Review of 2017

Since several people/organisations have done these already (some as early as the beginning of December!) I've decided that the Rudgates should have their own annual review, only 21 years after we first started! As we're not doing anything between now and the end of the year - and I'm unlikely to get involved in anything else due to recuperating from yet another cold - now is as good a time as any to look back.

On 28th January, some of the schola joined together with the excellent Clerkes of All Saints to chant 2nd Vespers (albeit prematurely) of Candlemas in All Saints' Church, North Street, York.

The following weekend (4th February) the schola visited St Mary's Church, Lastingham to sing Compline by candlelight in the crypt chapel. 

A lovely occasion which we are likely to repeat soon, having received an invitation to return! The Blacksmith's Arms, just across the road from the church is also highly recommended. :-)

In April, the Rudgates returned to North Street, again collaborating with the Clerkes to sing the Solemn Liturgy of Good Friday.

On 21st May, the schola visited what for us was a brand new venue, the church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Doncaster

to sing a full Gregorian Chant Mass, Proper, Ordinary and appropriate Paschaltide pieces. :-)

We then visited Markenfield Hall in July, joining forces with the wonderful St Austins's Choir from Wakefield to sing a Votive Mass in honour of St Maria Goretti. This was a very special occasion, as it was the first time that the Proper of this Mass had been sung in Europe. It had only been composed two years previously in Chicago for a Pontifical High Mass in St John Cantius' Church as no music for it had existed previously. The 6th July, St Maria's Feast Day, is normally only kept in the EF Roman Rite Ordo as a Feria or Octave Day of SS Peter & Paul.

When I knew the Rudgates were going to be singing for this, I did my homework and found out about the Chicago Mass, and asked their music department if we could use the Proper which they had composed. They very graciously emailed it to me by return, hence Markenfield became the venue for 21st Century American Gregorian Chant! St Austin's added to the occasion by singing the superlative Mass for Four Voices by William Byrd and other appropriate motets.

In addition to singing Compline by Candlelight and other services (mainly from the EF Catholic Divine Office) at our York base of St Mary's, Bishophill Junior, we have for the previous 3 years also contributed tho the Yorkshire Medieval Churches Festival which takes place in locations across (mainly North) Yorkshire throughout August.

This year was no exception, and we contributed to this by singing Roman Rite Vespers of the Blessed Virgin, followed by Dominican Rite Compline on the first Saturday of August. Later on in the month, The Rudgates premiered a liturgical performance of Michael Week's Choral Vespers, written for us and the church some years previously.

In October, St Mary's became the venue for the inaugural Mass (Divine Worship, Ordinariate Use) of the York Ordinariate Mission, which I sang on behalf of the schola. This was repeated in December for the 3rd Sunday of Advent.

Also in October (a personal highlight for me) was the return of the Rudgates to sing in the stunning venue of St Cuthbert's Chapel, Ushaw College.

It's a place I have long-since wanted to return to after being in charge of the music for the EF Training Conferences held at Ushaw in 2009 and 2010. I didn't think we would ever get the opportunity after the seminary closed down in 2011, but thanks to it re-opening as a Visitor Centre which also holds conferences, concerts and occasional services, we were eventually able to go back!

We reprised the Roman Rite Vespers of the BVM, which went down so well that we've been invited back to sing next year as part of the 450th Anniversary Celebrations. :-)

In November, the Rudgates went to Hull to sing a Mass for the Feast of St Charles Borromeo in St Charles' Church.

A service that was billed as a City of Culture Event. We sang the Byrd 4 Mass with motets from Johan Kaspar Aiblinger, Tallis and Schubert.

Later in November, we returned to Markenfield Hall to sing for the Annual Mass to Commemorate the 'Rising of the North', an event that is held at Markenfield every year on the 20th November. You can read more about the Rising and Markenfield's place in it here.

At the beginning of December, we visited the lovely church of St Joseph the Worker in Heywood.

This is the home of the Manchester Ordinariate Mission, and we've been there a few times now, firstly to sing Evensong, and latterly to sing for the Advent Procession which is a wonderfully atmospheric candlelit service of readings, hymns and choir items sung here on the eve of Advent Sunday. December 1st next year is already on the calendar!

