Welcome to our Essex and East London Area Autumn Newsletter This autumn, we look forward our Annual Choral Festival at Brentwood Cathedral on Saturday 21 st October. Full details below. Also, still to come this year:- On 4th November we have an organ workshop, at St Mary s Shenfied and on 10 th December we have our West gallery workshop and Georgian Evensong at St Mary s church Wanstead. Website. We are very keen to improve our communications and our general publicity, and our new-user friendly website is now up and running. www.rscm-eel.org.uk The site is regularly updated and gives details of all our coming events. You also now have the facility to book and pay online. RSCM-EEL Annual Choral Festival 2017. This year our Festival is a very special occasion celebrating the Centenary of the Diocese of Brentwood. It will be held in the beautiful setting of Brentwood Cathedral on Saturday, 21 st October, 10 a.m. 5 p.m. with the Festival Thanksgiving Service at 4 p.m. The service will be conducted by Andrew Wright, Master of Music at Brentwood Cathedral. We invite all singers to join us for a memorable and enjoyable day of singing finishing with our Thanksgiving Service and experiencing that mixture of exhilaration and awe which we all feel in singing with massed choirs in a great building. Individual singers are warmly welcomed, as are members of choirs, robed or unrobed. The music this year has been specially chosen and is included in a booklet which has been designed and printed for us by the Royal School of Church Music, available at a cost of 5. The booklet is available now, or you can get it on the day. The day starts at 10am with registration and coffee/tea. After rehearsing together in the main hall, we break for sectional rehearsals, breaking for lunch at about 12.30pm. After lunch we are joined for our afternoon rehearsal by the two cathedral choirs. The Festival Service starts at 4pm. You are encouraged to invite members of your congregation and friends to attend this very special service. The music will include Blessed City, Heavenly Salem Bairstow, I give to you a new commandment - Peter Nardone, Xhosa Magnificat James Davy plus psalms and hymns reflecting the theme of celebration and thanksgiving. You can download the full music list and running order for the day and register via our website, or contact Shirley Timmins for information shirleytimmins@btinternet.com Brentwood cathedral The present building was designed by Mr. Quinlan Terry, the distinguished neo-classical architect. His plan incorporated the existing Gothic Revival Parish Church. The exterior of the new cathedral incorporates a portico of Portland stone comprising four columns and two pilasters. This central feature was inspired by Wren s design of the similar feature in St. Paul s. The new Cathedral was opened with a Solemn Mass of Dedication on 31 st May 1991, a truly ecumenical occasion: a peal of bells was rung from St. Thomas Church of England Church and the organist was Dr. Graham Elliott, Master of Music at Chelmsford Cathedral. Our Festival this year is witness to the continued sharing of faith and music by the Dioceses of Chelmsford and Brentwood. Date for your diary. Next year s Festival date is Saturday 29 th September at Chelmsford Cathedral.
History notes. The Diocese of Brentwood and Brentwood Cathedral Towards the end of the 19 th century Catholic Essex was part of the very widespread Diocese of Westminster and by the end of the first decade of the 1900s Cardinal Bourne became increasingly aware of the problems peculiar to Essex with its growing industrial developments and residential areas east of London and along the north bank of the River Thames and the work that was needed in large areas of rural Essex. The larger towns too were continuing to expand. He realised that the Church would benefit from having a Bishop resident in the county and made an extended visit to Rome at the beginning of 1917 to make his case. In February he received a letter from Rome advising him that His Holiness Pope Benedict XV has cut the county of Essex off from the Diocese of Westminster and erected it into a new and separate Diocese. The Cardinal s nominee for the first Bishop of Brentwood, was Monsignor Bernard Ward. As well as being a distinguished educationalist and the foremost historian of English Catholicism of his generation, Bishop Ward was also something of a railway buff: hence the choice of Brentwood as the seat of the new bishop because its station was the first on the London side of Shenfield junction, which gave access to the Colchester and Southend lines. Moreover, Brentwood itself boasted a fine, although modest, church which would become the Cathedral, as well as a number of convents and Catholic schools. The Diocese of Brentwood was formally erected on 20 July 1917 and Bishop Ward was named its first Ordinary. He died on 21 January 1920 and is buried at St Edmund s College, Ware,the very place where he had been born and educated and where he had spent most of his priestly life. Bishop Ward had a great devotion to St Edmund of Abingdon (or Canterbury), influencing the choice of that saint as a Secondary Patron of the new diocese (together with St Erconwald and subsequently St Cedd). Moreover, Bishop Ward s great personal devotion to Our Lady s shrine at Lourdes