Choristers from across the East join Aled Jones to record lockdown charity track
Choristers from across the East have joined with others across the UK to record a lockdown version of the song Sing Forever to raise funds for struggling choirs while singing is banned in cathedrals.
A total of 269 vocalists, from 44 cathedrals and choral foundations, filmed their individual vocal parts from their bedrooms and living rooms.
The recordings were emailed to Norwich Cathedral, where the project was co-ordinated, and edited into a single video.
International opera star Elizabeth Watts, originally a chorister at Norwich Cathedral, and the singer and presenter Aled Jones. It aims to support the Cathedral Choirs' Emergency Fund appeal, which is being
run by charities Friends of Cathedral Music and Ouseley Church Music Trust.
Ashley Grote, Master of Music at Norwich Cathedral, said one of the clergy at the cathedral suggested the idea for a fundraising song involving choristers across the country.
"It's not the same as having the glorious acoustic of all of our wonderful cathedrals, but I think people will find this very moving actually when you hear all of these voices entering into singing together."
Choristers from Ely, Ipswich, Norwich and Peterborough cathedrals took part along with singers from St Mary Le Tower in Ipswich as well as King's College and St John's College in Cambridge.
Singing is currently not allowed in public worship due to the coronavirus pandemic, and Mr Grote said self-funding cathedrals face difficulties in maintaining a professional choir.
"Particularly for those cathedrals whose income is derived first and foremost from tourism this is a particularly difficult time," he said. "Budgets are very tight and choirs are unable to sing. Currently, all of our adult singers are on furlough and have been since March."
The Cathedral Choirs' Emergency Fund appeal has a target of £1M and has raised more than £800,000 to date.