Cultural disappointment

I’ve sat on posting this a few days because I was hoping my view would change, but it really hasn’t. True, I’m not as fired-up-angry as I was, but still disappointed. I know I was tired Saturday night, so that probably played into it; but I feel my “megativity” was also warranted.

I went to an Advent Carols by Candlelight show at St. Martin-in-the-Fields. As soon as I got there and paid 1 £ for the program, I realized I had made a mistake. I should have gone to the 16:00 Family Christmas Carols concert. Yes, you read that correctly, I actually said I should’ve gone to a “family” show.

I know Advent music is more contemplative and Christmas carols are more joyous and bright. And I know that generally the latter aren’t sung until just before Christmas because the Advent season is for more reflection than celebration. But still, I guess I just needed some celebration. I mean, I live alone and have no friends in London, I have plenty of time for contemplation!

Overall, my gripes about the performance :

1) That is was just that – a performance. Or a concert. The choir, nor the organist, came across as there to sing/play holy advent music. Rather, it was just a show, a concert, not carols. At one point, the director said in one of his speeches, it’s “like a college chapel with a hint of a West End show”. If I wanted a West End Show for Christmas, I would’ve found one.

2) After every song, the lights were turned up and the director made some sort of comment about the next song. At no point did one song go into the next. It completely ruined the mood. And, people applauded after every song, even the ones we sang along to; again, ruining the mood. Why call it a “candle light” concert when the lights were turned up just as much?

3) Behind the choir, one of the windows in the upper section was open for air – fine. But, there were two floodlights streaming in, which I assume when the window is closed is somewhat dampened and provides for a nicely illuminated altar area. Instead, I had two bright points of light always in my view.

4) I’ve come to accept that for every show you attend in London, you have to pay for the program. But why have that for a concert where the lyrics to some of the songs are printed and you’re invited to stand and sing-a-long? If you want the audience to sing, don’t charge for the book with the lyrics! Or at least have a double-sided sheet of paper with those specific songs on each seat.

5) Related to that – I didn’t pay 25£ for a sing-a-long. I paid to hear the choir sing. If I wanted to sing-a-long, I’d just go to church and sing the hymns!

5) This isn’t really a complaint about the concert, and it doesn’t bother me now, but it was just one more thing to annoy my Saturday evening – the people sitting around me. The woman behind me was humming along to lots of songs and she was sick (I could just imagine her germs floating forward to me) ; the 2 guys next to me loved their Red Bull and one even was ‘recording’ a song or two on his phone ; two rows in front were two lovey-dovey-beautiful-people couples – blech. I know, I know, this is all petty. I’m glad they were all out attending this concert, getting culture, getting into the Christmas spirit, and all of that. But I just wanted to complain.

6) Overall, the concert didn’t even come close to getting me in the Christmas spirit. Last year I went to the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus concert and that was fantabulous! The London Gay Men’s Chorus shows are sold out / days when I’m not in town. Bummer. At least I went to church Sunday morning and the opening hymn was O Come, O Come Emmanuel and that was all I needed to hear to be ready for Christmas.

At what point in life was I supposed to switch and appreciate Advent Carols (I don’t remember them growing up) and not sing Christmas Carols until just before Christmas? What is so wrong with that?


Family concert (* indicates that audience invited to stand and sing-a-long)
*Once in Royal David’s City
Ding Dong! Merrily on high
*O Little Town of Bethlehem
A Great and Mighty Wonder
*God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen
I Saw Three Ships
Torches
*Away in a Manger
Coventry Carol
*O Come, All Ye Faithful
Past three a clock
*Hark! The Hearald Angels Sing
We Wish You A Merry Christmas

Advent Carols
The truth from above
*O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Veiled in darkness
E’en so Lord Jesus, quickly come
Remember O thou man (I liked this one, hadn’t heard it before)
*Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus
Es ist ein Ros’ entrprungen (Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming)
On Jordan’s Bank (I liked this one, had never heard it)
*O Thou Who Camest From Above
Angelus ad Virginem (organ sounded like a calliope, overpowering the vocals)
Magnificat in D
Personent Hodei (didn’t like this one)
*Of the Father’s Heart Begotten
Zion hört die Wächter singen (did not like this one)
*In the Bleak Midwinter
Christmas Day
*Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending
What Sweeter Music (liked this and it was new to me)
Tomorrow Shall be my Dancing Day (I like this, but I think the Old South Church choir sings it better)