A unique College,
with a unique
Choir, supported
by an unrivalled
thriving musical
scene
December Christmas tour 2016
And we’re off again! Today, the Choir of Clare College embarked on their Christmas tour around the UK and the Netherlands – first stop, St John’s Smith Square...
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Clare College Song Competition 2017
Asia Tour Blog - Day 18
Caroline Meinhardt (Dec Sop 2)
A love letter to Clare Choir
Dear CCCCC,
I don't know where to begin. It's times like these where words fail me... After 3 years of tears and laughter (and one year of long-distance in between), it breaks my heart to have to leave you.
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Asia Tour Blog - Day 17
Tom Ashton (Dec Bass 3) and Lydia Allain-Chapman (Can Sop 3)
The Choir of Clare College, Cambridge ended their Tour of the Far East with a bang (woof!). After a relaxing morning some of the more gullible members of the choir rushed to Graham’s 1 o’clock rehearsal which was unfortunately a decoy, a hilarious joke to demonstrate his affection and camaraderie. Others were tied up – some literally – in a deadly game of escape room but even the kinkiest singers made it to KLCCCC and were warmed up (!) on time for our 3pm concert. The choir's secular programme opened with a rendition of the Fauré Requiem. We were assured this was one of the two best received performances of this work ever in Malaysia. It was powerful music for the choir as well as the audience: tears streamed down the face of Laurence Booth-Clibborn as Alice ravishingly sung the Pie Jesu. Indeed there were few dry cheeks among the singers, since it was the last concert that many of them would sing with Clare Choir.
more >Asia Tour Blog - Day 17
Tom Ashton (Dec Bass 3) and Lydia Allain-Chapman (Can Sop 3)
The Choir of Clare College, Cambridge ended their Tour of the Far East with a bang (woof!). After a relaxing morning some of the more gullible members of the choir rushed to Graham’s 1 o’clock rehearsal which was unfortunately a decoy, a hilarious joke to demonstrate his affection and camaraderie. Others were tied up – some literally – in a deadly game of escape room but even the kinkiest singers made it to KLCCCC and were warmed up (!) on time for our 3pm concert. The choir's secular programme opened with a rendition of the Fauré Requiem. We were assured this was one of the two best received performances of this work ever in Malaysia. It was powerful music for the choir as well as the audience: tears streamed down the face of Laurence Booth-Clibborn as Alice ravishingly sung the Pie Jesu. Indeed there were few dry cheeks among the singers, since it was the last concert that many of them would sing with Clare Choir.
more >Asia Tour Blog - Day 16
Alex Porteous (Can Tenor 1)
The day began at the twin towers once again for our final “dress” rehearsal before the concert with the MPO. For some strange reason I am unable to recall any specific details from the time period spanning the rehearsal… so I must assume it was largely uneventful, progressing very smoothly with no interruptions, finishing at least half an hour before schedule.
more >Asia Tour Blog - Day 15
Michael Papadopoulos (Assistant Organist)
It was a hot and humid morning in Kuala Lumpur as Zikri made his way to work. The Petronas Towers were dazzling in the morning sunlight, but he barely had time to admire the view as he was running late for his shift. The Malaysian Philharmonic were due to rehearse with some English choir he’d never heard of and the stage needed setting up. Some members of the English choir were already downstairs in the main foyer as Zikri briskly walked towards the concert hall, situated at the very heart of the iconic towers.
more >Asia Tour Blog - Day 14
Joseph Payne (Can Alto 2)
Cautionary Verse, Anglo-Saxon elegy, a Bake-Off script and Minimalist bullet points. It might seem that I am faced with the opportunity to follow this roll of ever more fanatical blog formats with either interpretative dance or improvisatory nose whistling. However, having decided to make a great leap from the unknown into the boring and benign, I have decided to spurn the new status quo of ‘style over substance’ and instead transcribe a page from my daily secret diary. Hopefully this will provide you with an insight into the lowly life of a CA5 (dep.) on one especially uneventful day.
Asia Tour Blog - Day 13
Laurence Booth-Clibborn (Dec Tenor 1) (Power behind the Throne) & Alice Halstead (Dec Sop 1) (The Throne)
“A [blog] that doesn’t shock isn’t worth [blogging]”
Marcel Duchamp (adapted)
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Asia Tour Blog - Day 12
Eleanor Smith (Dec Sop 3)
Chronicon de Choro, 916
In this year there was a great battle at First Avenue. And the red team had possession of the battlefield. And the passport of Leofric the Benedictine was lost, and the garments of Christopher also. And there was great weeping and wailing.
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