Finally, we returned to Bishophill, for our Traditional Service of Lessons and Carols,

something we've been doing now for well over 10 years.

We have lots to plan for next year already, so here's to 2018!

Looking forward to 2018

Our Traditional Carol service at St. Mary's this evening, is our last event this year. If you're within reasonable distance of York City Centre, do come along!

This is not a time to rest on our laurels though, as we already have three invitations for 2018, (no dates yet, but they will be announced as soon as they are known!)

Sacred Heart, Linthorpe, Middlesbrough

A new venue for us, this is, in my opinion, the loveliest church in the northern part of the Catholic Diocese of Middlesbrough. We've been invited to sing for an Ordinary Form Roman Rite Latin Mass.

St Mary's Church, Lastingham

A return visit to sing in the lovely crypt chapel to sing Vespers and/or Compline by candlelight.

St Cuthbert's Chapel, Ushaw College

We been invited back to sing Vespers during the 450th anniversary celebrations! More details on these and other events and venues will be published when available. :-) 

Forthcoming Services

Friday 8th December, 7:30pm.

St Mary's Chantry Chapel, Wakefield

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

In Conceptione Immaculata Beatæ Mariæ Virginis ~ I. classis

Solemn High Mass (with St. Austin's Choir)

Roman Rite, Extraordinary Form

Proper from the Graduale Romanum

Arcadelt: Ave Maria

Palestrina: Alma Redemptoris Mater

Victoria: Gaude Maria

Not sure what the Mass setting will be yet, but it's likely to be either Byrd 4 or Casciolini.

Goodness knows how much room there will be in the chapel once the choir, sacred Ministers and servers have taken their places, so I suggest if you want to go, get there very early!

Saturday 9th December, 9:00pm

St Mary's Church, Bishophill Junior, York

Feria ~ III. classis

Compline by Candlelight

(The Rudgate Schola + friends)

Compline is being moved to Saturday evenings for the duration of Advent due to other events taking place at St Mary's and elsewhere.

Psalms {from the Psalter for the day of the week} 87; 102 (i); 102(ii)

Office Hymn: Te Lucis (third tune - Ferial)

Marian Antiphon: Alma Redemptoris Mater

 (from the Barnwell Antiphoner)

Sunday 10th December, 4:15pm

Middlesbrough Cathedral

Vespers (with the Cathedral Consort)

Palestrina: Matin Responsory

William Smith: Responses (adapted for OF Vespers)

Office Hymn: Come thou long-expected Jesus

Psalmody and Canticles (from the Psalter for Advent week II)

Stanford: Magnificat in Bb

Mendelssohn: There Shall a Star Come Out of Jacob

Advent

One of my favourite services of the year is the Advent Procession with lovely music built around the great O Antiphons. I'd attended the one at York Minster for a number of years (& sung the 'O's occasionally when I sang with York Cantores.)  I'd also been involved with other choirs' performances in different parts of Yorkshire.

I'm delighted that now, thanks to our friends in the Manchester Ordinariate Mission, the Rudgates now take part in one. Based at St. Joseph's Church in Heywood (between Bury & Rochdale) it is a wonderful choral candlelit service, and, for me, a highlight of my singing year! The church doesn't just have a splendid acoustic, it is also huge - large enough for a service like the Advent Procession to take place, so I hope we can return there often!

Here's a highlight (There is no Rose) from Saturday's service to whet your appetite for next year's, which will be on 1st December 2018, hopefully still in Heywood, so put the date in your diaries/calendars now!

Forthcoming Services

Friday 1st December, 9pm, 

St Mary's Church, Bishophill Junior, York

Compline by Candlelight

Feria Sexta infra Hebdomadam XXIV post Octavam Pentecostes V. Novembris ~ IV. classis

Psalms (from the Psalter of the day of the week) 76i; 76ii; 85. Antiphon Voce mea

Office Hymn: Te Lucis (3rd tune)

Marian Antiphon: The York Salve Regina

Strictly speaking, as it's not a major Feast Day (not even a feast day either!) we should still be singing the simple tone Salve, but I had a request two or three weeks ago for something else as it was the last opportunity to sing/hear the Salve Regina before Advent. Indeed, it's not often you hear it in December either! Rather than sing the Solemn Salve, I've gone for the York Use + tropes - one for the congregation to listen to this time. :-)

Saturday 2nd December, 4pm. 

