Friday 12 February 2016

What we've achieved so far...

As it's our 20th anniversary year, I thought some readers might just be interested in seeing exactly what we've done up to now and where.

So, starting with what was supposed to be a one-off occasion up to the present day, here goes!

(Events marked by an an asterisk* were with the Schola only, not the full choir.)

1996

15th June. Church of the Immaculate Conception & St John of Beverley.
Missa Cantata. Chant proper, Palestrina, Missa Papae Marcelli & motets
Vespers & Benediction

16th November, Leeds Cathedral
Sung Requiem. Victoria à 6

1997

22nd March, St Peter's Church, Belle Isle, Leeds
Vespers and Benediction

15th August,  Leeds Cathedral
Mass for the Feast of the Assumption.
Chant proper, Palestrina, Missa Assumpta est Maria

1998

31st October, Holy Family Church, Pontefract
Mass on the eve of All Saints' Day
Victoria. Missa O Quam Gloriosum. Stanford, Justorum Animae.

1999

20th March, Church of St John the Baptist, Normanton
Missa Cantata (Eve of Passion Sunday)
Seiber, Missa Brevis & Bruckner motets

9th July. Brinkburn Priory
Missa Cantata
Palestrina, Missa Brevis. Motets by Victoria & Byrd

6th November. Church of SS Mary & Everilda, Everingham.
Sung Requiem. Victoria à 6

2000

18th March. Holy Family Church, Pontefract
Solemn Mass. Ember week in Lent
Monteverdi, Messe a quattro voci. Motets by Victoria, Tallis & Palestrina

30th June. Sacred Heart Chapel, Broughton Hall, Skipton.
Feast of the Sacred Heart. Missa Cantata.
Palestrina, Missa Brevis & motets by Viadana and Victoria.

15th July. Church of St Columba, Bradford
Missa Cantata & Benediction. Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
Byrd. Mass for four voices. Motets by Byrd, Bruckner & Allegri

9th September. Brinkburn Priory.
Solemn High Mass of Our Lady
Palestrina, Missa Papae Marcelli. Motets by Guerrero & Monteverdi

29th September. Church of SS Mary & Everilda, Everingham
Missa Cantata commemorating the Restoration of the Catholic Hierarchy of England & Wales
Chant proper, Missa de angelis & motets by Richard Dering

18th November. Church of St Charles, Attercliffe, Sheffield.
Solemn Requiem. Anerio Requiem

2001

18th March. Church of St Joseph, Pickering.
First Vespers of St Joseph & Benediction.

1st July 2001. Church of St Charles, Attercliffe, Sheffield
Solemn Mass & Benediction. Feast of the Most Precious Blood.
Haydn, Little Organ Mass. Motets by Anerio, Mozart, Elgar & Allegri

21st July, St Joseph's Church, Bradford
Solemn Mass. Feast of St Laurence of Brundesi
Victoria, Missa O Quam Gloriosum & motets by Bruckner, Scarlatti & Byrd

27th July, Church of SS Mary & Everilda, Everingham
Ferial Sung Mass.

25th November. All Saints' Church, North Street, York
Pontifical Mass for the Feast of Christ the King
Palestrina, Missa Assumpta est Maris & motets by Victoria & Grancini

22nd December. Church of Our Lady, Acomb, York.
Service of Readings and Carols & Benediction.

2002

2nd February. Church of St Andrew, Bolton-on-Dearne
Mass (English Missal) for Candlemas
Missa de angelis & motets by Byrd & Victoria

30th March, Church of All Saints, North Street, York*
Holy Week 2002. Easter Vigil Service.

20th April, All Saints' North Street, York
The Pre-Reformation Mass. Requiem according to the Use of York.

