THE SAINT THOMAS CHOIR & CHOIR SCHOOL

Transcription

1 THE SAINT THOMAS CHOIR & CHOIR SCHOOL The Reverend Andrew C. Mead, OBE, DD, Rector, Saint Thomas Church John Scott, LVO, DMus, The Nancy B. and John B. Hoffmann Organist and Director of Music The Reverend Charles F. Wallace, Headmaster, Saint Thomas Choir School The Choir of Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue is the leading ensemble in the Anglican choral tradition in the United States. Directed since 2004 by John Scott, formerly Organist and Director of Music at St. Paul s Cathedral in London, the Saint Thomas Choir performs regularly with period instrument ensembles, Concert Royal and Sinfonia New York, or with the Orchestra of St. Luke's as part of its own concert series. Its primary raison d'être, however, is to provide music for five choral services each week. Live webcasts of all choral services and further information including recordings of the choir, may be found at Supplementing its choral services and concert series, over the past three decades, the choir has toured throughout the United States and Europe, with performances at Westminster Abbey and St. Paul's Cathedral in London, Kings College, Cambridge, Windsor, Edinburgh, St. Albans and the Aldeburgh Festival. In 2004, the choir toured Italy, and performed for a Papal Mass at the Vatican. During 2007, the choir performed Bach s Saint Matthew Passion for the opening concert of the Mexico Festival in Mexico City as well as at Saint Thomas Church. Recent concert highlights have included Rachmaninoff Vespers; the U.S. premiere of John Tavener s Mass; a concert of American composers featuring works by Bernstein and Copland as well as a composition by Saint Thomas chorister, Daniel Castellanos; the first modern performance of Richter s Missa

2 St. Thomas Choir Overview, p. 2 Hyemalis; a Henry Purcell anniversary concert, and the world premiere of Scott Eyerly s Spires. In April 2009, the choir performed in the British Choirs Festival at Washington National Cathedral alongside the choirs of Canterbury Cathedral and Washington National Cathedral. The Men of the Saint Thomas Choir are all professional singers; the Boy choristers attend Saint Thomas Choir School. Founded in 1919, it is the only churchrelated boarding choir school in the United States, and one of only a handful of residential choir schools remaining in the world. The Choir School offers a challenging pre-preparatory curriculum, inter-scholastic sports, and musical training for boys in grades three through eight. The Choir School is committed to training and educating talented musicians without regard to religious, economic, or social background. Choristers are sought from all regions of the country. Details of admissions procedures and audition requirements are available at Karen McFarlane Artists, Inc Seneca Drive Cleveland, OH TOLL FREE (866) FAX (440)

3 John Scott Organist and Director of Music Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue, New York City John Scott was born in 1956 in Wakefield, Yorkshire, where he became a Cathedral chorister. While still at school he gained the diplomas of the Royal College of Organists and won the major prizes. In 1974 he became Organ Scholar of St. John s College, Cambridge, where he acted as assistant to Dr. George Guest. His organ studies were with Jonathan Bielby, Ralph Downes, and Dame Gillian Weir. He made his debut in the 1977 Promenade Concerts in the Royal Albert Hall, the youngest organist to appear in the Proms. On leaving Cambridge, he was appointed Assistant Organist at London s two Anglican Cathedrals, St. Paul s and Southwark. In 1985 he became Sub-Organist of St. Paul s Cathedral, and in 1990 he succeeded Dr. Christopher Dearnley as Organist and Director of Music. As an organist, John Scott has performed in five continents, premiered many new works written for him, and worked with various specialist ensembles. He is a first-prize winner from the 1978 Manchester International Organ Competition and the 1984 Leipzig J.S. Bach Competition. In 1998 he was nominated International Performer of the Year by the New York Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. He is a Past President of the Incorporated Association of Organists. He has been a member of a number of international competition juries, including those in Manchester, Dublin, Chartres, Dallas, St. Albans and Erfurt. Recent highlights of his career have included recitals in Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Notre Dame in Paris, the Aarhus Organ Festival in Denmark, Cologne Cathedral, Disney Hall in Los Angeles and London s Royal Albert Hall. In addition to his work as a conductor and organist, John Scott has published a number of choral compositions and arrangements and he has jointly edited two compilations of liturgical music for the Church s year, published by Oxford University Press. In 2004, after 26 years at St. Paul s Cathedral in London, John Scott moved to take up the post of Organist and Director of Music at Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue, New York, where he directs the renowned Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys. In 2007, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Nashotah House Seminary in Wisconsin.