ensured that Brentwood was the first diocese in England & Wales to have Our Lady of Lourdes as its Principal Patron. At the heart of the Diocese is of course its Cathedral. Over the years it became evident that the little Parish Church was hardly adequate for the many celebrations it was called on to host and Bishop Casey after much consultation opted for a small multipurpose cathedral which involved the extension of the existing church rather than a completely new building. In 1974 the new cathedral was opened. Again in the late 1980 s Bishop Thomas McMahon grew increasingly aware of the limitations and disadvantages of the existing cathedral and fresh problems emerged with regard to the structure of the building and its liturgical suitability. Mr. Quinlan Terry, the distinguished neo-classical architect was asked to design the new building. Mr Terry came up with a plan where the old Gothic church would be joined to a neo-classical building and half the present building (the 1972-74 extension) demolished. The exterior of the new cathedral incorporates a portico of Portland stone comprising four columns and two pilasters. This central feature was inspired by Wren s design of the similar feature in St. Paul s. The new Cathedral was opened with a Solemn Mass of Dedication on 31 st May 1991, a truly ecumenical occasion: a peal of bells was rung from St. Thomas Church of England Church and the organist was Dr. Graham Elliott, Master of Music at Chelmsford Cathedral. Our Festival this year is witness to the continued sharing of faith and music by the Dioceses of Chelmsford and Brentwood. Shirley Timmins
Saturday 4 th November Organ workshop with Richard Brasier St Mary s Church Shenfield CM15 9AL led by Richard Brasier This morning s event is a combined Master-class and Workshop and is designed for all organists who would like professional help and encouragement with any aspect of their playing at all levels. Please bring something to play a hymn or a piece or some service music. This is a not-to-be-missed opportunity to have top quality advice from Richard, who is currently Director of Music at St Laurence, Upminster, and teaches both at Sevenoaks School and for the Royal College of Organists Academy. He is musical editor for Dr J Butz Musikverlag (publishers) in Germany, where he studied after gaining his performance diploma from the Royal Academy in London. He is establishing himself as a fine player, giving recitals both here and on the continent. His work at the RCO Summer Academy has been described as inspirational and truly encouraging Due to popular demand: Sunday 19 November In parts, not in pieces: succeeding with a small choir. St Francis of Assisi, Barkingside, IG6 2LA. 2pm 5pm A workshop with Rosemary Field, deputy director of RSCM, with tips and strategies for making the most of smaller choirs. This will be a hugely enjoyable event with Rosemary, whose approachable and nononsense manner has made her a firm favourite with choirs around the UK. For details and registration, contact: jamesbdavy@btinternet.com Sunday 10 th December West Gallery Workshop & Georgian Evensong Workshop 3 pm. Evensong 6 pm. St Mary s Church Wanstead 2LN E11 directed by Dr. Francis Roads St.Mary's is about one third of a mile from Wanstead Station and there is parking in the road outside. St Mary's Church is in Hall Lane, a turning off Shenfield Road A1025 Parking is available next to the church or at the school opposite The church is about 10 minutes walk from Shenfield Station Buses: No 81 (Shenfield Stn Brentwood) pass the end of Hall Lane Time: 10.00 am - 1.00 pm. Please arrive by 9.45 for a prompt start at 10.00. There will be a break for tea/coffee during the morning Cost: Adults 7.50 *School pupils 4 *Those under 18 years of age, unless accompanied by an adult responsible for them, must provide an indemnity form signed by a parent or guardian before the event begins. Visit our website to download the registration form or book and pay on line. Contact John Rippin instrumental@rscm-eel.org.uk for more information or to book by post. A seasonal workshop for musicians and singers, culminating with Georgian Evensong led by the Reverend Dr. Gordon Giles M.Litt., B.A. Mulled wine and mince pies! All in one of the finest Georgian Churches in England. For bookings ( 6) and further information contact: Shirley Timmins, 156 Warley Hill, Brentwood CM14 5HF shirleytimmins@btinternet.com or 01277 233302 (answerphone). You can also book on line and pay via our website. WEST GALLERY MUSIC WORKSHOP further information On Sunday, 10 th December, 2017 we are holding a West Gallery Workshop for musicians and singers, followed by a Georgian Evensong and mulled wine and mince pies at the lovely Church of St. Mary s, Wanstead. The workshop will be led by Dr. Francis Roads and our Minister for Evensong will be the