27th July. Church of St. Andrew, Bolton-on-Dearne
Traditional English Missal Mass of Our Lady
Missa de angelis & motets by Kodaly & Dering

15th September. Church of the Holy Souls, Scunthorpe
Solemn Mass. 17th Sunday after Pentecost
Monteverdi, Messa a quattro voci. Motets by Stanford & Byrd

2nd November, Church of St Therese of the Child Jesus, Sheffield
Solemn Requiem. Victoria à 4

6th December. The Norman Chapel of St Nicholas in Pickering Castle
Traditional Carol Service (Feast of St Nicholas)

2003

22nd February. Church of St Joseph, Scarborough
Feast of the Chair of St Peter
Scarlatti, Missa Quatuor Vocum & motets by Palestrina & Rivafrecha

3rd May, Church of St Paulinus, York.
Mass for 2nd Sunday after Easter
Missa de angelis & motets by Mozart, Pitoni & Soriano

17th May, Byland Abbey
Mass for the Walsingham Association

7th June, Church of St Norbert, Crowle, Lincolnshire
Solemn Mass. Vigil of Pentecost
Palestrina, Missa Brevis. Motets by Aichinger, Palestrina & Soriano

8th June. St Mary's Centre, Middlesbrough*
Missa Cantata for Pentecost

28th September, Church of All Saints, Ryther.
Harvest Festival Service.
Motets by Byrd & Charles Wood

12th October, Greek Orthodox Church of the Three Hierarchs, Leeds*
Feast of St. Wilfrid. Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom

22nd November. Church of St Norbert, Crowle, Lincolnshire
Solemn Mass for the Feast of St Cecilia
Byrd, Mass for five voices. Motets by Bardos, Bruckner & Stanford

30th November. Greek Orthodox Church of the Three Hierarchs, Leeds*
(In the presence of the Lord Mayor of Leeds)
Feast of St. Andrew. Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom

21st December, Church of St Paulinus, York
Traditional Carol Service & Benediction.

2004

25th February, Church of St John the Evangelist, Allerton Bywater
Ash Wednesday. Missa Cantata.
Byrd, Mass for three voices. Motets by Byrd & Lassus

20th March, Church of St Joseph, Pickering
Solemn Mass commemorating the centenary of St Joseph's Parish
Byrd, Mass for three voices, Ave Verum & O Quam Suavis

18th April, Church of St John the Evangelist, Allerton Bywater*
Missa Cantata for Low Sunday

16th May, Church of St John the Evangelist, Allerton Bywater*
Missa Cantata for the 5th Sunday of Easter.

30th May, Church of St John the Evangelist, Allerton Bywater*
Mass for Pentecost

12th June, All Saints' North Street, York
Medieval Procession and Mass of Corpus Christi

26th June, St Mary's Church, Barnard Castle
Solemn Nuptial Mass (Francis & Julie Carey)
Mozart, Missa Brevis in D [K.194] Motets by Fauré and Mozart

24th July, St Mary's Church, Barnard Castle*
The First Founders' Day Requiem for John & Josephine Bowes

2nd October, Church of the Holy Souls, Scunthorpe
Missa Cantata for the Feast of the Holy Guardian Angels
Byrd, Mass for four voices. Motets by Michael Haydn & Casciolini

13th November, Church of St John the Evangelist, Allerton Bywater
Solemn Requiem Mass. Victoria à 4

22nd  December, St Mary's Church, Bishophill Junior, York.
Traditional Carol Service

2005

19th March, Church of St Joseph, Pickering
Mass for the Feast of St Joseph
Victoria, Mass & motet O Quam Gloriosum

23rd April, St Cuthbert's Church, Wigan
The Solemnity of St George.
Victoria, Missa O Quam Gloriosum & motets O Quam Gloriosum and Pange Lingua

4th May, St Mary's Church, Bishophill Junior, York*
Compline (Eve of the Ascension)

4th June, Sheffield (Anglican) Cathedral
Russian Orthodox Divine Liturgy for the Feast of SS Constantine and Helen

3rd July, St Mary's Church, Bishophill Junior, York*
Compline of Sunday

10th July, Kirkham Priory*
Gregorian Chant Mass

23rd July. St Mary's Church, Barnard Castle*
Founders' Day Requiem

6th August, Church of St John the Evangelist, Allerton Bywater*
Mass for the Feast of the Transfiguration.

17th September, Brinkburn Priory
Solemn High Mass of the BVM
Byrd Mass for 4 voices & motets by Byrd and Victoria

22nd October, Greek Orthodox Church of the Three Hierarchs, Leeds*
Pan-Orthodox Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom

22nd December, Church of St John the Evangelist, Allerton Bywater
Traditional Carol Service and Benediction.

