One of the best things about living in London was being able to go to
St Martin-in-the-Fields occasionally to listen to fantastic music. Since it's near Charing Cross station, it was easy enough to do a detour and squizz the board for upcoming concerts on my way home from work.
They did these nice concerts-by-candlelight thing, which were just exquisite. Since the pews were as hard as rocks, it definitely gave that feeling of going back in the past. Hm, I know pews weren't in churches until after the Reformation. I wonder if Catholic Churches held out longer to get them in? Anyways, there's nothing like sitting in a old church to listen to religious music. Other than the fantastic acoustics, you've got wonderful architecture to look at, but it's not distracting. Hah, perhaps it's the Christian version of rock gardens. Certainly, if you look at all the shapes and shadows and follow them in your mind, you can get that meditative effect. So too with any hangings, metalwork, stained glass and the like. Not exactly the Calvinist ideal, is it, all that
sensual input? Of course, having a Catholic cultural background (if not ever the religion itself), I'm probably susceptible to all that.
The thing about St Martin is the fact that the concerts are
accessible. I think the most expensive ticket I saw was 20 quid, and you can always get a seat for less than 10. Early in the week, there's generally stuff on which is donation-only. I went to a couple of excellent concerts on a Monday, featuring the church organist, and which were bloody excellent value for a fiver.
The only problem I had with the place is the fact that the organ is at the back of the church, which is a bit disconcerting when you're attending a concert with a full choir and other instruments (who are at the front of the church). It's a monster too, considering the church itself is not terribly large. I really couldn't give a toss about seeing the choir, since I find a bunch of people standing and singing boring to watch in the extreme. But I
love watching people play their instruments, particularly keyboardists of all persuasions. It amazes me how people can do all those different things with each hand (and feet for the organists and pianists). So it's a shame how often they're hidden away. The organ in Bristol Cathedral is truely awesome, for example, but you can't see the organist because he/she is above the choir. But at least all the music is coming from the same direction. Unfortunately, I never got to hear a full concert there, just the organist practising one Wednesday afternoon. Must go back, one day.
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buddleia and 
