Pie Jesu

I walked into town this weekend to buy a few bits and bobs, and where I parked my car meant I had to walk through the closed-down part of town just behind the market. Yes, I class it as walking into town if I’ve driven so far and walked the rest… I’ve still walked into town! Anyway, I digress. I walked through this closed-down quadrant, which is earmarked for a major renewal project. It’s been earmarked for years, so it must be due now. Anyway, I digress again.

So, I was walking through this closed-down area, and there were a few other people milling about, either walking into or out of town, or doing what people do in closed-down parts of towns. I didn’t pay that much attention, as I was in a hurry to get to the bank.

I climbed the steps near to the bank, when I heard what can only be described as a voice of an angel. Over on the other side of the road, in one of the closed-down shop doorways stood a woman dressed all in beige and wearing one of those big Russian-looking square fur hat-type things.

She was busking.

Classical style.

An opera-busker.

I’ve never seen or heard an opera-busker before, although there must be some. Well more, as I’ve seen this one now. Anyway, yet again I digress.

I know some classical / opera pieces, either by sound or by name, but not together. My Latin is as terrible as my music knowledge, and what I thought was called P.A. Essu is actually Pie Jesu (from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘Requiem’). The busker sang it amazingly well, but perhaps she was a little shy, or she would have done it in a more populous area of town.

Here’s a version of the song I’ve found on line:

I did mean to pop a few pennies in her cap when I was on my way back, but I’m sure she walked passed me before I got there in a blur of beige (she’d probably had enough of singing to herself).

She wasn’t in her spot when I returned, unfortunately.

But the memory of her voice there remained with me, and I can still hear her now.