2006

25th February, St Joseph's Church, Gateshead
Solemn Nuptial Mass (David & Theresa O'Neill)
Byrd, Mass for three voices & Franc, Panis Angelicus

25th March, St Mary's Church, Barnard Castle*
Missa Cantata. Feast of the Annunciation

10th June, Church of SS Mary & Everilda, Everingham
Sung Mass to commemorate our 10th anniversary.
Palestrina, Missa Papae Marcelli
Motets by Victoria & Tallis and (believed to be) the first catholic liturgical performance of the Solemn York Salve Regina (St. Mary's Abbey) since the Reformation!

22nd July, St Mary's Church, Barnard Castle*
Founders' Day Requiem

28th October, Greek Orthodox Church of the Three Hierarchs, Leeds*
Pan-Orthodox Liturgy of St John Chrysostom

4th November, Church of the Holy Souls, Scunthorpe
Solemn Requiem. Lobo à 8

17th December, Church of St John the Evangelist, Allerton Bywater*
Missa Cantata for Gaudete Sunday.

20th December, St Mary's Church, Bishophill Junior, York
Traditional Carol Service

2007

21st January, Church of St John the Evangelist, Allerton Bywater*
Missa Cantata for the 3rd Sunday after Epiphany.

18th February, Church of St John the Evangelist, Allerton Bywater*
Missa Cantata for Quinquagesima Sunday.

11th March, St Mary's Church, Bishophill Junior, York*
First Vespers for the Feast of St Gregory the Great.

18th March, Church of St John the Evangelist, Allerton Bywater*
Missa Cantata for Laetare Sunday

15th April, Church of St John the Evangelist, Allerton Bywater*
Missa Cantata for Low Sunday.

13th May, Church of SS Mary and Everilda, Everingham
Missa Cantata for the 5th Sunday of Easter
Palestrina, Missa Brevis & motets by Lassus, Schütz and Soriano

20th May, Church of St john the Evangelist, Allerton Bywater*
Missa Cantata for the Sunday after Ascension.

9th June, More House Chapel, University of York*
Greek-Catholic Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom.

17th June, Church of the English Martyrs, York*
Gregorian Chant Mass of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

15th July, Church of the English Martyrs, York
Missa Cantata, 7th Sunday after Pentecost.
Byrd, Mass for three voices

21st July, St Mary's Church, Barnard Castle*
Founders' Day Requiem

19th August, Church of the English Martyrs, York*
Missa Cantata. 12th Sunday after Pentecost

8th September, Brinkburn Priory
Solemn Mass for the Nativity of the BVM
Byrd Propers from the Gradualia & Byrd Ave Verum

9th September, St Mary's Abbey, York*
Vespers of the BVM
Concluding with the York Salve Regina, believed to be the first time it was sung in the Abbey (ruins) since the Dissolution & Reformation.

16th September, Church of the English Martyrs, York*
Missa Cantata. 16th Sunday after Pentecost

13th October, Church of Our Lady of Sorrows, Bamford, Derbyshire
Traditional Nuptial Mass

21st October, Church of the English Martyrs, York*
Mass for the 21st Sunday after Pentecost.

1st November, Church of St John the Evangelist, Allerton Bywater*
Solemn Mass for the Feast of All Saints.

4th November, Church of the English Martyrs, York*
Mass for the 23rd Sunday after Pentecost

17th November, Church of the Holy Souls, Scunthorpe
Missa Cantata for the Feast of St. Hugh of Lincoln
Victoria, Mass & motet 'O Quam Gloriosum' & Byrd, Sacerdotes Domini

18th November, Church of the English Martyrs, York*
Solemn Mass for the 25th Sunday after Pentecost.

2nd December, Church of the English Martyrs, York*
Mass for the 1st Sunday of Advent.

16th December, Church of the English Martyrs, York
Mass for Gaudete Sunday.

20th December, St Mary's Church, Bishophill Junior, York
Traditional Carol Service

2008

6th January, Church of the English Martyrs, York*
Mass for the Feast of the Epiphany.

20th January, Church of the English Martyrs, York*
Mass for Septuagesmima Sunday.

2nd February, Church of the Holy Souls, Scunthorpe
Solemn Mass for Candlemas.
Byrd Mass for four voices & Propers from the Gradualia

3rd February, Church of the English Martyrs, York*
Mass for Quinquagesima Sunday.

