Well, first day in Truro and what a day!
Having delayed our journey by a day due to unforeseen hiccups, we left at 6am to leave plenty of time for any further hiccups or traffic jams. Result: clear roads and blue skies… and Truro in 5 hours! A long journey but not the unpleasant haul we were expecting.
Arriving so early, we had time to mooch around the city and treat ourselves to our first cream tea and chill out a little before the 3pm rehearsal. Truro folk seem rather jolly and friendly. I thoroughly recommend Uneeka home store and coffee shop where the waitresses were chatty and welcoming and the cake was yummy too. Boots pharmacy sorted out my forgotten medication with a smile and a joke and our bed & breakfast Townhouse Rooms has complimentary scones and cake (can you see a theme yet?), as well as lovely facilities and garden.
Anyway, onto the music!
I must admit to feeling a little frazzled after our 2 hour rehearsal, the 5:30 early rise (middle of the night) and long drive. But once the service began, all the busyness of the day slipped away. We sang the Hooper Magnificat and Nunc Dimitis in E, the Reading Responses and Rutter’s Gaelic Blessing.
The words of our anthem really rang true in the beautiful acoustics of this magnificent cathedral and were a soothing end to the afternoon. I realise I haven’t said much about the cathedral, but for today I’ll leave you with the words and few pictures of some things which caught my eye.
Gaelic Blessing
Deep peace of the running wave to you.
Deep peace of the flowing air to you.
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you.
Deep peace of the shining stars to you.
Deep peace of the gentle night to you.
Moon and stars
Pour their healing light on you.
Deep peace of Christ,
The Light of the world to you.
Deep peace of Christ to you.