St Joseph's Church, Heywood

The Advent Procession (with the Manchester Ordinariate Mission)

A candlelit choral service, processing around the church to mark the season of Advent.

Sunday 3rd December, 5pm,

 St Austin's Church, Wakefield

Solemn Vespers for the 1st Sunday of Advent (Roman Rite, Extraordinary Form)

Services This Week

Monday 20th November. 5:30pm

Markenfield Hall

Pilgrimage and Mass on the Anniversary of the Rising of the North.

Mass is celebrated here each year on the 20th November, the anniversary of the Rising in 1569.

Sunday 25th November. 5:30pm

St Helen's Church, Athersley, Barnsley

Solemn Mass (Anglican) to mark the retirement of Fr. Rodney Marshall.

with Saint Austin's Choir, Wakefield.

Services this week

Thursday 16th November. 7:00pm

St Michael's Church, Knottingley

Requiem Mass for the Faithful Departed

(with St. Austin's Choir, Wakefield)

Friday 17th November 7:00pm

St Mary's Church, Bishophill Junior, York

St Hilda, Abbess, optional memorial

or: St Hugh of Lincoln, Bishop, optional memorial

or: St Elizabeth of Hungary, optional memorial

Solemn Evensong according to the Customary of Our Lady of Walsingham

(The York Ordinariate Mission)

Psalm 89

Office Hymn: As we remember (NEH 222. Tune: Christe Fons Jugis)

Readings: Joel 2:28 – 3:8 Rev 19:11-16

Friday 17th November 9:00pm

St Mary's Church, Bishophill Junior, York

S Hilde Virginis ~ III. classis

Compline by Candlelight

(The Rudgate Singers & Friends)

Psalms {from the Psalter for the day of the week} 76(1); 76(ii); 85. Antiphon: Voce mea

Office Hymn: Te Lucis (1st tune)

Marian Antiphon: Salve Regina (simple tone)

Services This Week.

I’m only going to include those in which I have some involvement to a greater or lesser degree. So, here goes:

Friday 10^th November. St Mary’s Church, Bishophill Junior, York. 7:00pm.

St Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor, memorial

Evensong with the York Ordinariate Mission.

From the Customary of Our Lady of Walsingham.

Pss 53; 54; 55

Office Hymn: Give me the wings of faith to rise (Tune: Song 67) NEH 225

Readings: Sir (44:1-15) 50:1, 11-24 Rev (14:1-13) 15:1-8

Friday 10^th November. St Mary’s Church, Bishophill Junior, York. 9:00pm

S. Andreæ Avellini Confessoris ~ III. Classis

Compline by Candlelight with the Rudgates and friends.

Roman Rite Extraordinary Form.

Psalms {from the Psalter for the day of the week} 76(i); 76(ii); 85

Office Hymn: Te Lucis (1^st tune)

Marian Antiphon: Salve Regina (simple tone)

Sunday 12^th November. Middlesbrough Cathedral. 4:15pm

Remembrance Sunday.

Choral Vespers with the Middlesbrough Cathedral Consort.

Roman Rite. Ordinary Form.

Responses: Ushaw

Psalms and Canticle of Week iv

Office Hymn: Abide with me

Magnificat: Lassus, Quarti Toni

Motet: Felice Anerio, Requiem Aeternam

These are just the services that I’m involved in. There are others, some of which I’ve promoted in previous posts. Rather than list those on a week by week basis, I suggest you might like to bookmark this excellent site.

https://www.choralevensong.org/

Whilst it’s primary focus is on Choral Evensong within the C of E, it does also include Choral Vespers. There’s no reason why fully Choral Evensong services offered by the Ordinariate can’t be included here either provided the details are submitted on time. J

Locally (to me) the regular services are Evensong at York Minster & St Lawrence’s church with Vespers at St Wilfrid’s church and Ampleforth Abbey. The site is fully searchable though, so I’m sure most of you will find something to your taste wherever you are in the UK!