16th March, Church of the English Martyrs, York*
Mass for Palm Sunday.

20th April, Church of the English Martyrs, York*
Missa Cantata for the 4th Sunday after Easter.

3rd May, More House Chapel, University of York*
Byzantine Catholic Liturgy for Pascha in Bright Week.

10th May, Church of St Chad, Manchester
Solemn Mass for the Vigil of Pentecost
Jeff Ostrowski, Missa Summi et Aeterni Sacerdoti (first performance outside the USA)
Motets by Allegri, Tallis, Monteverdi and Soriano

11th May, Tyburn, Knavesmire, York*
Mass for the dignity of human life.

18th May, Church of the English Martyrs, York*
Missa Cantata for the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity.

15th June, Church of the English Martyrs, York*
Missa Cantata for the 5th Sunday after Pentecost.

23rd June, Trinity & All Saints College, Leeds*
Solemn High Mass for The Nativity of St John the Baptist.

12th July, St Mary's Church, Barnard Castle*
Annual Founders' Day Requiem

20th July, Church of the English Martyrs, York*
Missa Cantata for the 10th Sunday after Pentecost.

15th August, Church of St John the Evangelist, Allerton Bywater*
Missa Cantata for the Feast of the Assumption.

17th August, Church of the English Martyrs, York*
Missa Cantata for the 14th Sunday after Pentecost.

13th September, St Mary's Cathedral, Newcastle upon Tyne*
Solemn High Mass in Honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

20th September, Brinkburn Priory
Solemn Mass in honour of the BVM
Josquin, Messe Ave Maris Stella. Motets by Guerrero & Rivafrecha

21st September, Church of the English Martyrs, York*
Missa Cantata for the 19th Sunday after Pentecost.

19th October, Church of the English Martyrs, York*
Missa Cantata for the 23rd Sunday after Pentecost.

25th October, Church of the English Martyrs, York
Solemn Mass in honour of the BVM
Josquin, Messe Ave Maris Stella. Motets by Guerrero & Rivafrecha

16th November, St Mary's Abbey, York*
1. Vespers of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

16th November, Church of the English Martyrs, York*
2. Missa Cantata for the 27th Sunday after Pentecost.

18th December, St Mary's Church, Bishophill Junior, York
Traditional Carol Service

21st December, Church of the English Martyrs, York*
Missa Cantata for the 4th Sunday of Advent.

25th December, Church of St John the Evangelist, Allerton Bywater*
Missa Cantata for the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Midnight Mass.

2009

20th February, St Mary's Church, Bishophill Junior, York
Choral Vespers of the BVM
Motets by Grandi, Hassler, Lassus & Soriano

21st March, St Mary's Church, Bishophill Junior, York*
First Vespers of Laetare Sunday.

9th April, Notre Dame Chapel, Leeds*
Paschal Triduum 2009. Mass of the Lord's Supper.

10th April, Notre Dame Chapel, Leeds*
Paschal Triduum 2009. Commemoration of the Lord's Passion.

11th April, Notre Dame Chapel, Leeds*
Paschal Triduum 2009. The Easter Vigil.

23rd May, St Marie's Church, Halifax
Missa Cantata. External solemnity of the Ascension.
Moets by Schaller, Croce & Soriano

6th June, St Mary's Church, Bishophill Junior, York*
First Vespers of Trinity Sunday.

19th June, St Mary's Church, Bishophill Junior, York*
Second Vespers and Compline Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

27th June, Church of St Alphonsus, North Ormesby, Middlesbrough
Mass and Devotions for the Feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour
Palestrina, Missa Veni Sponsa Christi. Motets by Elgar & Croce

18th July, St Mary's Church, Barnard Castle*
Annual Founders' Day Requiem

21st July, St Mary's Church, Barnard Castle*
Missa Cantata to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Fr Wilfrid Elkin

16th August, St Mary's Church, Bishophill Junior, York
Mass of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

5th September, Brinkburn Priory
Solemn Mass, St Laurence Justinian
Lotti, Mass in A minor. Motets by Scarlatti & Dering

7th November, Church of the Holy Souls, Scunthorpe
Solemn Requiem. Victoria à 6, Versa est in luctum.

