Staved Off

Following the recent celebration of the Choir’s 200th anniversary, to which many former members of Saint Mary’s Cathedral Choir returned to sing, Thomas and Richard look at the history of the Choir from its foundation by Catherine Fitzpatrick and through the various different forms it has taken since then, up until the present day. We are honoured to have interviews with Neil Fitzpatrick & Frances Fitzpatrick, descendants of Catherine & Bernard Fitzpatrick; with Peter Kneeshaw AO; and with Michael Hissey, who is co-ordinating the burgeoning Choir Alumni association.

Choir history
Alumni
Saint Mary’s Cathedral Choir: 200th Anniversary Mass

Music in this episode:
Charles-Marie Widor: Kyrie from Mass for two choirs and two organs (24:18)
Charles-Marie Widor: Gloria (excerpt) from Mass for two Choirs and two organs (35:39)
Ralph Vaughan Williams: O how amiable are thy dwellings (excerpt) (44:13)

In the second part of our discussion about the Choir’s European tour in May 2018, Thomas and Richard are joined by Carolyn Lewis, one of the teachers who accompanied the group, to discuss the Choir’s reception in Italy and the Netherlands. A masterclass with Stephen Cleobury, a joint concert with Siena’s cathedral choir, and the experience of singing at the Papal Mass all get recounted. Plus, have you noticed the Director of Music’s new vestments from the papal tailor?

Music in this episode
Josef Rheinberger (1839–1901), Kyrie from Mass in E-flat, ‘Cantus Missae’ (0:43)
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c. 1525–94), Sicut cervus (excerpt, from rehearsal with Siena Cathedral Choir) (16:12)
Thomas Tallis (1505–85), Loquebantur in variis linguis (excerpt, from rehearsal in Domus Australia, Rome) (22:06)
Thomas Tallis (1505–85), Loquebantur in variis linguis (full performance in Siena Cathedral) (33:14)

Links
Hayllar Music Tours
Domus Australia guest house
Video of the Papal Mass for Pentecost Sunday, 20th May 2018
Gammarelli: Sartoria per ecclesiastici

The Choir is on tour in Europe! In this first of two episodes, we follow the Choristers and Scholars as they participate in the International Gregorian Chant Festival, Watou, while also enjoying Belgian hospitality and taking the opportunity to visit some of the Flanders battlefields.

Special thanks to all the Choristers, Scholars, staff, and Festival organisers who appear in the episode.

Next month we will have a wrap-up discussion about the second part of the tour, to Italy, and then the Lay Clerks’ trip to the Netherlands.

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Featured music:
Hymn: Salve, festa dies (in rehearsal) (10:15)
Antoine Brumel (c. 1460–1512/13), Agnus Dei from Missa de Dringhs (Cathedral Scholars) (12:44)
Offertorium: Si ambulavero (Cathedral Scholars) (29:05)
G.P. da Palestrina (c. 1525–94), Regina Cæli (Choristers & Cathedral Scholars) (31:08)
Douglas Guest (1916–96), For the Fallen (Choristers & Cathedral Scholars) (recorded at Polygon Wood Cemetery, 11th May 2018) (34:58)

Let the bells ring out! The recent wedding of our Music Administrator, Hannah, provides the opportunity to discuss the musical side of weddings in St Mary’s Cathedral. Meanwhile, as 2018 continues apace, next month the Choir will be going on tour to Belgium and Italy.

Music at the wedding of Hannah and Martin McCarthy:
Bridal procession: I was Glad, C. Hubert H. Parry (1848–1918)
Missa Rigensis, Uģis Praulins (b. 1957) (G, A)
Offertory: A new Song, James MacMillan (b. 1959)
Sanctus XI
During the signing of the Register: And I saw a new Heaven, Edgar Bainton (1880–1956)
Recessional: Zadok the Priest, George Frideric Handel (1685–1759)

The International Gregorian Festival of Watou

As we get closer to Easter, Thomas describes the huge number of pages of music that have to be prepared and printed for the Holy Week and Easter services. We are delighted to be joined by Simon Niemiński, the Cathedral’s new Assistant Director of Music, who talks about the experience of moving from Edinburgh to Sydney, his impressions of his new job, and his opinions on hot drinks. Richard has an earthquake story.

Keep an eye on the Schedule page to see when the Choir will be singing during Holy Week and Easter.

Simon Niemiński’s organ concert will be on Wednesday 4th April 2018 at 7 p.m., in St Mary’s Cathedral. Entry is free, and there will be a retiring collection.

Thomas and Richard discuss Lent in the Cathedral, and what changes musically with the penitential season. Discussion includes Gregorio Allegri’s perennial favourite—Miserere Mei, Deus—and people’s reactions when they realise that there is no solo organ music during Lent. Thomas has just been to Rome, and is able to tell us about what he discovered and how that will feed in to the Choir’s trip to Belgium and Italy later this year.

Miserere concert: Friday 16th March 7 p.m. and Sunday 18th March 2 p.m. Buy tickets now.

In the first episode, Thomas and Richard produce ‘a random and meaningless load of drivel’ about Christmas 2017, including how the Choristers are bribed to work on into their school holidays, what inspires the music choice for A Christmas Celebration, and choices for Christmas tree decorations.

Read more and buy tickets for A Christmas Celebration on 15th December 2017

Black Ops inflatable obstacle course