Choristers at Salisbury Cathedral
Credit: Ash Mills
For many, the official sound of Christmas is a cathedral choir in full voice, leading us in traditional music and favourite carols. But it’s been a tough year for choristers, with lockdowns and tier restrictions hampering their work.
Three leading cathedral choirs, Canterbury, York Minster and Salisbury, reveal how they’re still bringing us festive cheer, and reflect on why the choral tradition is such a vital part of our Christmas season.
Canterbury Cathedral
“People have sung here for more than a thousand years,” points out Canterbury Cathedral’s master of choristers, Dr David Flood. “We are proud to have kept it going, in difficult circumstances.” The first lockdown meant that the two choirs – girls and boys, aged 8 to 13 – could only communicate virtually. “It’s tough rehearsing over Zoom, because of the digital lag,” explains Flood. “You can’t hear one another.”