Whilst I’m in ‘choir’ mode, if there are any interested groups of singers who wish to sing ideally the Ordinariate Evensong at St Mary’s (as it would ease my work/life balance considerably!) do get in touch via the comments box. The Parish doesn’t normally have Evensong, but this would also work well if desired, as would Roman Rite Choral Vespers which could also be easily arranged once insurance issues have been sorted out, but I’d want to be sure there were no other services that could be potentially conflicting before doing so. Again, if there’s any interest in doing these, do get in touch!

Services This Week.

Thursday 2nd November. 7:30pm. Church of St. Joseph the Worker, Heywood.

All Souls' Day Requiem.

Requiem Mass in the Ordinariate Use of the Roman Rite (Divine Worship.)

Friday 3rd November.  7:00pm. Church of St. Mary, Bishophill Junior, York.

St Winefride, Virgin, optional memorial

Solemn Evensong according to the Customary of Our Lady of Walsingham

(The York Ordinariate Mission's weekly Evensong)

Ps 18

Office Hymn:  Give me the wings of faith (NEH 225: Tune: Song 67)

Readings: Sir 34:1-8, 18-22 Rev (5:1-10) 6:12—7:4

Friday 3rd November. 9:00pm. Church of St Mary, Bishophill Junior, York.

Compline by Candlelight. (Roman Rite, Extraordinary Form.)

Feria Sexta infra Hebdomadam XXI post Octavam Pentecostes V. Octobris ~ IV. classis

Psalms {from the Psalter for the day of the week} 76i; 76ii; 85. Antiphon: Voce mea

Office Hymn: Te Lucis (tune 3. Ferial)

Marian Antiphon. Salve Regina - simple tone.

This is a good place (and time) to add a few words about the Divine Office, be it Roman Rite (either Form) or Anglican/Ordinariate Use. I borrowed these from the website of Ampleforth Abbey (where I was yesterday) as they hit the nail on the head, so to speak.

The Office is a public prayer, and this means two things. Firstly, in the Office, the community gathers together visibly, in public, as the local manifestation of the Body of Christ. Secondly, in the Office, the community is very much making its own the prayer of the Church, which is Christ’s prayer to the Father. As with Christ, as we listen to and pray the Psalms and readings, we sometimes praise God as our loving father, while at other times we hear him speaking to us as his beloved children, and at other times again we pray to him for our own needs and the needs of the whole Church and the world.

What I want to point out here, is that the Office at Bishophill Junior, isn't just a private gathering of friends on a Friday evening. It's the public prayer of the church, to which all are invited. A very warm welcome awaits at Evensong, Compline, or both!

Saturday 4th November. 12:00pm. Church of St. Charles Borromeo, Hull

Roman Rite, Extraordinary Form.

S. Caroli Epíscopi et Confessoris ~ I. classis

This is normally only a 3rd class feast, but because it's also the Feast of Title of the church, it gets upgraded. :-) It's also a Hull City of culture event.

Missa Cantata, with the Rudgate Singers.

Proper from the Graduale Romanum: Statuit ei.

Ordinary: Byrd. mass for Four voices.

Motets: Johan Kaspar Aiblinger. Inveni David.

Tallis. Sancte Deus

Schubert. Salve Regina.

Sunday 5th November. 12:00pm. Church of St. Joseph, Gateshead.

Dominica XXI Post Pentecosten I. Novembris ~ II. classis

Missa Cantata, (Roman Rite Extraordinary Form.)

Also worthy of note!

Sunday 5th November 6pm. Church of St Wilfrid, York.

Vespers and Benediction.

Sunday 5th November 6pm. Church of St Lawrence, York.

Choral Evensong.

If I have enough energy after Gateshead in the morning, I may end up going to one of these!

Services This Week.

I'm going to try and publish these weekly now, ideally on Sunday evenings to give as much notice as possible! I'm also going to include services which I plan to attend, other than take part in, which may be of interest to all who read this, Rudgates & non-Rudgates alike.