Reverend Dr. Gordon Giles, who will be familiar to you from his contributions to Church Music Quarterly. West Gallery music, also known as Georgian Psalmody is the music (metrical psalms, with a few hymns and anthems) sung and played in English churches and non-conformist chapels from around 1700-1850. The term derives from the wooden galleries which were constructed at the west end of churches during the 18 th century upon which the choir would perform. Victorians disapproved of these Georgian galleries and most were removed during restorations in the 19 th century. St. Mary s Church, Wanstead was built to designs by the architect Thomas Hardwick and completed in 1790 and has not been substantially altered since it was originally built. It is now listed Grade I and is regarded as one of the three or four finest Georgian churches in London and indeed in the Country. It has recently been restored and is looking even more splendid. In the 18th century, very few country churches had an organ, and for music they depended on the vocal efforts of the parish clerk and congregation, who sang psalms in the metrical paraphrases of the Old Version (1562) or New Version (1696). From about 1670 on, companies of singers were formed, and the first music specially composed for such country choirs appeared about 1700. Village singers learnt to sing by note in harmony, and adopted a vigorous style of singing, often varying the point at which the voices entered, known as fuguing. Most early west gallery groups sang unaccompanied, but later they were augmented by instruments such as the serpent (and yes we will have one of these on 10 th December!), violin, cello, clarinet, flute and bassoon. As the primary purpose of the accompanying instruments was to maintain the pitch of the singers, they tended to double the vocal parts. Use of West Gallery music in the Church dwindled when the organ became popular. The old church bands were often difficult for a vicar to control, while influence over an organist was a much easier task. Such ousting of the band by an organist is given fictional treatment in Thomas Hardy s early novel Under the Greenwood Tree. In the end, as Hardy observed, changes of various kinds in church and village life and practice led to the demise of the singers as an independent force in English country churches: the galleries and singing seats were destroyed, the instruments were disposed of, and the manuscript music books lost. The music was disapproved of because it was considered not solemn enough for worship by members of the Oxford Movement. The churches came to be dominated by a harmonium or an organ, and the people sang in regimented fashion from Hymns Ancient & Modern. In the 1980s West Gallery Music experienced a revival and is now sung by several West Gallery Quires. Dr. Francis Roads who studied music at Pembroke College, Oxford and the Royal College of Music, London is now the Musical Director of the London Gallery Quire. He took early retirement from a 30 year teaching career in 1994. Since then he has devoted himself to researching and editing West Gallery church music. His doctoral thesis included the first modern edition of some West Gallery manuscripts from the Isle of Man. He is an active member of the West Gallery Music Association. He is particularly keen to promote the use of West Gallery music in modern church services and to this end he has led workshops, often followed by an evensong in many places, Goring-on-Thames (Oxon), Stow-cum- Quy (Cambs), Tisbury (Wilts), Leytonstone (Essex), Norwich (evensong televised by Anglia TV), Hadleigh (Suffolk), Hastings (Sussex) and Douglas (Isle of Man) as well as in the USA.
The Rev d Dr Gordon Giles studied music and aesthetics at Lancaster University. A M.Litt in Philosophy at Cambridge University followed and then he worked as Chaplain for the Missions to Seafarers in the North-east of England. After studying theology at Ridley Hall Cambridge, he was ordained in Ely Cathedral and served a curacy in a parish in urban Cambridge. In 1998 he became Succentor of St Paul s Cathedral in London, where he sang choral services and worked on large scale events such as the service after the 9/11 bombings; Millennium and Jubilee services. In 2003 he became Vicar of St Mary Magdalene's Church in Enfield, North London,. He has written several books on church music, hymnody and liturgy and writes a regular hymn meditation in the RSCM's Church Music Quarterly and as well as being one of the editors of the newly published Ancient and Modern hymnbook, he is also a Director of the English Hymnal Company. In 2012 was awarded a PhD by Middlesex University for his work on hymnody, liturgy and musicology. Events for 2018 Your RSCM-EEL Committee is planning workshops and singing events for the year ahead. We would value your suggestions as to what you would find relevant and useful in our role as church musicians. Please contact the events coordinator, Shirley Timmins. events@rscm-eel.org.uk Like to keep in touch? Join our mailing list. Email us at admin@rscm.org.uk to be mailed with our RSCM-EEL coming events and workshops. If you change your email address it would be helpful to let us know. We do hope you will be able to join us on 10 th December RSCM-EEL Chorister Awards Full Details of the RSCM-EEL Chorister Awards are available on our website, plus syllabus and further information. Deans Chorister Awards. John Cox deansaward@rscm-eel.org.uk Bishops Chorister Award. Bill Brooks bishopsaward@rscm-eel.org.uk A date for 2018. The presentation of the Deans and Bishops Chorister Awards will take place on Saturday 20 th January during a service of vespers at Brentwood Cathedral. Voice for Life Contact our Education and Training Officer Emmelia van der Walt training@rscm-eel.org.uk