May Morning

At 6:00 on the morning of May 1, the choir of Magdalen College, Oxford, sings in the sunrise from the top of Magdalen Tower. Thousands of people pack the street below to take in the music, before rushing off to breakfast to the joyous pealing of Oxford's many bells.

This year, a friend at Magdalen invited me inside the College for a privileged listening position on Cloisters Lawn. It was raining softly as we stood there with upturned faces, awaiting the stroke of six. Outside in the street, we could hear the murmer of the vast crowd, like the sound of a distant sea. The Tower bells struck 6:00 and suddenly all was still. Then, faintly at first, the haunting melody of the ancient anthem drifted down through the rain: "Te Deum Patrem colimus..." To hear a recording from a previous year, click here.

The choir's second selection is traditionally something light and festive, to welcome the coming summer. This year proved no exception, though I didn't recognize the piece. As the last note died away, the Magdalen bells broke into a riotous quarter peal, soon joined by other bells throughout the city. The rain increased to a determined shower, helping to quickly clear the High Street. After an hour or so, however, the sun broke through the clouds and the rest of the day was radiantly beautiful -- the first really warm day we've had this year. Later in the morning I saw the Magdalen choristers and choral scholars playing football on Cloisters Lawn.

May Day marks the beginning of Oxford summer, as the college punts are launched and the croquet lawns opened. Here's to picnics, poetry, punting and the golden days of Trinity Term!