4 St. Thomas Choir Biographies, p. 2 Frederick Teardo Associate Organist St. Thomas Church, New York City Frederick Teardo is Associate Organist at Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue in New York City, where he holds primary responsibility for service playing, accompanying the Choir of Men and Boys, and training the Junior Choir. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Teardo served as Assistant Organist at St. Thomas Church since September Mr. Teardo received both the Master of Music and Master of Musical Arts degrees from the Yale School of Music and Institute of Sacred Music. At Yale, he studied organ with Thomas Murray and harpsichord with Richard Rephann. During Mr. Teardo s time at Yale, he held the post of Yale University Chapel Organist, and later served as Assistant Organist at Trinity Episcopal Church on the Green in New Haven, CT. Mr. Teardo received his Bachelor of Music degree with Highest Honors from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY, where he studied organ with David Higgs. His other teachers have included Stephen Roberts and Haskell Thomson. He has also studied improvisation with William Porter and Jeffrey Brillhart. An avid performer, Mr. Teardo has won first prize in numerous competitions, and has performed across the United States, including such venues as St. Bartholomew s Church, St. Patrick s Cathedral and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, Methuen Memorial Music Hall, Trinity Church Copley Square in Boston, and Princeton University Chapel. He has also been a featured performer at Regional and National Conventions of the American Guild of Organists and Organ Historical Society, on the NPR program Pipedreams, and in a segment on the revived interest of the pipe organ on ABC World News Tonight. Current as of August 2009 Karen McFarlane Artists, Inc Seneca Drive Cleveland, OH TOLL FREE (866) FAX (440)

5 THE CHOIR OF ST. THOMAS CHURCH Press Notices CONCERT REVIEWS: July 2007 The choir came with a prodigious reputation in the United States Anglican choral tradition, and it was immediately apparent why. The opening Libera Nos by John Sheppard was utterly ravishing and with part-singing of the highest quality, the balance and clarity of flow in Robert Parsons s Ave Maria incredibly seductive. The York Press March 2007 Under the direction of John Scott, the choir sang with stunning musical and intonational accuracy, superb diction, and a lovely blend. St. Louis Today Bach St. John Passion, 2006 a searing impact because of the integrity and beauty of the performance The St. Thomas Choir was remarkable. The well-trained boys from the choir school dispatched Bach s ornate and wayward vocal lines with utter confidence and radiantly pure sound. There was no sense of an interpretive agenda in Mr. Scott s conducting. Everything was direct, expressive and clear. The New York Times December 2005 St. Thomas Church with the St. Thomas Choir School in play, offer possibly the best alternative on this side of the Atlantic to the British tradition of young male voices in treble parts. They are well chosen and well trained and, joined by the adult countertenors, tenors and basses, produce a handsome spectacle for the ear. The New York Times (St. John Passion) It proved a marvel of true, pliant, rich tone and crisp and flexible rhythms. It followed Mr. Scott s detailed phrasing and articulation as one. The chorales were rendered meltingly. The New York Times St. Thomas s annual presentation has in recent years come to be the Messiah to hear It has a rightness to it that eludes most concert readings. The New York Times the most satisfying of the live performances (Handel s Messiah ) came, as usual in recent years, from St. Thomas Church. The New Yorker

6 ST. THOMAS CHOIR Press Notices, page 2...The St. Thomas Choir of men and boys was superb. Newhouse Newspapers An American choir bringing the English cathedral repertory to this country must feel like an English singer taking Wagner to Bayreuth. However the Saint Thomas Choir, from New York City can brave competition with the best. The London Times These 30 Choristers sang most beautifully. The London Daily Telegraph seraphic boys of St. Thomas Choir, provided a moment of hushed beauty. The Star Ledger Dividing into two equal choirs, they launched into Bach's motet, Komm, Jesu, komm. In what could fairly be described as an un-bachian building, the sound was exquisite. The balance was ideal, there was just the right degree of resonance in the large sanctuary The American Organist This (performance) proved to be to the utter delight of all and the astonishment of not a few, who perhaps felt that choirs like this only exist at King s (King s College) and John s (St. John s College)... this choir s greatness was borne in upon us. A really inspiring and spiritually refreshing event. The Year Book ( ) The Royal College of Organists FESTIVAL CHOIR EXCELS The Irish Independent (Dublin)... splendidly vital singing of the highest standard... sheer intensity and musicality. The American Organist VIRILE VOICES WORK MIGHTY CHORAL MAGIC Richmond News Leader

