Rudgate Ramblings...

Come and sing with us!

2012-01-25T20:23:00.000Z

We're having our very first Open rehearsal next month, to see if we can attract some more people to come and join us. The format will be very simple, just an afternoon of singing lots of music we like, (Gregorian Chant, Renaissance Polyphony, the English choral tradition and music for liturgical use in the Orthodox church) with an explanation of the various contexts (always liturgical so far) in which we sing it, followed by Vespers to give prospective new members an idea of 'how it comes together' in an actual service, followed by a chance to get to know us socially.

Simple as that!

Unlike formally established choirs, we're not even going to charge, although we are suggesting a donation of £3 to cover costs.

This will take place on Saturday 11th February from 2.30pm-6.30pm at the oldest church in York, St. Mary's, Bishophill Junior. If you're interested, and free that afternoon, do come along! For further details, contact me via the website.

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T14:42:00.000Z

This is our schedule for January. All welcome!

2nd January
St Mary's Bishophill 6.30pm
Vespers of the BVM

7th Jan:
St Mary's, Bishophill 11am
Orthodox Liturgy
And at 9pm
Compline by candlelight

15th January 6.30pm
St Mary's
Sunday Vespers

21st January 10am
Ampleforth Abbey
Choral Orthodox Divine Liturgy
9pm at St Mary's
Compline by candlelight

28th Jan
St Mary's
Compline by candlelight

29th Jan
Greek Orthodox church of the Three Hierarchs
Divine Liturgy.

Video Recordings

2011-12-30T15:13:00.000Z

I've recently discovered how to upload full length video to YouTube and have gone through some old footage of Rudgate events past that were caught on camera.

Here are three services, one of which wasn't a Rudgate 'do' really as my involvement was only to go and sing the Chant (Fr. Elkin's Golden Jubilee Mass 21/07/2009) but uploaded and linked to here, because I know some people would like to see it.

Feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, St. Alphonsus' Church, North Ormesby. 27th June 2009.

Missa Cantata: The Feast of the Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order. Church of the English Martyrs. York 12/02/2011.

The sound quality on these isn't great, and the video quality not that much better, but nevertheless, they now form an important part of our archives!

2012 - The story so far.

2011-12-30T14:25:00.000Z

I thought people might like to see how next year is shaping up. Not all of these events will involve the whole choir of course, but at least it gives you an idea of what many of us will be doing outside of our respective day jobs and other activities, whether they be musical or not!

07/01/12
St Mary's, Bishophill, York
Orthodox Divine Liturgy. A group of us have been asked to enhance the chanting (with harmonies if poss) as a member of the congregation is being received.

21/01/12
Ampleforth Abbey
Choral Orthodox Liturgy in the Octave of the week for Christian Unity.
As mentioned in the previous post, a reprise of the wonderful service that took place in October.

29/01/12 TBC.
Greek Orthodox Church of the Three Hierarchs, Leeds
Singing Byzantine Chant in English as part of the Patronal Feast of the parish. Details yet to be confirmed.

05/02/12.
Church of S. James the Great, Darlington
Provisional plans to visit the Ordinariate Community there.

11/02/12.
St Mary's, Bishophill.
Come and meet the Rudgates. A loose plan which at the moment is based on the idea of an open day for people to come and sing some lovely music, followed by a service, probably Vespers (ideally choral, but could be chanted) and then what could vaguely be called 'Fellowship' either in the Tower Room or in one of the local pubs afterwards! :-)

24/03/12
St Wilfred's and English Martyrs' Churches.
National Pilgrimage in honour of St. Margaret Clitherow.
As this year, except that we'll definitely be in St. Wilfred's for the Mass instead of the Minster as the Bishop of Middlesbrough is presiding, preaching, and leading the procession.

25/03/12 TBC
SS Peter & Paul, New Brighton
Possibly Solemn High Mass if the church is ready in time for it's grand reopening. It might also depend on how many Rudgates would want to be involved in another very high profile event, the day after the St. Margaret Pilgrimage and 100+ miles away.

06/05/12
St Hilda's Church, Cross Green, Leeds
May Devotions. Vespers and Benediction.

19/05/12
York Minster
A Charity Concert in aid of Homestart. As many of you know, we've never done a concert, but this is for a good cause, and good publicity too. The format is several choirs perform one piece, then all sing one or two specially composed pieces at the end. Simple, effective, and all for charity.

15/07/12
Ampleforth Abbey
Choral Orthodox Vespers as part of the Ryedale Festival. Not sure yet whether this will be a 'concert' setting or actual Vespers!

21/07/12? TBC
St Mary's Church, Barnard Castle
The Annual Founders' Day Requiem

08/09/12 TBC
Brinkburn Priory
The Annual Solemn High Mass

27/09/12 - 04/10/12
Schola trip to Austria & Bavaria!
Details still to be worked on, but will involve singing the Office and ideally, one or two Masses. If all proceeds smoothly, it could be the precursor to a full-blown choral tour. :-)

27/10/12 TBC
Ampleforth Abbey
Choral Orthodox Divine Liturgy

21/12/12
St Mary's Bishophill, York
Carols by Candlelight.

