Music News - March 2019

Choir

The New Year has seen no let-up for the Choir. It is worth remembering that, along with the usual Sunday service music, the Advent, Christmas and Epiphany Carol services all occur in a period of less than two months. Not only learning, but also performing, this amount of music to a good standard is a big achievement for amateur singers and Oli, Jeremy and all the musicians are to be both congratulated and thanked.

It’s also worth remembering that, on top of Friday choir practice, the choir rehearse prior to every service in which they sing. Being in the choir is no small commitment to the life and worship of our church which would be diminished without the range, depth and beauty of music brought to us.  

By the time you read this, you will have heard the beautiful ‘When to the Temple Mary went’ by Eccard. Composed nearly 500 years ago it still moves us today. And we have just sung Choral Evensong for February.

I encourage you to come to Choral Evensong on the second Sunday of each month as, both musically and liturgically, it has such depth and beauty. This month, the Psalm set was Psalm 2. Verse 10 says, ‘Be wise now therefore O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth’. Our leaders could do with some Godly wisdom and instruction currently couldn’t they?
The anthem was the beautiful Ascribe unto the Lord by S S Wesley and the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis was the magnificent Collegium Regale setting by Howells.

We are now starting our preparations for Lent and Easter worship to include Chilcott’s St John Passion on Good Friday.
I agree with Martin Luther who said, “Next to the word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in the world”.
And when you combine the beauty of music with the word of God, for me, you have an insight into the Divine.

Steve Cass

SMMA AGM

St Mary’s Music Association AGM will take place in the Parish Rooms on Sunday 3rd March at 11.45 p.m., following the 10 a.m. service. All are welcome to attend.

Bron Ferland