Head's Newsletter 16 November 2018

A little over a century ago the Berliner Dom echoed with sermons rousing the German people to redouble their efforts in the First World War. On Sunday 11 th November the arches of Berlin’s cathedral were filled with the voices of 150 choristers from Britain, Russia, France and Germany in a symbol of reconciliation.

James Day, our choir director, said: “The first interesting thing was a thought about whether we should be wearing poppies or not, because it separates us out as a British choir. We decided that because it’s our tradition it was right to do it. The boys were quite interested to see the lack of military presence at the service, as opposed to the way it is back in the UK.”

The Tiffin Boys’ Choir were fortunate to be there and sang an arrangement of the Justorum animae by Charles Villiers Stanford, the Irish composer: “The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and the torment of death shall not touch them. In the eyes of the ignorant they appear to die, but in truth they are at peace.”

The boys spent a fascinating four days in Berlin, and gave most impressive performances. The whole event was covered by The Times newspaper and featured among their main news articles on the European commemorations. Link: Tiffin Boys' Choir in Berlin