Obviously, some of these dates are a bit sketchy, and may, or may not , involve all of us. In addition to all of the above though, Compline by candlelight resumes at St. Mary's on 7th January, and will be sung on most Saturdays throughout the year at 9pm. Sunday Vespers is also resuming, but only twice a month at best, usually on 1st and 3rd Sundays. Full details will be posted to our calendar which you can access any time either by visiting our website, or just by following the link on the right of this page. You may have to scroll down a bit first though!

It may be a tad early, but when it comes, may I wish you all a very Happy and Peaceful New Year! And do come to some of our services. :-)

Our 15th Anniversary year - a review

2011-12-29T20:15:00.001Z

I don't normally indulge in such things, but 2011 was, in more ways than one, a very special year for the Rudgates. It started off fairly quietly, with a handful of us going up to sing at Ampleforth Abbey for the choral Orthodox Liturgy celebrated there each year on the Saturday during the Octave for Christian Unity. A splendid occasion, followed by an equally splendid lunch! We're going to be liaising with Ampleforth more often in the coming 12 months, as we start getting more involved with the Byzantine Rite. More of that in a later post ...

The beginning of February saw the Rudgates reduced to one - me - for 2nd Vespers of Candlemas which despite the reduced numbers(!) went without a hitch, if not entirely flawless, as I improvised somewhat during the first psalm. :-) Huge thanks are due to the Anglican congregation of St Mary's Bishophill in York (where we normally chant Compline & occasional Vespers) for giving up their own regular Wednesday evening Eucharist in favour of Latin Catholic Vespers!

The 12th Feb heralded our first fully choral event of the year, a Missa Cantata tagged onto the end of a Server Training Day for those who wish to serve Mass in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite (EF). This took place at English Martyrs' Church, York, where we sang a Mass by a modern German composer (Christoph Dalitz) with motets by Mozart. It was difficult to tell the difference, despite a difference in composition of approximately 200 years ... :-)

March brought the undoubted highlight of our year and, I dare say, we're probably not alone in this! A truly historic, momentous and, for many, a very emotional event. This was, of course, the EF Missa Cantata celebrated in York Minster. Before we get to the day itself, I'm going to take you back to the previous summer where three people were sitting round a table in the Punch Bowl pub on Blossom Street in York discussing St. Margaret Clitherow and a potential EF pilgrimage to York. (St. Margaret being one of the patrons of the Latin Mass Society of England & Wales.) It was discovered, fortuitously, that her Feast Day in the Ordinary Form (OF) Calendar - 26th March - was, in 2011, on a Saturday. That set the ball rolling Needless to say there were many obstacles to overcome before the day itself. Planning a major EF Mass for a saint who doesn't *actually* appear in the EF Ordo (she was canonised in 1970) being the first. This was taken care of by the use of a Votive Mass in her honour; as the event was going to be a major EF national pilgrimage, we felt we could get away with this, and did. :-)

The original venue for the Mass, was, we hoped, going to be St. Wilfred's Church, in York City Centre, opposite the Minster, followed by a procession via the Shambles & Ouse Bridge, to the Bar Convent, where the relic of St. Margaret is kept, (her hand) concluding with Benediction and veneration of the relic. In the event, St Wilfred's turned out to be 'unavailable' and the convent chapel was eventually replaced by English Martyrs' Church on Dalton Terrace purely for practical reasons - size and availability of car parking. So, we were left with trying to find a venue for the Mass. It was at this point, sometime back in late Oct/early Nov 2010 that Fr. Stephen Maughan, then based at English Martyrs, thought of asking about the availability of the Minster, on the grounds that if you don't ask, you don't get, so we asked, and we got! This was helped considerably by the fact that Fr. Stephen got on very well with the Minster clergy & staff during his time in York, as indeed do some of the Rudgates. :-)

The help we subsequently got from the Minster authorities was immense, despite this being an additional event on top of their other services, events and concerts that they already had planned around this time, and those of us involved at the sharp end of organising the pilgrimage, cannot praise and thank them highly enough for this.

The venues now having been secured, all that was left from the Rudgate viewpoint, was to organise both services (Mass & Benediction) and get the singers to do justice to both. The order of service put together by my sister, aided, abetted and edited by me, had several draft editions before we decided that it was fit for public use. :-) The choir, besides the core element from Greater York, W Yorks and Altrincham/Warrington had extra recruits (some who had sung with us before anyway) from Cheshire, Edinburgh, Nottingham, Oxford & London. We were also helped by the Minster Organist, David Pipe, who played superbly before, during and after the Mass. I don't know how Fr. Stephen persuaded him to give up his time, but I'm delighted that he did! The tenors coped superbly, considering that there were originally 7 which for various reasons, was gradually reduced to 3, not easy when you're singing Byrd 5 with split tenor part, so I think Laurence Price, Simon Crouch and especially Alan Hardwick (a bass who volunteered to sing tenor) deserve crediting individually.