7 ST. THOMAS CHOIR Press Notices, page 3 RECORDING REVIEWS: Christmas on Fifth Avenue (Pro Organo 7200) The choir of New York s St. Thomas Church [is] America s finest exponent of the Anglican choral tradition. St. Thomas has seen to the continuing supremacy of their music program by importing John Scott from England to run it. His distinguished pedigree includes 26 years at St. Paul s in London. Few on the planet can equal his skill in training boys voices and molding their collective sonority. And it shows, in the very best sound and execution you re likely to hear from an American boychoir. American Record Guide (Nov/Dec 2006) Praise the Lord (Argo) This is beautiful singing, the performances well-turned and affectionate, and good, clear recorded sound. Church Music The richness and fullness of the boys tone, matched by the fine men s sonority, with its clear, very English diction, will be admired and even envied... Organists Review A record full of exciting music performed with artistry and wholehearted conviction. The Musical Times Britten Choral and Organ Works (Koch International Classics) an authentic English sound, replete with tasteful musicianship and zest. The men are solid, the boys typically ethereal. American Record Guide Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis (Priory) performance lives up to the on-going standard on Fifth Avenue. The singing in the Susa and Schuller scores is as rhythmically precise and electric as it is mystically powerful in the Friedell and Wright a real hour of refreshment. The American Organist Great Cathedral Anthems (Priory) the choir of St. Thomas s in New York prove themselves to be one of the best cathedral choirs on either side of the Atlantic Gramophone Karen McFarlane Artists, Inc Seneca Drive Cleveland, OH TOLL FREE (866) FAX (440)

8 ST. THOMAS CHOIR Detailed Discography HANDEL MESSIAH WITH ORCHESTRATION BY MOZART John Scott conducting with Concert Royal and Soloists: Ava Pine, Soprano; Kirsten Sollek, Alto; Joseph Gaines, Tenor; Sumner Thompson, Baritone (Available through church office). EASTER ON FIFTH AVENUE Pro Organo CD7209 The Choir of Saint Thomas Church, directed by John Scott, with The Saint Thomas Brass Jesus Christ is risen today, arr. John Rutter; Haec Dies, William Byrd; Most glorious Lord of life, William H. Harris; Christus Vincit Joseph Noyon, arr. Gerre Hancock; Dum transisset sabbatum, John Taverner; My beloved spake, Patrick Hadley; Come ye faithful, raise the strain (Gaudemus Pariter), arr. John Scott; Feierlicher Einzug (Solemn Entry for the Knights of St. John), for brass quintet, timpani, and organ, Richard Strauss, arr. Scott Macintosh; Surrexit Christus hodie, Samuel Scheidt, ed. John Rutter; Lord of the Dance, arr. John Bertalot; Dic nobis, Maria, Giovanni Bassano; If ye be risen again with Christ, Orlando Gibbons; Sing ye to the Lord, Edward C. Bairstow; Ye choirs of new Jerusalem, Sir Charles Villiers Stanford; He is risen, He is risen (Unser Herrscher), arr. John Scott; Grand Choeur Dialogue, for brass, timpani, and organ, Eugene Gigout CHRISTMAS ON FIFTH AVENUE Pro Organo (Pro Organo CD 7200) John Scott, Director of Music, Jeremy Bruns, organ Fanfare and Carol O Come all ye faithful, arr. David Willcocks; Up good Christen folk, and listen, harm G. R. Woodward; Sussex Carol, arr. David Willcocks; Tomorrow shall be my dancing day, Op. 75#2, John Gardner; Adam lay ybounden, Boris Ord; A spotless rose, Herbert Howells; Quelle est cette odeur agréable?, arr. David Willcocks; Infant Holy, Infant Lowly, arr. Gerre Hancock; Quem Pastores Laudavere, James Bassi; Est ist ein Ros entsprungen, Michael Praetorius arr. Jan Sandström; I Saw Three Ships, arr. Simon Preston; Nova, nova!, John Scott; Come thou Redeemer of the earth, harm G.R. Woodward, descant by John Scott; In the bleak mid-winter, Harold Darke; The Lamb, John Tavener; Once in royal David s city, arr. David Willcocks; Sans Day carol, arr. John Rutter; A babe is born, Op. 55, William Mathias; Nativity carol, John Rutter; Hark the herald angels sing (with brass fanfare), arr. David Willcocks. A CAPELLA II Koch International Classics (KIC-CD-7490) Gerre Hancock, Master of Choristers, Judith Hancock, Organist Eternal Light, Leo Sowerby, Go to Dark Gethsemane, T. Tertius Noble, A Setting of the Collect, Horatio W. Parker, Heaven and Heart, Anthony Piccolo, Draw Us In The Spirit s Tether, J. H. Ossewaarde, Three Motets, Charles Villiers Stanford, Magnificat, Alan Gray, Nunc Dimittis, Charles Wood, Tis the Day of Resurrection, Charles Wood, Vox Dicentis, Edward Naylor, Cinquieme Sonate en Ut mineur, Choral et Fugue, Alexandre Guilmant, Deep River, arr. Gerre Hancock, Ain a That Good News, arr. Dawson, Exekiel saw de Wheel, arr. Dawson. GREAT CATHEDRAL ANTHEMS XI Priory PRCD 629 (1999) Gerre Hancock, Master of Choristers; Judith Hancock, Organist The Lord is King, Lee Hoiby; I was glad, Leo Sowerby; Exaltabo te, Domine, Ned Rorem; Happy are all they that fear the Lord, Bruce Neswick; Now sinks the sun, Horatio Parker; Earthquake, Wind and Fire, Gerre Hancock; Let this mind be in you, Amy Beach; Open our eyes, Will Macfarlane; Draw us in the Spirit s tether, Harold Friedell; Arise, shine, Richard Dirksen

