Music for 4th and 7th September 2016

SUNDAY 4th  SEPTEMBER PARISH COMMUNION 10.15am
Setting:                Wadely in G
Anthem after
the Sermon:      God’s Love – D. Bishop    
Motets :             Ave verum corpus – W. Byrd
                            Only say the word – M. Polglase
Voluntary:         Postlude (1962) – W. Mathias
WEDNESDAY 7th  SEPTEMBER CHORAL EVENSONG  7.15pm
Responses:         Reading
Psalm:                 119 vv33-40
Office Hymn:     339
Canticles:            Harris in Am
Anthem:              Lord I trust Thee – G. F. Handel

A REALLY BIG THANK YOU to everyone who supported the choir in any way on their cathedral singing week to Wells, the smallest cathedral city in England at the end of July. The cathedral itself is stunning and such a lovely building to sing in with an amazing atmosphere. Our accommodation was quite a long way from Wells in the beautiful village of Bruton. However, Kings School, which was founded in 1519, was an excellent base, the food, rehearsal room and facilities were first rate.

The boys, in their free time, had an excellent tour round the cathedral on Tuesday and visited Wookey Hole on Thursday.

There were two first’s during the week of which I am particularly proud. On the Wednesday the men sang evensong without the boys, during which they performed a set of responses composed for the Vicars Choral (the gentlemen of the choir) of Wells in 1987 by Frikki Walker (ex chorister of Holy Trinity, Southport and now Director of Music at Glasgow Cathedral) and on the Friday we performed the world premiere of the anthem God’s Love composed by Daniel Bishop with words by my daughter Rachael written during an RE lesson when she was ten! For those who were not present at the first performance the words are printed here:-

God’s love is the wind whistling,

Whispering in my ears,

Telling me I have the power.

God’s love is the sunshine,

The rays reaching down like strong arms,

Holding his lambs to his eternal breast.

It is pure warmth that gets inside and stays inside.

God’s love is a shining star that’s always there.

It’s crystal clear, beautiful, omnipotent,

Standing strong and mighty.

During Friday evensong we were also filmed by an American television crew who were making a documentary about singing in English cathedrals. We have asked for a DVD to be sent to us when

the programme goes out across the US!

The dedication of the boys and men in rehearsal and performance was first class and as the recordings, made by Bob Ball, testify the choir maintained a fine standard throughout the week; CD’s and DVD’s of some of the music we sang during the week will be available soon!

There was a great family atmosphere throughout the week and it was great as ever to have Charles and Toby Cowling singing with us. Family and friends including David and Fiona Williams, swelled the congregation as the week went on and especially at the weekend.

On Sunday after Eucharist and Matins there was the customary photo shoot outside the west end of the cathedral after which we ate a picnic lunch in the beautiful gardens next to the cathedral before the final Evensong. The buffet and prize giving was held in the Medieval Vicar’s Hall before the journey home.

I must thank Nick Miller for his wonderful accompanying and playing during the week. Many thanks also to Hilda and Margaret for looking after us so well and especially to Sue for all her planning and hard work during the week, ensuring that everything ran so smoothly,. We couldn’t do it without you!

We are already looking forward to next year, when we will visit Exeter Cathedral. Ian Wells