It's worth mentioning the Schola too at this point. I had indicated that I wanted at least 10 singers (we ended up with 12) to have any chance of doing justice to the Proper of the Mass in the huge Minster acoustic. For weeks before, I had gone to services in the Quire, wondering where the best place was for the Schola to sing from, as to sing 'in situ' in the choir stalls would have resulted in a complete mess - there are only a handful of us who've sung there before and know exactly what it's like to sing quite some distance apart from your opposite number on the other side of the choir stalls. In the end I decided on the 'Ushaw' formation of bringing the Schola out into the middle and singing as one unit. This meant drawing up a plan of who was to sing from what position in the Quire and their place in the procession so that the Schola members could move with the minimum of fuss at the right time as some singers were polyphony only, some chant only and some both. It was like planning a military operation! We also had to factor in at this point, the movement of two of the altos to sing Sop II for one of the polyphonic pieces (Byrd's Iustorum Animae). Needless to say, the best laid plans almost came to a disastrous end, when due to the sheer numbers of people ( a gross under-estimation from the organisers) extra chairs were brought out and placed exactly where we had rehearsed the chant moments earlier - this was with less than 10 minutes before the start of the Mass! I then had to dash back into the Quire and inform those who were seated there that for some parts of the service they wouldn't be able to see as the Schola would be directly in front of them thus impeding their view of the High Altar. The number of times I had to tell people that the spaces in the choir stalls were actually *for the choir* was also beyond belief ...

The Mass itself was a huge success. Original estimates of 400 people turned out to be very wrong as approximately 800 came. The Quire was full to overflowing, literally, as there was a huge overspill into the Nave. I can't say anything about the procession, as I had to drive from the Minster to English Martyrs' with several cassocks & other bits and pieces in order to be in place in time for the second part of the day, Benediction & Veneration. The one and (so far) only time I have ever driven whilst wearing a cassock! What took the edge of an otherwise brilliant day were some of the shoddy, dare I say, ignorant remarks that appeared in the blogosphere and some local and national Catholic papers afterwards. For example whilst the Dean of York had been present in the Minster that morning to be interviewed and also to do some other recording for the BBC, it was the Chancellor & Precentor who were present for the actual Mass, and how marvellous it was to see them there. The Mass too, more than once, was erroneously described as the first Catholic Mass to take place in the Minster since the Reformation. Utter nonsense! It was believed to be the first Mass (rightly or wrongly) in either Form of the Roman Rite to take place at the High Altar since the reign of Queen Mary I, that's something quite different altogether, but give some people an inch and they'll take 10 miles it seems ...

The rest of the year seemed like a huge anti-climax after that, but nevertheless, we were still very busy! In April, two of us chanted the services for the Easter Triduum at the University Chaplaincy in Leeds, and in Easter Week itself - the day after THE Wedding, the choir went down to Stow Minster in Lincolnshire for a Solemn Sung Eucharist, the first choral C of E service we've done for ages. It was nice to see old friends Allan Barton & Adrian Furse too, now both Anglican priests, they have both previously sung with the Rudgates.

June came, and on the 18th, we all went to Scarborough to celebrate our 15th Anniversary! The venue was St. Joseph's church, where we had sung once before, several years ago, and picked this time, because it doesn't just have a very good acoustic, but also has a very spacious choir gallery and we had a larger than usual choir for the Anniversary Mass. The Mass setting was Palestrina's Missa Papae Marcelli as this was the very first Mass we ever sang, way back in 1996 in Scarthingwell. Grateful thanks are due to Fr. Michael Sellars for letting us use the church, and to Martin Richardson, the organist and choir director at St Joseph's for all the arrangements on the day.

In July, we did something slightly different. We organised a Gregorian Chant Workshop! Held at St Mary's, Bishophill, where some of us regularly chant Compline and Vespers, the event was a success despite myself and the tutor, Mark Burghagen, having massive colds! Later in the month, we sang for the annual Founders' Day Requiem held at St Mary's, Barnard Castle in memory of John and Josephine Bowes (the founders of the Bowes Museum - hence the title). For the last 7 years, we'd only sung the Gregorian Chant Requiem here, but this year finally introduced some polyphony in the form of Victoria à 4. Hopefully next year, we'll sing another polyphonic Mass setting.

In September, we returned to Brinkburn Priory up in Northumberland, our favourite location for the Annual Solemn High Mass which takes place there. We just about scraped through this time, due to having some very timid sopranos. We do need more, so if you're a Soprano, love singing, and like what we do, please get in touch!