9 ST. THOMAS CHOIR Discography, page 2 A CAPPELLA FROM SAINT THOMAS Koch International Classics Gerre Hancock, Master of Choristers and Organist Hail, gladdening light, Charles Wood; Sicut Cervus, Exultate Deo, Palestrina; Ave Maria, Robert Parsons, Bruckner and Stravinsky; Haec Dies, Byrd, When the Lord turned again, Adrian Batten; Dum transisset sabbatum, John Taverner; Laudate Dominum, Tallis; Hear my prayer, Purcell; Take him, earth, for cherishing, Howells; Go tell it on the mountain, Bruce Saylor. EVENSONG FOR ADVENT Koch International Gerre Hancock, Master of Choristers; Patrick Allen, Organist A complete Evensong service including liturgy. REJOICE Ligeti Records Gerre Hancock, Master of Choristers and Organist, Judith Hancock, Organist The Salutation Carol, Joys Seven, O Come All Ye Faithful, I Saw Three Ships, Il est né, le divin enfant, While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks, Sussex Carol, God Rest You Merry Gentlemen, Benedicamus Domino, Adam Lay Ybounden, Bethlehem Down, Ding! Dong! Merrily on High, Sir Christèmas, See Amid the Winter s Snow, Tomorrow Shall be My Dancing Day, Infant Holy, Go Tell It on the Mountain, Silent Night, Toccata en si mineur (from Dix pièces), Gigout; Prélude et fugue en mi bémol, Op. 99, Saint-Saëns MAGNIFICAT AND NUNC DIMITTIS Priory Records Gerre Hancock, Master of Choristers; Patrick Allen, Organist Includes settings of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis by Harold Friedell, Conrad Susa, M. Searle Wright, Jean Titelouze, Leo Sowerby, Gunther Schuller and J. H. Ossewaarde. REJOICE IN THE LAMB, CHORAL MUSIC OF BENJAMIN BRITTEN Koch Intl. Gerre Hancock, Master of Choristers; Michael Kleinschmidt, Organist Te Deum in C Major, A Hymn of St. Columba, Jubilate Deo in C, Hymn to St. Cecilia, Prelude and Fugue on a Theme of Vittoria, Hymn to St. Peter, Rejoice in the Lamb, Op. 30. PRAISE THE LORD with The Choir of Saint Thomas Church London Records (New York) Gerre Hancock, Master of Choristers; Judith Hancock, Organist Fanfare, Gerre Hancock; Praise the Lord O My Soul, Ned Rorem; Three Motets; Rorem; Magnificat and nunc dimittis, Leo Sowerby; Sing my soul, His wondrous Love, Rorem; Improvisation sur le Te Deum for organ, Charles Tournemire; Magnificat and nunc dimittis, Conrad Susa; Great day, Trad., arr. Warren Martin; Te deum laudamus, Herbert Howells; Toccata for organ, Franz Schmidt; Draw us in the spirit s tether, Harold Friedell. CHRISTMAS AT ST. THOMAS, NEW YORK Stradivari Classics, digital (not available on LP).: *I saw three ships, trad. English; While shepherds watched their flocks, trad. English; *Tomorrow shall be my dancing day; Salutation carol, Gibbs; Infant holy, infant lowly, trad. Polish, arr. Hancock; Joys seven, Cleobury; Go, tell it on the mountain, Afro-American Spiritual, arr. Work; Prelude and Fugue in E-flat Major, Saint-Saëns (organ); Born on earth the Divine Christ Child, trad. French, arr. Rutter; *O come, all ye faithful, trad. English; Toccata in B minor, Gigout (organ); *Ding dong, merrily on high! trad. French; Sir Christemas, Mathias; *God rest ye merry, trad. English; *On Christmas night (Sussex carol), Vaughan Williams; *See, amid the Winter s snow, Goss; Adam lay Ybounden, Benedicamus Domino, and Bethlehem down, Warlock; Silent Night, Gruber, arr. Hancock. (*Arr. by David Willcocks) EASTER AT ST. THOMAS, FIFTH AVENUE (recorded at the Easter Morning service, April 7, 1985) Includes familiar Easter hymns; Jesus Christ is risen today (Easter Hymn); The strife is o er (Victory); The day of resurrection (Ellacombe) and others; Missa resurrectionis, Hancock; Sing ye to the Lord, Bairstow, and When the Lord turned, Batten.

