In Olympus per men quod bestia

Bruce here. Two weeks ago Ellie had left her fiddle for some maintenance work at the Oxford Violin Shop, within sight of the old city. Saturday was a lovely spring morning, and we returned to pick it up. In the middle is the University Church of St. Mary the Virgin. As you look up at its tower you can see the visitors – having mounted the steep winding staircase of the stone tower -- peering out over the town and valley below them. Oxford is inhabited by marvelous ancient men and creatures; I’ll let them speak for themselves.

I have determined to let serendipity guide my steps in this country; Saturday they passed through the ancient oaken doors of St. John’s College. Wandering in its quadrangle, we chanced upon its vaulted old chapel and the Junior Organ Scholar, an apple-cheeked English lad who was setting up for weekend events. He invited us to go see the College porter and ask for programs (that means “tickets”) for the concert of organ duets that would be held there Sunday night. We did, and came back Sunday night for Evensong services and for the concert. We were treated to the St. John’s Choir: Bach, a spiritual, and liturgical chants, and to French organ soloists combining the chapel organ and a “chamber organ” in duets of Bach, Buxtehüde, Mozart, and others. It was pretty much like being in Heaven.