Wrington Web Archive Opus Anglicanum Saturday, 15th November, 2003

			An unusual opportunity for local singers came about when John Rowlands Pritchard, Director of Wells-based music group Opus Anglicanum led a one-day workshop introducing Gregorian chant. He traced the history of this earliest form of written music in the European tradition, and showed how it developed.
			He showed how to interpret the notation, which you need to understand in order to sing in the appropriate manner. His easy manner soon encouraged the local singers, mainly from Wrington Choral Society and All Saints' choir, to feel reasonably confident in rehearsing a couple of pieces.
	Fortunately, the intensive day's work, preparing the items to be sung with Opus Anglicanum in the evening, was broken up by coffee- and tea-breaks in the Reading Room when both teacher and taught could relax in each other's company ! The rehearsals produced a sufficient degree of confidence that, come the evening, despite the extremely high level of professionalism displayed by Opus Anglicanum , the novices were able both to feel their contribution was worthwhile, and join with the rest of the audience in enjoying a feast of music and readings, superbly presented.