May 2001
Notes and News (Soundboard May 2001)	Show Menu

Junior Choral Day at Christ Church

The Cathedral was the setting for another wonderful Junior Choral day on Saturday 10 February 2001, when young singers from throughout the diocese joined together to rehearse and sing a variety of choral works. Beginning at 10 a.m., they worked throughout the day in preparation for a Liturgy of Thanksgiving at 5.00 p.m. The enthusiastic participation of both teachers and pupils was reflected in the many comments that were made at the end of the day: “What a terr!fic day”, “I thought the day was wondeiful”, “It was a challenge to have to learn the material for the 5.00 p.m. service’, “I know we had to get up early on a Saturday morning, but it was well worth it”, “We sang four d!fferent languages, Latin, Greek, English and African”, The African song seems to have been a clear favourite; as the children sang it, they processed carrying lighted candles around the nave to African drum beat. One young singer liked the drum playing though he wasn’t so keen on the anthem! Going down into the crypt was quite an experience for many: “It looked like Egypt — you could get lost in it”. The story of the mummified cat and mouse was enjoyed by most. The main organisers were Mark Duley, the Cathedral’s director of Music, and Revd Tom Gordon, and they I were assisted by Dean’s Vicar Revd Dermot Dunne, Organ Scholar Carol Watt, and Chris Gifford.

Gordon Appleton’s Visit

Because of the current restrictions in the country concerning meetings and travelling, the visit of RSCM Regional Director Gordon Appleton has been cancelled. It is hoped that it will be possible to reschedule his visit in October

The Third Hewson Memorial Recital

Professor Ian Tracey of Liverpool Cathedral performs at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin.
9 May 2001 @ 8.00 pm.
Admission: £8/£5 (concessions)
Programme: Handel. Bach, Bossi.
Franck, Mendelssohn. Peeters

Music Courses

Every year, the RSCM (Royal School of Church Music) runs courses for a variety of musicians and others associated with church music. The 2001 brochure lists 17 diffeent courses. The Editor can report that the Summer Course for Organists, run by Anne Marsden Thomas and her team is excellent; he attended it several years ago Based at St Giles Cripplegate, the 51 / 2 full days included lectures and demonstrations, concerts, service singing, individual lessons, good company, enjoyment and fun. The culmination was a concert given by the four organ tutors playing four different organs (twice all at the same time!) in St Giles.(PS a bonus of the course is that a dozen or so of London’s good organs are made available to attendees for practice. Other RSCM courses take place at its headquarters in Westhumble, in cathedrals around England and in several schools. Details from the RSCM.

Marathon Psalmody

The choir of All Saints, Banstead, UK completed a sponsored “Sing the whole Psalter” event in aid of their church organ fund in seven and a half hours. During that time they encountered frogs, flies, gnats, grasshoppers, locusts, quails and the fat bulls of Bashan; visited the deserts of Kadesh, the valleys of Succoth, the waters of Meribath and the streams of Mesopotamia; saw ships of Tarshish, the dwellings of Ham; met Moab, the children of Ephraim, the inhabitants of Tyre, Gfflian, Manasseh and Melchizedek, not to mention 0g. They also discovered that the words “Aha, aha” appear three times throughout the psalms and that someone was thoughtful enough to put lots of short psalms after Psalm 119!

Where can I find simple organ music?

The above is the one question that has been received (and don’t we all need simple organ music at some stage?). Both McCullough Pigott (Suffolk St) and Opus 2 (S. Great Georges St) have a good selection of organ music. including simple “read-at-sight” material. One publisher that produces interesting simple music (both 2 and 3-stave) as part of its wide range is Kevin Mayhew, and full details can be found in their comprehensive catalogue. (Can others add to these recommendations?)

Organ Appeal

The Ulster Society of Organists and Choirmasters reports oii lie great success of the E3ellasl Community Organ Da’: last November. Designed to heighten the profile of the organ. the programme included two workshops, a celebrity recital b~ Gordon Stewart and an open invitation to members of the public to have a go at playing the organ in any one of ten churches in Belfast. With up to 50 visitors at each church, the day proved that “the king of instruments” has far from lost its appeal.

St Michael’s Dun Laoghaire

The 2001 series of summer recitals begins on 10 June at 8.30 p.m. The first recital will be given by the Lassus Scholars conducted by Ite O’Donovan with Charles Pearson at the organ.

The Phoenix Choir

This 35-strong choir from Carrickfergus will give a concert in Christ Church Dun Laoghaire on 19 May 2001 at 8.00 p.m. and, on the following day, will join with the church’s choir at 10.30 a.m. to sing the St Patrick’s setting of the Holy Communion service.

St Patrick’s Cathedral

Applications are invited for choral scholarships for counter-tenor, tenor and bass, and also for lay years, for the year 2001—02. Further details are available from Mr John Dexter, Organist & Master of the Choristers, St Patrick’s Cathedral, Tel: 01 453 1867, Fax: 01-454 6374.

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