Yet Another Market Day

I suppose I just like my fruit and vegetables, but Devizes market is a great place to take photos.  Christmas is coming and the market is very busy.  These photos were taken last week, this week, because of the weather many stalls had no canopies because of the predicted high winds.  It has been known for the canopies to blow over in inclement weather.  On market day I always meet the "girls" for coffee in the "Black Swan."  Yesterday was no exception, where we drank coffee, talk women's talk and planned our drink and meal next week in this lovely pub with the nice staff.   After coffee I walked to the "Castle Hotel" for Christmas lunch with friends from Chantry Court.  The Christmas lunch was lovely, all well cooked and presented.  I had a wonderful fresh fruit salad for dessert.  I ate, talked, laughed, drank sherry and had a good time.

I spoke to the staff who said that the hotel is fully booked for Christmas and for the Christmas day lunch.  Many pubs are opening on Christmas day hoping to increase their trade in these difficult times.  Cheers!  Lets hope all the pubs in Devizes survive the recession!

Carrots and runner beans by the plastic basketfull

Black, shiny aubergines

Parsnips, a "must have" when roasted for Christmas lunch

Salisbury Cathedral and Handel's "Messiah."



 On Saturday evening December 10th  Salisbury Musical Society gave a splendid performance of Handel's Messiah in the Cathedral.  I have sung this work more times than I care to remember, and it is so well known as to become almost routine.  However this performance, conducted by David Halls, was really wonderful.  The four soloists, including a countertenor with a tender voice, were excellent, and of course the Cathedral itself added to the occasion.  We all stood for the "Hallelujah Chorus" and the trumpeters who played "The Trumpet shall Sound" made a wonderful noise.

The photo of the orchestra below was taken with some ancient tombstones in the foreground.  These were removed from the original church in Old Sarum and reinterred here.  The foundations of this building were laid in 1220, with the tower being added in 1310-1330.  You can only marvel at the construction of this cathedral, just how it was built without modern construction methods, one can only imagine.  I have a video of the rebuilding of the "Frauenkirche" in Dresden using modern cranes, and in 2006 that was a feat in itself.

Choir and Orchestra.

The Chelsea Opera Group Orchestra tuning up for the second half.

Sitting in our seats, waiting for the concert to begin.

Salisbury Cathedral at Christmas time.

I have just returned from four wonderful days in Salisbury, where fortunately, I have a friend who lives within walking distance of this beautiful medieval cathedral.  On Saturday evening we listened to the "Messiah" sung by Salisbury Musical Society, and a very good performance it was too.  It is such a well know work, and it is easy to give an everyday performance, but this one seemed special.  Maybe it was the venue!  The photo above shows the Christmas tree on Saturday evening.  Since then we have had some very high winds and pouring rain, I do hope it has managed to stay standing.

Below is  the highly decorated West front with its mighty doors and columns of figures of the saints and former clergy.  The lowest photo shows the nave and high altar, with distant choir stalls, some of the tallest in England.  It is a truly wonderful space.

Four Days in Salisbury. (Back on Tuesday 13th December)

These crocuses have nothing to do with Salisbury, I just like the colour and pattern of the petals!  Tonight I am listening to the "Messiah" sung in Salisbury Cathedral, it will be wonderful experience.  I have a friend in the city, who  lives conveniently near the Cathedral, so I will stay with her for a few days, do some shopping and on Monday evening,  listen her son singing in the Christmas carol service, once again in the Cathedral.  I must mention that her husband cooks a really good curry!

You can read about the Cathedral at:  www.salisburycathedral.org.uk  and of course at: www.wikipedia.org - Salisbury Cathedral.  Is is a magnificent medieval structure where John Constable painted a very famous of the view of the building in the 16th cent.   I will be back with more news on Tuesday December 13th 2011.

"The Ginnel" twixt the Market Place and Snuff Street, Devizes

Nick the postman delivers letters in "The Ginnel."

These photos show "The Ginnel," a narrow alleyway containing some lovely little shops.  It must have a history, although at the moment I know nothing of it.  The alley runs from the Market Place to what was originally the rear of the old snuff factory in Snuff Street.  I will add more information when I have discovered some history.

Topiary bushes.

Window shopping for gifts.

The narrow entrance off the Market Place.

The Green Man in St John's Church

Carved Green Man at the top of a column

St John's Church was originally within the outer bailey of the castle, and contains many fine examples of Norman architecture, curved decorated arches and also some later pointed arches, thought to be the earliest example of the form in England.  The tower is Norman and rectangular, and embellished with semi circular headed windows.  During the English civil war this church was bombarded with canonballs in 1643 during the  siege of Devizes. The Parliamentarians managed to surround the town and held the Royalists captive in the church, until Prince Rupert managed to escaped to Oxford and bought in reinforcements.  The opposing sides met on Roundway Down for the battle which was won by the Royalists.  Canonball holes can still be seen on the tower and also on that of St. James's church. 

The photo above shows a "Green Man" carved into a capital in the choir.  The face has wines and branches with leaves and fruits, sprouting from his mouth, nostrils and other parts of his face, and represents rebirth and renewal.  These carvings can be found in  many churches in England, and also many pubs are named "The Green Man."  The face is thought to be a pagan image of fertility and fruitfulness.

Norman arches above the High Altar

The Altar

Singing Rossini.

This is Gioachino Rossini, born in the seaside town of Pesaro in Italy on the 29th February 1792.  He was the son of a trumpeter and his mother was a singer.  At an early age Rossini had mastered the violin and the harpischord and sang frequently in public. His obvious talents were encouraged and he was admitted in 1807 to the Liceo Comunale in Bologna, where he studied counterpoint and cello. 

Over the ensuing years he went on to compose 39 operas, The Barbara of Saville, Cinderella and Willian Tell among them.  He took early retirement from the pressures of the opera world aged only 37 years, and spent the next 38 years in social entanglements in Parisian society, where he made a name for himself as a famous host and gourmet.  The abandonment of his successful musical career is unique in the history of music. 

On Saturday April 28th 2012  Devizes Chamber Choir will be singing his "Petite Messe Solonelle" a work completed in 1863 and first performed in March 1864.  It was originally composed for four soloists, chorus, two pianos and harmonium.   He later composed an orchestral accompaniment,  stating that if he hadn't, someone else would have!  He died in Paris in 1868 and was buried near Chopin and Bellini, but was later reinterred in Santa Croca in Florence.  This is my opportunity to sing Rossini's work, and will be challenge.