I want to sound this way, rather than a concious resistance (like in Norfolk). Anyway, I feel accepted. I feel like I'm liked and I belong, which is to me more valued than silver or gold. I will always remember my voice though, there may be some rounding out of certain soft vowels, but after a few jars I should once again regain my incomprehensible upcountry speech.
But what about the first part of my age-old motto up there? Well. What about it? Let's just say... that I have met someone who makes my world go round. She's just so lovely, and makes me feel happier than I ever have. We've been going out for a little while, and things are going well, and I'm seeing her very soon again. And I'm really very pleased about this! I feel really lucky.
This year promises to pan out, without a doubt, completely differently from the rest of my life and not just on a musical scale. Things are looking up in a grand fashion, and, as long as I can answer the challanges as ably as I have been doing so, then I can hold my head up high and feel like a success. Don't get me wrong, there's a hell of a lot of effort involved, but I know I can do it. Precious little can really stop the amazing fighting Countertenor...