Tuesday 24th October. 7pm. St. Mary's Church, Stockton-on-Tees

Ordination to the Priesthood of Deacon Ian Westby.

I don't know much more about this other than the date and time, but it's an event that's attracted my attention as I'm now involved musically/liturgically with the York Ordinariate Mission & Deacon Ian is a member of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, so this will be a big regional evemt.

Friday 27th October. 7pm. St Mary's Church, Bishophill Junior, York

Solemn Evensong according to the Customary of Our Lady of Walsingham.

The York Ordinariate Mission's weekly Evensong

Feria (Friday of Week 29 per annum)

Pss 126-131

Office Hymn : Fight the good fight (NEH 359 Tune: Duke Street)

Readings: Sir 11:2-20 Rev 9:13-21

Friday 27th October. 9pm. St Mary's Church, Bishophill Junior, York

Compline by Candlelight. (Roman Rite, Extraordinary Form)

Feria Sexta infra Hebdomadam XX post Octavam Pentecostes IV. Octobris ~ IV. classis

Psalms {from the Psalter for the day of the week} 76i; 76ii; 85. Antiphon: Voce mea

Office Hymn: Te Lucis (tune 3. Ferial)

Marian Antiphon. Salve Regina - simple tone.

Regular Compline attendees will (if they're observant!) begin to notice a shift towards this service being TOTALLY by Candlelight as opposed to the odd concession to electricity at various points in the church. :-) This will be even more apparent when the brand new candelabras arrive, possibly not in time for this service, but almost certainly in time for the first Friday of November when the clocks have gone back. These will be in addition to the extra floor standing candle holders which have just arrived! 

The inspiration behind this move has been my research into how other venues have done this, particularly colleges in academic institutions, and I want to show that what we do in St. Mary's can be just as effective. What was always a special service at the end of the working week should be even more so once everything is in place!

Saturday 28th October. 10am. Ampleforth Abbey.

Choral Orthodox Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.

Music will be mainly in English, but will be translations of traditional Russian Orthodox choral music.

And finally: Last but not least!

Sunday 29th October. 6pm. St. Lawrence's Church, York.

Choral Evensong.

Responses: Sanders

Psalm 93

Canticles: Dyson in D

Anthem: Wood - O Thou the central orb

Final Responses: Naylor

Services this weekend. Solemn Evensong, Compline and Vespers.

Friday 20th October. 7pm. 

Solemn Evensong according to the Customary of Our Lady of Walsingham.

Feria.

Ps 104

Hymn: Jesu, Lover of my soul (NEH: 383)

Readings: Sir 1:1-10, 18-27 1 Cor 15:1-11

Friday 20th October. 9pm.

Compline by candlelight. Roman Rite Extraordinary Form.

S. Joannis Cantii Confessoris ~ III. classis

Pss 76i; 76ii; 85. Antiphon: Voce mea

Office Hymn: Te Lucis (1st tune)

Marian Antiphon: Salve Regina (simple tone)

Both these services as usual at the church of St. Mary, Bishophill Junior, York.

Saturday 21st October. 4pm

St. Cuthbert's Chapel, Ushaw College.

Gregorian Chant Vespers of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Roman Rite. Extraordinary Form.

Pss 109; 112; 121; 126; 147

Office Hymn: Ave Maris Stella

Marian Antiphon: Salve Regina (from St. Mary's Abbey, York.)

I'm incredibly excited about this, as it will be the first time that Vespers has been sung in this Form at Ushaw for decades!

You may also be interested in the following, where I'm singing with the excellent St. Austin's Choir from Wakefield.

Sunday 22nd October. 11am.

Leeds Cathedral.

Solemn Mass. Roman Rite. Ordinary Form.

Casciolini: Mass in A

Gregorian Chant: Credo III

Rutter: For the beauty of the earth

Pitoni: Cantate Domino

Services this weekend. Solemn Evensong, Compline and Holy Mass.

Friday 13th October. 7pm.
Solemn Evensong according to the Customary of Our Lady of Walsingham.