A slight diversion later in September was singing in Oxford for the Ordination to the Priesthood of a good friend who many (if not most) of you reading this will know as fr. Lawrence Lew OP. Fr. Lawrence (or Paul) was one of the first choral scholars in Leeds Cathedral Choir, so I've known him a long time. He also had sung with the Rudgates, and as such is most definitely worthy of inclusion here. :-)

In October, several of us joined forces with other singers and choirs to sing another Choral Orthodox Liturgy at Ampleforth. We had originally planned on singing one ourselves, provisionally at St Mary's in November, which, besides being our base for Compline & Vespers, and having its own services of course, is also home to the Orthodox Community of Sts Constantine and Helen in York. However, I'd already been collaborating with Fr. Alexander at Ampleforth on other musical matters, and since this Liturgy was taking place anyway at the end of October, already involving one or two of us, it just seemed to make sense to put aside our plans for a totally separate service and take part in this Liturgy instead. It was a truly wonderful experience, featuring music sung in English, by Arkhangelsky, Chesnokov, Rachmaninov and Kastalsky, as well as traditional Slavonic chants. This Liturgy is to be repeated on 21st January at Ampleforth, so if you're in the area and free, do go!

November came and in lieu of singing our own Liturgy, some of us sang Vespers of the Dead on Armistice Day (Remembrance Day) in memory of all those who died in the two World Wars and other conflicts. This is probably the shortest service we've ever sung, lasting some 15-20 minutes. I notice that next year, Remembrance Day and Remembrance Sunday coincide, so there may be some scope for a more elaborate service.

This brings me to December and our now Annual Carol Service at St Mary's. This year, for the first time, I managed to get all the Great 'O' Antiphons in, something I've been wanting to do for years! As for the rest, with music including Tavener's The Lamb, Byrd - Puer Natus, Victoria - O Magnum Mysterium and even a bit of Martin Luther in the form of Hassler's arrangement of 'Vom Himmel Hoch' it proved to be another resounding success. We also sang 'Silent Night' for the first time ever! It's only taken 11 Rudgate Carol Services before we finally got round to including it. Next year, it's going to be a congregational hymn - in German. :-)

As you can see, it's been a very busy year for us. Plans are already in place for the next 12 months which will be revealed shortly ...!

Remembrance Day. 11th November

2011-10-26T22:31:00.000+01:00

ST MARY’S CHURCH, BISHOPHILL JUNIOR, YORK

Remembrance Day. Friday 11th November, 2011. 7pm.

Vespers of the Faithful Departed.
In commemoration of all those who gave their lives in the two World Wars and other conflicts.

Gregorian Chant sung by The Schola of the RUDGATE SINGERS.

www.rudgatesingers.co.uk

Services/Events for October

2011-09-29T22:57:00.000+01:00

Saturday 01/10/2011 9pm. Compline by Candlelight.

Sunday 02/10/2011 6.30pm. Vespers for the 16th Sunday after Pentecost.

FRIDAY 07/10/2011 7pm. BVM of the Rosary. Vespers.

Saturday 08/10/2011 9pm. Compline by Candlelight.

Sunday 09/10/2011 6.30pm. Vespers for the 17th Sunday after Pentecost.

Saturday 15/10/2011 9pm. Compline by Candlelight.

Sunday 16/10/2011 6.30pm. Vespers for the 18th Sunday after Pentecost.

Saturday 22/10/2011 9pm. Compline by Candlelight.

Sunday 23/10/2011 6.30pm. Vespers for the 19th Sunday after Pentecost.

Saturday 29/10/2011 10am. Orthodox Divine Liturgy at Ampleforth Abbey. For more details see our website!

Sunday 30/10/2011 6.30pm. Vespers for the Feast of OLJC the King, followed by Compline.

All services other than the Ampleforth Liturgy take place at the Church of St. Mary, Bishophill Junior York YO1 6EN.

In addition to all of the above, I'm resuming my vary rarely performed part-time role as concert promoter. It's usually been for choirs, but this time, it's for an extraordinarily talented musician, Dmytro Hub'yak from Ternopil, in Ukraine.

Dmytro is a brilliant bandurist (& singer) and is coming to perform in the UK for the very first time, having previously made tours of France, Germany, Poland & the USA. I had a small hand in making sure his visa application was successful!

He is appearing in York at St Mary's on two nights, 20th & 21st October. Admission is £9 (£6 Concessions). Do come if you are able to. It will be well worth it!

Further details are below.