21st December, St Mary's Church, Bishophill Junior, York.
Traditional Carol Service

2010

14th February, Church of the English Martyrs, York
Missa Cantata, Quinquagesima Sunday
Lotti, Missa Brevis. Motets by Palestrina & Zwyssig

14th March, Church of the English Martyrs, York
Lotti, Mass in A Minor. Motets by Tallis

15th April, Ushaw College
Solemn Requiem. Victoria à 6

18th April, Church of the English Martyrs, York*
Second Sunday after Easter. Missa Cantata.

16th May, Church of the English Martyrs, York
Missa Cantata, External Solemnity of the Ascension
Byrd, Mass for three voices

23rd May, Church of the English Martyrs, York*
Missa Cantata for the Feast of Pentecost.

20th June, Church of the English Martyrs, York
Missa Cantata, 4th Sunday after Pentecost
Christoph Dalitz, Mass in Eb. Motets by Victoria & Elgar

18th July, Church of the English Martyrs, York*
Missa Cantata, 8th Sunday after Pentecost

31st July, St Mary's Church, Barnard Castle*
Annual Founders' Day Requiem

11th September, Brinkburn Priory
Tallis, Mass for four voices. Motets by Monteverdi

14th September, Church of St Charles Borromeo, Hull*
Solemn High Mass for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

26th September, Church of the English Martyrs, York*
Missa Cantata for the 18th Sunday after Pentecost.

1st October, Church of St Therese of the Child Jesus, Sheffield*
3rd October, Church of St Therese of the Child Jesus, Sheffield*
Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the Parish

17th October, Church of the English Martyrs, York*
Missa Cantata for the 21st Sunday after Pentecost.

2nd November, Church of the English Martyrs, York
Solemn Requiem for the Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed. (All Souls) Fauré Requiem.

14th November, Church of the Holy Souls, Scunthorpe
Remembrance Sunday. Solemn Requiem. Victoria à 6. Motet, Versa est in luctum

21st November, Church of the English Martyrs, York*
Missa Cantata for the Last Sunday after Pentecost.

19th December, Church of the English Martyrs, York*
Missa Canata for the 4th Sunday of Advent.

20th December, St Mary's Church, Bishophill Junior, York
Traditional Carol Service

2011

16th January, Church of the English Martyrs, York*
Missa Cantata: Second Sunday after Epiphany.

12th February, Church of the English Martyrs, York
Missa Cantata. Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order.
Christoph Dalitz, Mass in E Major. Motets by Mozart

20th February, Church of the English Martyrs, York*
Missa Cantata, Septuagesima Sunday

26th March, York Minster
Missa Cantata. Feast of St Margaret Clitherow.
Byrd, Mass for 5 voices and motets Iustorum anime, Ave Verum & Ave Regina Caelorum

26th March, Church of the English Martyrs, York
Benediction (1st Margaret Clitherow Pilgrimage)

21st April, Notre Dame Chapel, Leeds*
Paschal Triduum 2011. Mass of the Lord's Supper.

22nd April, Notre Dame Chapel, Leeds*
Paschal Triduum 2011. Commemoration of the Lord's Passion.

23rd April, Notre Dame Chapel, Leeds*
Paschal Triduum 2011. The Easter Vigil.

30th April, Stow Minster
Solemn Sung Eucharist in the Octave of Easter
Palestrina, Missa Brevis. Motets by Furmanik, Bairstow & Soriano

18th June, Church of St Joseph, Scarborough (Our 15th anniversary service!)
Palestrina, Missa Papae Marcelli. Motets by Aichinger, Tallis & Lotti

9th July, St Mary's Church, Bishophill Junior, York*
Gregorian Chant Workshop & Compline

23rd July, St Mary's Church, Barnard Castle
Annual Founders Day Requiem. Victoria à 4

10th September, Brinkburn Priory
Solemn High Mass
Hassler, Missa Secunda. Motets by Victoria & Pergolesi

29th October, Ampleforth Abbey (in conjunction with other choirs)
Orthodox Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom
Music by Rachmaninov, Kastalsky, Chesnokov, Arkhangelsky & other Slavonic chants

11th November, St Mary's Church, Bishophill Junior, York*
Remembrance Day. Vespers of the Faithful Departed.