10 ST. THOMAS CHOIR Discography, page 3 FESTIVE MUSIC FROM SAINT THOMAS (1984) Hail, gladdening light, Wood; Three Songs of Isaiah, Dirksen; i. Surely it is God, ii. Seek the Lord, iii. Arise, Shine. Evening Hymn, Gardiner; Draw us in the Spirit s tether, Friedell; Bring us, O Lord God, Harris; Deep River, arr. Hancock; Ezekiel saw de wheel, arr. Dawson. Available on LP. SILENT NIGHT AT ST. THOMAS (1982) Side 1: Silent night, Gruber; Jesus Child, Rutter; Adam lay ybounden, Ledger; A Hymn to the Virgin, Britten; Lullay, my liking, Holst; O little town of Bethlehem, Redner; Lord of the dance, Carter, arr. Bertalot; Side 2: God rest you merry, 18 th Century English; Alleluya, a new work is come, Wishart; Singet frisch (Sing merrily), Distler; Away in a manger, Kirkpatrick; Infant Holy, Infant lowly, Polish-arr. Hancock; O come, all ye faithful, 18 th Century English. Available on LP and Cassette. THE GREAT SERVICE, William Byrd (1981) Mattins and Evensong Canticles. A rare and complete version of Byrd s greatest piece of sacred music recorded by a choir of men and boys. Available on LP only. A CAPPELLA AT ST. THOMAS (1979) Includes English Cathedral music. Side 1: O sing unto the Lord, Tomkins; Hear my prayer, O Lord, Purcell; Laudate Dominum, Tallis; Ave verum corpus, Emendemus in melius, and Laudibus in sanctis, Byrd. Side 2: Magnificat and Nunc dimittis and Vox dicentis, Naylor; Plebs angelica, Tippett; Sing, my soul, Rorem. Available on LP only. 20TH CENTURY SERVICES AT ST. THOMAS (1977) Side 1: Te Deum laudamus and Jubilate Deo in C, Britten; Missa ad praesepe (Mass at the Crib), Malcolm. Side 2: Mass for Five Voices, Berkeley; Magnificat and Nunc dimittis (St. Paul s Cathedral), Howells. Available on LP only. Recordings are available through St. Thomas Church by visiting their web site: Karen McFarlane Artists, Inc Seneca Drive Cleveland, OH TOLL FREE (866) FAX (440)