Biography

http://mike4b.co.uk/Miscmusic/Hubyak.pdf

Concert details:

http://mike4b.co.uk/Miscmusic/Hubyak1.jpg

http://mike4b.co.uk/Miscmusic/Hubyak2.jpg

Performances:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnWy82dggZc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsKlUTwzr8A&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfJveHQkiQo&feature=related

(There are also links to several others)

Services/Events for September

2011-08-29T15:42:00.000+01:00

Saturday 03/09: 11:00am to 3:00pm (approx), Church of Our Lady, Acomb, York
Rehearsal for Brinkburn Mass

Sunday 04/09 6:30pm - St Mary's Bishophill Junior, York
Vespers for the 12th Sunday after Pentecost

Saturday 10/09. 12:00pm Brinkburn Priory, Northumberland.
The Annual Solemn High Mass
Saturday 10/09: 9:00pm - St Mary's Bishophill Junior, York
Compline by Candlelight

Sunday 11/09. 6:30pm - St Mary's Bishophill Junior
Vespers for the 13th Sunday after Pentecost

Saturday 24/09. 9:00pm - St Mary's Bishophill Junior
Compline by Candlelight

Sunday 25/09. 6:30pm - St Mary's Bishophill Junior
Vespers for the 15th Sunday after Pentecost

Note: NO SERVICES the weekend of 17/18th September, as I shall be down in Oxford singing for the Ordination to the Sacred Priesthood of fr. Lawrence Lew OP.

Sunday Vespers

2011-08-29T11:10:00.003+01:00

Coming soon, to a church near you (if you're in/near York) :-)

Compline during the summer

2011-07-15T00:58:00.000+01:00

Having ignored the regular dates for Compline in the last posting, I thought I'd let you know when it's being sung publicly for the remainder of July & August. This doesn't stop anyone of course from reciting it (or indeed any part of the Divine Office) privately. :-)

So, Compline, open to the public, at the church of St. Mary, Bishophill Junior is as follows until September.

23rd July
30th July
20th August
27th August

All scheduled to start at 9pm. The 30th July may be a little later, depending on what time I arrive back in York from the Sunderland International Air Show!

The Advantages of Being Ill...

2011-07-15T00:45:00.000+01:00

Ok, I really can't think of many, but during my latest enforced period of rest caused by a very nasty respiratory infection - not chest infection as first thought, (though those people who've heard me over the last few days would be hard-pressed to tell the difference) - I've had time to update this blog with something other than the latest dates for Compline.

The 15th Anniversary Mass was a huge success, despite only having the full choir available on the morning. It gets incredibly frustrating when organising rehearsals in advance to find that half the choir don't turn up at the allotted time... It's fair enough when people let us know that they can't be at a rehearsal in good time, but to not turn up at all without any reason is very poor, especially when others have driven considerable distances to be there. Mini-rant over, but I do have one other minor pet peeve. This was a Festive Mass, with music to match, and all we got at the end was the Ferial Ite Missa Est - those that have heard it, know the one I mean. I do wish Fr. Stephen would learn some of the others as they're really not difficult at all! Back to the Mass which went almost without a hitch, the only minor blemish was me starting the Offertory Proper off too high. I've listened to it since though and it doesn't sound half as bad as I feared... We also received the following accolade from an Anglican member of the congregation who remarked "our services are usually so much better than yours, but that was very good and I really enjoyed it!"

The following day saw a really truncated Sung EF Mass in York, Rossini Propers (yes, Mulier Fortis & Leutgeb, I'm not afraid to use them every now & then!) with Missa de Angelis + Credo III - President of Una Voce International please note! ;-) We we officially told at this Mass that Fr. Stephen is leaving York to become a parish priest in the north-east of the Diocese. Good for him, but a loss for us, as he's a rare breed, a priest who has an exceptionally good singing voice. He'd tipped me off the week before up in Darlington with a not-so-subtle hint that me 'might' be moving, so the news was no surprise to me! We'd both visited the Anglo-Catholic church of S. James the Great, he to preach, and me to witness what is essentially one of the best Ordinary Form Liturgies (The parish effectively use the Roman Rite taken straight out of the 1970 Missal) in North/North-East England. Couple this with some great music sung by a super choir with fine congregational hymns, and you have a sublime experience. If only the Ordinary Form could be like this in other parts of the country! I have only one minor quibble, and that would be to get the Celebrant to use the High Altar and celebrate ad orientem, but that's just my personal preference. :-) The Parish Festive Lunch (it being Pentecost) was excellent as well, prepared by catering students at nearby Darlington College.

Back to Rudgate news. Last Saturday saw our first Gregorian Chant Workshop at St. Mary's Bishophill. Although we had 20 initially registering, we ended up with 13, which is still a good number as I'd have been delighted with 10! The workshop was led by Mark Burghagen with a little assistance from me as we went on. Poor Mark was also full of cold, so to everyone who did come along, Thank you for putting up with Mark's sniffles and me coughing and wheezing my way through the afternoon! We hope to run another one in October.

Looking further ahead to the remainder of the year, we have the Annual Founders' Day Requiem at Barnard Castle a week on Saturday. I hope I'm fit enough to sing for that, as I've already missed out on the chance to sing at Markenfield Hall this week, and it's looking more than likely that I'll miss out on the launch of the Heritage Singers' latest CD tomorrow evening which I was really looking forward to too. :-( I've been hoping to meet them for some time as they perform a very similar service to Rudgate albeit it seems exclusively C of E liturgies. We're much more ecumenical! ;-) I have already met their Director, who is now a friend - not just on Facebook! - but it would have been a good opportunity to meet the rest of the choir as well. Oh well... One of these days when our dates don't clash, I may be able to get along to one of their services. Check them out on YouTube, they're really worth listening too.

