St Mary's Choirs
St.Mary's is fortunate indeed to have not one but two choirs. The Saturday choir sings at the Vigil Mass and the Sunday Choir at the Sunday Parish Mass. In total there are 32 members, some of whom are enthusiastic enough to sing at both Masses. Our purpose:
- To sing at either the Saturday or Sunday Masses, Holydays and Festivals and special services.
- To enable the assembly to sing more enjoyably and effectively in the praise of God.
- To enhance the liturgy with song.
- To make an offering of music to God.
- To enjoy learning a wide variety of music.
- To work at improving an enjoyable skill.
We are very worthwhile groups, friendly and purposeful. See Andrew, our Director of Music, about joining after Mass. We sing all sorts of music from the tremendously varied traditions of Christianity, from the late Roman Empire 'Christus Vincit' to Palestrina and from the Victorians to the worship songs of Graham Kendrick. There is a weekly anthem or motet or psalm setting or chant as the Communion Song and different settings of the Mass.
News from the Music Department
March 2011
Don’t forget the SUNG MASS with Imposition of Ashes on ASH WEDNESDAY, March 9th at 7.00pm
February 2011 - a lot happening!
The Feast of Candlemas on February 2nd was marked by a special Choral Mass with blessing of candles and procession in the evening. A setting of the Nunc Dimittis, composed by the Director received performance to enhance the occasion.
The choir social was, as usual, a resounding success and Pauline’s house was packed with choir members who enjoyed the evening with Fr.Anthony. Many thanks to Pauline and all who brought food and drink.
We were delighted to welcome Frances Novillo, the Royal School of Church Music’s Regional Adviser for London and the South, to St.Mary’s. She was also one of the cantors for the Pope on his recent visit. The visit was made at our request, so that Frances could listen to and work with our singers and offer an overall view of the music at our church. We believe her report will be a good one and await its details.
January 2011 - A first for St.Marys
Worshippers at this month’s Sunday evening Tridentine Mass were treated to something special. The Gregorian Schola was joined by members of the Saturday and Sunday choirs for a liturgical performance of Viadana’s Missa L’Hora Passa. So far as we know St.Mary’s has never seen the singing of a Renaissance polyphonic Mass setting and this seems to be a first. Does anyone know differently?
December 2010 - Carols for Advent and Christmas
The ecumenical Advent Carol Service took place on Advent Sunday when a large congregation enjoyed a candlelit feast of readings and music provided by both Saturday and Sunday Choirs separately and in combination, led by our Director of Music. Many thanks to all involved with singing and refreshments.
Congratulations to all musicians who took part in the Christmas Liturgies. Your skill and enthusiasm is greatly appreciated by all whose experience of the Nativity was enhanced by the music.
September 2010 - A new composition premiered
The Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows saw a remarkable liturgy in preparation for Pope Benedict XVI’s visit. The readings concerning the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady were interspersed with the first performance of seven pieces of organ music, one for each of the sorrows, composed and performed especially for the occasion by our Director of Music.
July 2010 - Well done
Congratulations for the second year running to William Duxson who has followed his Grade VII organ result of 96% and an exhibition award from Trinity College London, with a Grade VIII result of 95%.
Music and the new translation of the Roman Missal
The years since the Second Vatican Council have been a time of innovation and experiment for the music of the Catholic Church. New forms and styles have appeared and all styles have been examined and measured against the spirit and requirements of the liturgy.
Bishops have been required by the Holy See to ‘exercise greater oversight on music for the liturgy 1’ and they have issued guidance to musicians and composers with responsibility for music in our churches.
The document ‘The Roman Missal, The Order of Mass – A Guide for Composers’ was released this month (February). The introduction makes the point that the ministry of the composer is one of service – to God in praise and prayer, to the word, allowing the text to be communicated, and to the people of God – enabling their active participation in the liturgy.
It seems to be a thoughtful, inclusive, worthwhile and exciting document, drawing together the diverse threads of the last 50 years into a unified pattern.
Watch this space...
Andrew Duxson, Director of Music, St.Mary’s
1 The Roman Missal, The Order of Mass – a Guide for Composers is published in the website of the Bishop’s Conference for England and Wales.
The Instrumental Groups
The Music Group plays before the Childrens' Mass. About 8 in number they bring a lighter feel to the Sunday morning worship with performances of hymns and worship songs with flute, keyboard, melodica and folk and bass guitars.
The Classical Guitar Trio play at quieter Masses where a more reflective atmosphere is encouraged. We have a wide repertoire including 18th to 20th century artworks and more modern folksongs to enhance the worship.
The Childrens' Liturgy Percussion Band ends the Childrens' Masses with mighty performances of a worship song with choir, congregation and organ! And bring an effective and high spirited end to the worship.
The Gregorian Schola
Formed on an occasional basis for the Extraordinary form of Missa Cantata. We are even able to sing a full Latin Requiem Mass if needed.
Musical Feature for Lent
Psalm 51 (50) – The ‘Miserere’ in the setting by Gregorio Allegri
1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
A psalm text which dominates our lenten liturgy.
Allegri’s setting of the psalm probably comes from the 1630s. It was written for the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, to be sung at the service of Tenebrae which took place during the night of the Wednesday and Friday of Holy Week. The candles were gradually extinguished until, with only one left, the Miserere was sung.
The setting became so prized that at one time it was forbidden to copy the music or perform it outside the Vatican under pain of excommunication. However Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart visited the Sistine Chapel at the age of 14 and wrote out the piece from memory afterwards.
A remarkable feature is the very high ornamentation required of the singers, but overall the combination of sound and silence is unforgettable, and must have been even more so in the darkness of the original setting.
Recordings are numerous and performances can be found easily in both Latin and English e.g. on youtube. An arranged form is sung occasionally at St. Mary’s.
Our Organ
By 2006 our pipe organ was becoming unusable and we decided to embrace the digital age and install a new three manual organ by Viscount with a CM100 expander box. This gives our organist access to the complete organ repertoire through time and country and forms a splendid basis for accompanying the congregation and choir and for improvisation during the services. While there is a magnificent English 'full Swell' the Great and Positive organs tend more towards a continental feel and there is a floating solo section playable from both Swell and Positive manuals. The compromise is very effective!
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