19th December, St Mary's Church, Bishophill Junior, York
Traditional Carol Service

2012

21st January, Ampleforth Abbey (with other choirs)
Orthodox Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom
Music by Rachmaninov, Kastalsky, Chesnokov, Arkhangelsky & other Slavonic chants

11th February, St Mary's Church, Bishophill Junior, York
Open Day with the Rudgate Singers

24th March, Churches of St Wilfrid and the English Martyrs, York
Solemn Mass in honour of St Margaret Clitherow
Benediction
Missa 'Summi et Aeterni Sacerdoti, Jeff Ostrowski.
Motets by Victoria, Scarlatti, Bruckner, De Wael, Gombert, Perosi & Allegri

6th May, Church of St Hilda, Leeds
The May Devotion. Vespers, Procession & Benediction

19th May, York Minster
The 2012 Choirs in the Minster Home-Start Concert

21st May, St Mary's Church, Bishophill Junior, York*
Orthodox Divine Liturgy for the Feast of SS Constantine and Helen

21st July, St Mary's Church, Barnard Castle
Annual Founders' Day Requiem. Pearsall Requiem (1st liturgical performance!)

8th September, Brinkburn Priory
Solemn Mass for the Nativity of the BVM
Monteverdi, Messe a quattro voci. Motets by Victoria, Guerrero & Praetorius.

9th September, St Mary's Church, Bishophill Junior, York*
Festival Evensong for the Dedication of the New Stations of the Cross.

25th September, Mater Dolorosa Church, Imsterberg, Tirol, Austria*
Votive Mass of the Holy Guardian Angels

26th September, Mater Dolorosa Church, Imsterberg, Tirol, Austria*
Compline

27th September, Mater Dolorosa Church, Imsterberg, Tirol, Austria*
Gregorian Chant Mass

15th December, St Marie's Church, Halifax*
Solemn High Mass for the Silver Jubilee of Mgr. David Smith (our first ever celebrant)

21st December, St Mary's Church, Bishophill Junior, York
Traditional Carol Service

2013

12th April, Ratcliffe College, Leicester
Solemn Requiem Mass. Victoria à 4

4th May, Churches of St Wilfrid & the English Martyrs, York.
Solemn Mass in honour of St Margaret Clitherow
Victoria, Missa Simile est Regnum. Motets by Bardos, Croce, Webbe & Allegri

29th June, Bar Convent Chapel, York*
Sung Mass for the Silver Jubilee of Fr. Richard Aladics

20th July, St Mary's Church, Barnard Castle*
Annual Founders' Day Requiem

14th September, Brinkburn Priory
Solemn Mass for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Byrd, Mass for four voices. Motets by King John IV of Portugal, & Felice Anerio

12th October, Church of St Augustine, Darlington
Missa Cantata. Feast of St Wilfrid
Victoria Missa 'O Quam Gloriosum' & motets, Ecce Sacerdos Magnus & O Quam Gloriosum

20th December, St Mary's Church, Bishophill Junior, York
Traditional Carol Service

2014

29th March, Church of St Wilfrid, York
Solemn Mass & Benediction (St Margaret Clitherow Pilgrimage)
Mozart Missa Brevis in D minor. Motets by Byrd, Pergolesi, Peter Phillips, Fresi, Perosi & Siniawski

23rd July, St Mary's Church, Barnard Castle
Annual Founders' Day Requiem. Victoria à 4

6th September, Brinkburn Priory
Solemn Mass of the BVM.

20th November, Markenfield Hall
Mass to Commemorate  the Rising of the North

19th December, St Mary's Church, Bishophill Junior, York
Traditional Carol Service

2015

9th May, Church of St Wilfrid, York.
Solemn Mass & Benediction (St Margaret Clitherow Pilgrimage)

25th July, St Mary's Church, Barnard Castle
Annual Founders' Day Requiem. Ett, Missa Pro Defunctis

5th August, Church of St Charles, Borromeo, Hull*
Missa Cantata. Our Lady of the Snows

29th August, St Mary's Church, Bishophill Junior, York
Vespers of the BVM. (Yorkshire Medieval Festival)

26th September, St Joseph's Church, Heywood
Choral Evensong of Our Lady of Walsingham

3rd October, Grounds of the former Dominican Priory in Arklow, Co. Wicklow*
Dominican Voices. In the presence of the Mayor of Arklow & civic dignitaries from County Wicklow
3rd October, Church of Sts Mary & Peter, Arklow*
Gregorian & Dominican Chant Mass
4th October, Church of St Saviour, Arklow*
Sung Eucharist

20th November, Markenfield Hall*
Sung Mass to commemorate the Rising of the North

21st December, St Mary's Church, Bishophill Junior, York
Traditional Carol Service

2016

6th January, Church of St Charles Borromeo, Hull*
Missa Cantata. Feast of the Epiphany

9th January, Church of the Sacred Heart, Hornsea*
Requiem Mass for Les Jones

Not bad for what was supposed to be a one-off occasion!