Later in the year, in September, by which time this infection should have well and truly gone, we hope to return to Brinkburn for the Solemn High Mass there. The following week, I'll be in Oxford singing for the Priestly Ordination of a friend of mine, who has since achieved world-wide cyberspace fame as a photo-blogging Dominican! I can claim to know him before he was famous... ;-) What I'm really looking forward too, is being directed by James MacMillan, who is coming not only because he also knows fr Lawrence, but has written a piece of music for the occasion & is coming (from Berlin I believe) to direct the piece himself. There are other choral goodies in the Ordination music which I'm really looking forward to.

October, apart from hopefully organising our 2nd Chant Workshop of the year, sees me reprise the role of Concert Promoter for Eastern-European Talent, something last done nearly 20 years ago. This time it's not a choir I'm promoting, but an exceptionally talented Ukrainian artist by the name of Dmytro Hub'yak (pronounced 'Hoobyak') He is a bandura player whose ability has been recognised by the Ukrainian nation who have given him the honour of 'Merited Artiste of Ukraine' and he's not even 30 yet! I've already got him one booking in York and am looking at other venues in Yorkshire whilst my contact in Ukraine (who's ex-pat half Brit/half Uke) is looking at Ukrainian clubs in the Midlands so that we can try and make this a viable tour. It goes without saying that if you know of any venue that would like to host such a remarkable young man, then do please get in touch. :-)

Also in October sees the return of the choral Orthodox Liturgies at Ampleforth. Vespers on 28th and Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom on Sat 29th. A remarkable venture as you have Orthodox Liturgy in Catholic Abbey directed by one of its monks, sung by a choir largely of Anglicans. More singers, of any denomination or none will be be made very welcome! This leads me to the next major Rudgate choral event after Brinkburn, when we hope to sing yet another Orthodox Liturgy to the setting composed by Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov. I've painstakingly transliterated this from the public domain edition written in Cyrillic text only, which is just as well, as I discovered errors in the original text. All we need now, are enough singers to make it a viable proposition for some time in November. A Choral Byzantine-Rite Liturgy was one of the services I wanted us to do in our Anniversary Year, so all you singers out there, whether you've sung with us already or not, if you're interested, do please get in touch, either by commenting here or via the link to our website. The venue will most likely be Bishophill Jnr, as will the Carol Service in December. Better start planning for that then, as before you know it, December will be upon us...

For those who need to know...

2011-05-22T22:27:00.000+01:00

We're NOT singing Compline at all next weekend due to me escaping to London for the Bank Holiday Weekend.

However, we *are* planning a Gregorian Chant Workshop scheduled for the 9th July. More details will be released later!

The Rudgate Singers' 15th Anniversary Mass

2011-05-02T13:31:00.000+01:00

Many of you will, I'm, sure, have heard of us. Some no doubt, will have heard us sing at various services that have taken place in the North of England over the last few years. What you may not know, is that the idea to form the choir originated in prison! I used to work for the Prison Service, and a chance conversation with one of the Catholic Chaplains where I worked (Fr. Richard Aladics) led to the first Rudgate Service which took place in the beautiful catholic church in Scarthingwell, back in June 1996, where amongst other pieces, we sang the Missa Papae Marcelli by Palestrina.

What we believed would be a one-off occasion (or annual at best) clearly didn't turn out to be the case, and we now approach our 15th Anniversary!

The 15th anniversary Mass will take place at St. Joseph's Church, Newby, Scarborough (YO12 6HT if you have satnav) on 18th June, 2011 at 3pm, and will, once again include the Missa Papae Marcelli. Other music is as follows:

Aichinger: Factus est repente
Tallis: Loquebantur variis linguis
Lotti: Regina Caeli

as well as the full Chant Proper of the Mass of Whit Saturday from the Graduale Romanum.

Fr. Stephen Maughan, who celebrated the historic Mass in York Minster earlier this year, has kindly agreed to be the Celebrant, for what we hope will be another special occasion.

Please do put the date in your diaries.

Compline by Candlelight during May

2011-05-02T13:23:00.000+01:00

Saturday 7th May

Saturday 14th May

Saturday 21st May

All at the church of St. Mary, Bishophill Junior, York (York's oldest church), commencing at 9pm.

Young Catholic Adults National Weekend

2011-05-02T12:39:00.000+01:00

This is a little late, so you may have already read it elsewhere. My excuse is that I succumbed to an extremely nasty cold just after Easter & haven't felt like doing much else since, apart from the Stow Minster Service.

