St. Mary of the Angels Choir

Evelyn and Julia have been singing every week with a choir in downtown Wellington.  It is the Angels Voices Choir, held at St. Mary of the Angels church.  It is one of the most gorgeous buildings in the city.

This has provided an opportunity for the kids to have an urban, central city experience.  We take the bus every week and get the feeling of getting around town. 

It also provides an ecumenical experience for them, and an opportunity to appreciate diversity.

The choir does sound ethereal in the building with sweet, pure voices rising and ringing to the top of the space.  They have loved it.

Some of the favorite songs have been "Scarborough Fair," "Panis Angelicus," "Hine, Hine," (a traditional Maori song) and Upside Down Cake (a new song by a New Zealand composer).  They have learned to sing in 5/8, Latin, Maori and in canon.  Both of them hum all day long and break into song.  They have loved singing.

The space is very open, bright and the stained glass is remarkable.

After the concert we went up into the choir loft and got a closer look at the glass detail. The ones up here are all musical.

I thought my dad would particularly like this piece.

There was even a harpist.

The organist showed us his instrument and let us watch the pipes shake while he played portions of a toccata.

It was AWESOME.  And LOUD!

Afterwards, we went down to "the crypt" to enjoy refreshments; mulled wine, juice, cheese and crackers, truffles.  A beautiful day.