St Edward the Confessor, optional memorial.

Pss 69; 70

Readings: Mic 3:9 - 4:5 1 Cor 12:12-26

Friday 13th October. 9pm.
Compline by Candlelight. Roman Rite Extraordinary Form.

S. Eduardi Regis Confessoris ~ III. classis

Compline of Friday.

Pss 76i; 76ii; 85. Antiphon, Voce mea.

Office Hymn: Te Lucis tune I

Marian Antiphon. Salve Regina - simple tone.

Both these services as usual at the church of St Mary, Bishophill Junior, York.
All welcome!

Saturday 14th October. 4pm.
Holy Mass according to the Ordinariate Use of the Roman Rite. (Divine Worship.)

This will be the very first Mass of the York Ordinariate Mission. It's an historic occasion on two counts, as not only is it the Mission's first Mass, it is also taking place (with permission) in the oldest church in the City of York, St Mary's Bishophill Junior.

The Mass will be Celebrated by Fr. David Stafford of the Sheffield Ordinariate, and will be the anticipated Mass of the Sunday, the 18th after Trinity . The music will be chant taken from the Plainchant Gradual and Anglican Use Gradual, with Merbecke's setting of the Mass and the simple tone Salve Regina.

Anyone within reasonable distance of York is very welcome!

Solemn Evensong and Compline. 6th October.

7pm. Evensong according to the Customary of Our Lady of Walsingham.

St Bruno, Priest, optional memorial  or: Feria (Friday of Week 26 per annum)

Pss 32: 33: 34

Readings:  Hos 10:1-15 1 Cor 9:16-27

Schola:  Do let me know if you’re going to be at Evensong as well as Compline, so I know how many (or few) copies of the Psalms to produce!

I’m conscious that I’m wasting too much of my own time and resources on producing music, so I really do need to know who’s going to be there or not. Just turning up on the day doesn’t help me one bit!

Your assistance would be appreciated. J

9pm. Compline by Candlelight. Roman Rite Extraordinary Form.

S. Brunonis Confessoris ~ III. Classis

Compline of Friday.

Pss: 76i; 76ii; 85. Antiphon: Voce mea.

Office Hymn, Te Lucis – 1^st  Tune.

Marian Antiphon. Salve Regina, Simple Tone.

Both services as always in the church of St Mary, Bishophill Junior, York.

All welcome! 

Solemn Evensong and Compline, Friday 29th September 2017.

7pm. Evensong according to the Customary of Our Lady of Walsingham.

Sts Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels (Michaelmas), feast

Pss 8; 138

Readings:  Dan 12:1-3 or 2 Kings 6:8-17 Heb 1:1-14

Prayer of St. Michael (Gregorian Chant) sung here as an anthem.

Schola:  Do let me know if you’re going to be at Evensong as well as Compline, so I know how many (or few) copies of the Psalms and anthem to produce!

9pm. Compline by Candlelight. Roman Rite Extraordinary Form.

In Dedicatione S. Michaëlis Archangelis ~ I. classis

Compline of SUNDAY.

Pss: 4; 90; 133. Antiphon: Miserere.

Office Hymn, Te Lucis – 2^nd Tune for First Class Feasts.

Marian Antiphon. Salve Regina, Solemn Tone.

Both services as usual, at the church of St. Mary, Bishophill Junior, York.

All Welcome!

Solemn Evensong and Compline. Friday 22nd September 2017

Evensong according to the Customary of Our Lady of Walsingham. 7pm.

Ember Day.

Pss 108; 109

Readings: Esther 1:1-4, 10-19 (2:5-8, 15-23) 1 Cor (2:14—3:15) 3:16-23

Compline by Candlelight. 9pm.

Feria Sexta Quattuor Temporum Septembris ~ II. classis

Psalms {from the Psalter for the day of the week} 76i; 76ii; 85. Antiphon, Voce mea.

Te Lucis: Ferial tune. (Although the day is ranked as 2nd Class, it's still a Feria!)

Marian Antiphon. Salve Regina (simple tone)

Both services as usual, at the church of St. Mary, Bishophill Junior, York.