Anyway, late or not, I'm more than happy to promote this here, although I'm a little on the old side, unless it applies to youths of all ages. ;-)

YOUNG CATHOLIC ADULTS NATIONAL WEEKEND 9^TH-11^TH SEPTEMBER 2011

During the weekend of the 9-11 September 2011 Young Catholic Adults will be running a weekend at Douai Abbey, it will be led by Juventutem Ecclesiastical Assistant Fr de Malleray . The weekend will be full-board.

* YCA will have half of the retreat centre to itself

* There will be a Marian Procession, Rosaries, Sung Mass, Low Mass, Confession and socials

* Fr. de Malleray FSSP head of Juventutem will preach the retreat, Masses will be in the Extraordinary form

Prices range from £5 to £51 per person per night . There are 3 options

THE MAIN GUEST HOUSE

Friday , registration from 4pm, to Sunday 11th September (full board)* or

Arrive Saturday morning till Sunday or day only

51 pounds full-board PER PERSON PER NIGHT

25 pounds for students/low waged/unwaged (or whatever you can afford) PER PERSON PER NIGHT

THE COTTAGES

£35 PER PERSON PER NIGHT (full board). Self catering £25 per person per night (reductions for students:- or whatever you can afford) .

SELF CATERING CAMPING

£5 PER PERSON PER NIGHT (or whatever you can afford - please bring your own tent and food ).

If you would like lunch on Sunday 11th then it will be an extra £7 each.

How to book - limited places so please reserve your place early

To reserve your place FOR THE WEEKEND (no deposit needed if you are coming for the day on Saturday), please contact the Guestmaster direct and send a 20 pound deposit (NON RETURNABLE) to Brother Christopher Greener OSB, Douai Abbey, Upper Woolhampton, Reading, Berks. RG7 5TQ (please make any cheques payable to Douai Abbey). Please mention how long you wish to stay and any special diet.

For general enquiries about the weekend:- or any queries about the accommodation/location/lifts required please ring Damian Barker on 07908105787 or 01452 539503.

For photographs of previous Douai Retreats please see:-

http://www.flickr.com/photos/24212854@N07/sets/72157606091441047/

Compline by Candlelight during April.

2011-03-28T22:08:00.000+01:00

Friday 1st

Saturday 2nd

Friday 8th

Saturday 9th

Friday 15th

Saturday 16th

Saturday 30th

All at the later time of 9.30pm

St. Mary's Bishophill Junior,York

All welcome!

Who would ever have believed?.....

2011-03-28T20:48:00.000+01:00

Picture the scene if you can. A group of people, priests and laymen, discussing the dream of having an EF Mass in York Minster, and dismissing it as fantasy! This was at Ushaw during the Training Conference in April 2010.

Fast forward a few months to 3 people in a York pub one Sunday evening after Mass, discussing the possibility of doing something in honour of St. Margaret Clitherow.

Amazingly, within a year of having dismissed such talk as sheer speculative fantasy, this is what you get!

Another nail in the coffin of the reformation.

Mass for St Margaret Clitherow in York Minster

Photos of the Extraordinary Form Mass in York Minster

Photos from Mass at the High Altar of York Minster

LMS Pilgrimage to York: report and pictures

LMS Pilgrimage to York: more photos

York Minster Mass

TLM in York Minster

Follow up: TLM at Tork for St. Margaret Clitherow

EF Mass in York Minster

Missa Cantata in York Minster

A memorable and solemn occasion

Shining Pearl of York

There's also a report from the local paper here.

Sets of photos are already making their way onto Flickr.

You can see some here, and here!

Sing Compline for Lent.... or anytime.

2011-02-26T02:31:00.001Z

I'm not going to apologise for pointing you in the direction of this excellent post by Jeffrey Tucker of the Chant Café blog network. Go and read it, and then put it into practise!

Jeffrey's post refers to the Ordinary Form in the Latin Rite. We at Rudgate use the Extraordinary Form (it keeps my running costs down, as I don't have to buy copyrighted material, rather just download it freely!)

Whatever form it's offered in, it is a tremendous spiritual offering, and one I wholeheartedly encourage you to take up, be it by yourself, or in a small group - in your own home, or local/parish church. In our case, the use of the oldest church in York (Anglican) for a Latin Catholic service has been mentioned before, and everybody is welcome to come to Bishophill Jnr. Details will be posted here each month from now on. We usually meet on Saturdays, but occasionally this gets moved to Sunday evenings due to other events/services/concerts etc that take place. This is York after all!

Besides ourselves, I've noticed locally that Compline in Lent is being advertised at Holy Trinity Church, Micklegate as Ecumenical Prayer in Lent. on 15th March & 5th April. starting at 7pm to rehearse, with a small break for refreshments, before singing Compline itself. I've no idea what format this will be in, but guess it will be similar to this. This form of Compline is also chanted by the excellent Ebor Singers during Lent at York Minster on Thursdays at 9pm, usually with added polyphony.

If you want to come to ours though, we'll be delighted to see you!

