St Mary’s Music News - June 2023

Music this month was book-ended by services combining the choir and the Brass Group. The Easter Sunday morning service (not the 6am Sunrise Holy Communion – your correspondent does not get up that early, even on a day o celebration!) started with a rousing rendition of The Heavens Are Telling from Haydn’s Creation by the Brass Group, and culminated with congregation, choir, brass and organ belting out the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah. The musician who described it as “sensory overload” was spot on.In the calm before the storm, Assistant Organist Jeremy Allen emulated the
“Wild Isles” photographers with a bird’s eye view of the rehearsal.

The Brass Group and choir joined forces again for the service on 7 May celebrating the Coronation. The choir - of course - sang Hubert Parry’s “I was glad when they said unto me”, based on Psalm 122. Parry’s version was composed for the coronation of Edward VII in 1902 and has been sung not only at subsequent coronations and Jubilees but also at the wedding of the then Prince William and Catherine
Middleton. The organ voluntary was J S Bach’s Praise Him.Other notable services have included choral evensong on second Sundays, and the Solemn Eucharist for Ascension Day on 18 May. The next choral evensong is at 6.30 pm on Sunday 11 June. This is always an uplifting and meditative service – an excellent way to reflect on a busy week.

Recruitment is under way for new members of Joyful Noise and the Junio Choir. Joyful Noise is a group for children in school years 1-3 where they learn action songs, rounds and sing music from around the world. The Junior Choristers range from 8 to 12. On Friday 9 June there is a taster session for Joyful Noise from 4-4.45pm, followed by a taster session for the Junior Choir from 6-7.30pm. Our younger musicians are the foundation of all music at St Mary’s. They learn a lot, while having fun. If you know of any potential recruits, please encourage them to apply. Even if a youngster is unable to attend a taster session but is still interested in singing, do get in touch. For more information, please contact Oli King (Director of Music) or Hannah Razzell, St Mary’s Music Association email music@stmaryssaffronwalden.org.

And in more Junior news, we are very pleased to report that Angus, one of our Junior Choristers, has been accepted into the Bury St Edmunds Cathedral choir, following in Jeremy Allen’s footsteps. Half a century ago Jeremy worked his way up through the ranks to become Head Chorister at the Cathedral.

June is the busiest month for our 40 minute lunchtime concerts at 1.10 pm on Wednesdays, with refreshments available from 12.30. Even if you missed Titika Maragoula singing with Richard Carr on piano on 31 May, there is still time to enjoy Krassimira Jeliazkova on violin with Elizabeth Mucha on piano on 7 June, Joanna Lam’s piano concert on 14 June, Philip Sunderland playing the organ on 21 June and the St Mary’s Brass Quintet on 28 June. There are 2 further concerts in July, details in the next newsletter.

And finally, at 3pm on Saturday 1 July there is a very special one-off organ concert by Anna Lapwood, who is not only the Director of Music at Pembroke College Cambridge, but also resident organist at the Royal Albert Hall, and a popular conductor and broadcaster. We look forward to welcoming you to all and any of these events.

Ottilie Lefever