Monthly column on hymns and songs
April, as one of our own poets has said, is the cruellest month. Much earlier Chaucer and Langland were more cheerful. Another poet makes this the best time to talk about repeats - of which there are many sorts from 'O come, all ye faithful' (not for April) to the Hallelujah chorus, Taize and beyond. All I mean here is singing something twice.
Christopher Idle
This Sunday it was not the song slot, chorus time, or the space for some really deep worship. This was in the main flow of the service. The minister said 'As the hymn has only got two verses, we'll sing it twice'. Subdued murmur along the fifth row: 'Good job it's not God save the Queen.'