There are probably others which I've forgotten about, and I haven't included all the services for the Training Conferences at Ushaw (1 & 2), Ratcliffe, Belmont & Prior Park as these would easily add another 30-40 to this list...

The eagle-eyed among you may have spotted that every 5 years we aim to sing Palestrina's Missa Papae Marcelli, so expect that to appear at some point later this year!




Wednesday 3 February 2016

That was the weekend (& a bit) that was.

On Friday evening some of the Rudgates and friends came to Bishophill Jnr to sing Candlelit Compline as usual. We normally use the Roman Rite, but for the last few weeks have been trying the Dominican instead, in order to get more acquainted with it, after using (part of)  it on our very successful visit to Ireland last year.

Saturday morning saw me drive off up to Ampleforth Abbey to join other singers, principally from Ryedale, & Fr Alexander McCabe to take part in my first Byzantine Rite Liturgy of the weekend, served by a good friend of mine, Fr David Carnelly. Fortunately, I didn't have too much to do, other than chant the Epistle Reading using my own adaptation of Carpatho-Rusyn chant and provide 'stage directions' of when to sit and stand for the congregation!

One of the pleasures of being involved in these services, is the superb food and drink laid on for everyone afterwards, not just the singers. Such a meal at a restaurant or even a pub, would set you back a minimum of £25 - and it's all free! I just mention that here, so as to whet all your appetites in anticipation of the next Liturgy, which will be in October. That's plenty of time to ponder on such things. :-)

Even if the food doesn't tempt you, the music certainly should!

Sunday saw another morning drive to the Greek Orthodox Church in Leeds, where this past weekend they have been celebrating not only their Patronal Feast (The Three Hierarchs) but also the 50th Anniversary of the first Liturgy to take place in the church. A big occasion with various con-celebrating clergy from across the country. Byzantine chant in Greek and English being the music on offer, a complete contrast from the choral music of the previous day. In addition, we also had relics of the Apostle St Barnabas present, and were able to venerate them.

Here are some photos.






The Third of this trio of Byzantine Liturgies came in the Form of a Vesperal Liturgy for the eve of Candlemas which I sang for the small community of Sts Constantine & Helen in York as their usual chanter is recovering from a heart attack. Prayers for Elwin would be appreciated I'm sure. This was back in Bishophill Jnr, which, apart from being home to the C of E Parish and the Rudgates' base for rehearsals and the singing of the Divine Office, is also home to both Greek & Russian Orthodox communities (both named after SS Constantine & Helen).

Left to my own devices, I improvised (a lot!) and incorporated much of the Carpathian chant that I'd learned when singing Byzantine Greek-Catholic Liturgies at the University of York with the then Chaplain, Fr. Elias, who was bi-ritual.

Finally, to complete this liturgical marathon, I ventured out to the small (but perfectly formed) church in the tiny hamlet of Marton, near Hornsea in the East Riding of Yorkshire & back to the Roman Rite to sing an EF Mass for Candlemas, complete with procession out into the dark night, which promptly extinguished most if not all the candles!

The Church at Marton is lovely, and has a very pleasant acoustic, so singing there is a pleasure, which I hope to repeat  with more Rudgates, whether that's with the Schola only, or the full choir. I don't have any photos from last night, but, in the best 'Blue Peter' tradition, here are some I took on a previous visit!






After all this singing, a treat was in store, in the form of a splendid meal at a Thai restaurant in Beverley!

This coming Friday, we'll be using the Dominican Rite for Compline again. If any of you are in the Greater York area, do come along. You can find us in York's oldest church, St Mary, Bishophill Junior at 9pm. It would be lovely to see you!