Choral power

There's something so strong, breathtaking and compelling about a choir in full flight and today I was reminded how potent massed voices can really be at a St. Patrick's service held at Eton College.  Granted a great setting too helps where the sound resonates just right off the walls.  Stony amplification.

Two pieces of music that have no instrumental accompaniment keep popping into my head.

One was the Scottish choir singing at the Queen Elizabeth II September Garden in New York City on the tenth anniversary of 9/11 - they sang an extraordinary medley of Amazing Grace and Star Spangled banner al fresco (and in a studio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YimrX3hxwhY).  The other was the London Youth Gospel Choir just belting out some tunes at a JazzFM Awards ceremony in London.  I think they were memorable because they were live, so very raw, human and uniting.

Coffee beans over tax

On a trivial afternoon six months ago, I trawled the coffee shops near where I work in the City of London for a brief price check of a double espresso.  The price band is quite tight.  My suspicion about Costa Coffee, Nero, Starbucks and all the other shops is about the freshness of the beans.  No disrespect, really, but Costa seems to have a bitter coffee, amaro.  I don't know why, but even at Linate airport in Milan, the coffee is strong, but the edge is sane, even creamy tasting without cream.

London coffees are suspect.  I am still arguing this with my colleague from Puglia, who may not agree with my fine Milanese friend who makes the coffee outside Mansion House Tube.  I am shy to call him a barista as I think that's phoney, but he tells me the taste I like is is also how he makes the coffee, it is not just the beans.  Anyhow. Find him outside in Bow Lane, in an "ape" in a churchyard space, a sort of pop up caff.  £1.80 for my double espresso fix.

Up in the attic at Westminster Abbey

What a privilege to mount seventy seven steps to be shown what is known as the Triforium at Westminster Abbey, a huge expanse of upper space that covers three sides of the inner Abbey walls and looks down on all the ecclesiastical fun and pomp below.  It's dusty, broad, hard to spot from below and with just a few metal bars to prop the television cameras that get those fantastic views of royal weddings and other ceremonies.  Unlike St. Paul's, the Abbey has no crypt, apparently it's marshland underneath, so the Triforium has served as an attic for bits and pieces that need storage over the years.  Through the windows are vistas of the Houses of Parliament and sights of the roofscape and other gargoyles within.  What an exciting space right in the heart of this Royal Peculiar.  The next level down you can see a library and a ground level there is now also a decent restaurant, where Benedictine monks would once enjoy their repast.