The current schedule is:

Saturday 26th February
Saturday 5th March
Sunday 13th March
Sunday 20th March
Saturday 26th March

All times 9pm at the Church of St. Mary, Bishophill Junior, York YO1 6EN

I almost forgot to mention. This is *entirely* by candlelight. We do provide everyone with their own candle though!

The Year So Far...

2011-02-23T23:56:00.000Z

Early in January, I relocated work-wise from Selby to the outskirts of York. This couldn't have come soon enough, as I was beginning to get worn down by the constant commuting to work more or less anywhere else *but* York, so it's a blessed relief to travel only 8 miles a day instead of over 40!

Things appear to have been rather quiet on the Rudgate/musical front, but I can assure you that is most definitely *not* the case. :-) A quick resumé follows:

In January 3 of us ventured up to Ampleforth Abbey to take part in an Orthodox Liturgy within the Octave of Christian Unity. A splendid occasion. What is rather unique about this set-up is that the Liturgy is Orthodox (not Byzantine-Catholic), taking place in a Catholic monastery, and the choir, directed by one of the monks, appears to be mainly Anglican.

It's the second one I've been involved in - the first as a singer. There was one back in October which I went to and ended up being official photographer as no-one else had a camera!

Here are some photos of that Liturgy, so you can see what I'm on about..

The rest can be seen here.

I've been in touch with the Director (Fr Alexander) since then, as there are plans for a collaboration with Rudgate to sing Vespers and another Liturgy later this year, towards the end of October.

On the Latin Rite front, we only seem to be involved in EF Masses at the moment as well as Compline (which I'll touch on in a separate post). I'm not complaining of course, as I think that the EF gives us a much better opportunity to present Sacred music in it's proper context than the OF. That said, we would never turn down an offer to go and sing an OF Mass, it's just that those invitations are very few and far between. I think the last one I was involved in as a singer was back in May.

We've actually sung two Chant Masses so far this year and one with the added bonus of some polyphony, all of which were sung at English Martyrs' in York The latter included some motets by Mozart and a Mass composed by Christoph Dalitz as recently as 1989 which is very Mozartian in style and very singable. If you've never heard of him before, than take a look here. I think you'll find his music very appealing.

Most of the work this year though has been behind the scenes, hence the lack of activity here. We are actively involved in planning for what is believed to be only the second EF Mass in York Minster since the Reformation! (If somebody could tell me when the first was, I'd be delighted to know, because I can't think of any!)

The Mass itself is in honour of St Margaret Clitherow, and is part of a National Pilgrimage organised by the Latin Mass Society of England & Wales and we're expecting in the region of 500 people descending on York on 26th March. I've already heard of coaches from London, Birmingham, Oxford Allerton Bywater [nr Leeds] and a minibus from Newark & that's before you start adding people from the north of England! Following the Mass, there's a procession going via the shrine in the shambles and past Ouse Bridge, near the site of her execution, ending at English Martys, where we'll be singing for Benediction, during which the relic of St. Margaret will be venerated. It's a huge task & by far the biggest service we've ever done. We have a choir of 25 singing Byrd's Mass for 5 voices + Byrd motets and a Gregorian Chant Schola Cantorum of 14, possibly 15. Spare a thought for those of us singing both - it's going to be very hard work! If you think we're overdoing it with the schola, think again, the sheer size of the building requires a good solid sound. We can't get away with just 2 or 3 here you know... ;-)

Between my sister, myself and the ever helpful Columba Aspexit, we've come up with a souvenir booklet and poster (see below). Both of these have gone through so many versions/editions it feels like we've been beta testing new software releases! The final product though has been well worth the effort.

The booklet has yet to go to press, but rest assured, if you come to York next month, it will be available at the Minster! Do come along if you can, as it promises to be a momentous occasion.

Christmas comes but twice a year...

2011-01-08T15:13:00.000Z

Yesterday, I braved the elements, & the HGV's, and drove across the Pennines to Oldham to visit the Ukrainian Catholic Church of SS Peter, Paul & All Saints, where I have made many friends for Christmas Day. (According to the Julian Calendar). Indeed, Stefan, who I first met well over 20 years ago, is not only the cantor, but also doubles up as church Secretary, caretaker & anything else you might care to mention!

Here are some photos.

More can be seen here, though you'll need to scroll down to the bottom of the page.

Welcome to Rudgate's XVth year!

2011-01-08T13:47:00.000Z

It's still only early January, and yet we already have a very full schedule of services outlined for the year. Some may not happen of course and as I'm not into the clairvoyance business, I'm not going to make any rash predictions, so this is potentially what we've got to look forward to. Not bad considering we only got a group of singers 15 years ago, for what was expected to be a one-off, or at best, annual occasion. :-) Some of these involve the whole choir, some just the Schola Cantorum & others just individuals joining with others.

22nd January [week of prayer for Christian Unity]

Ampleforth Abbey

Orthodox Divine Liturgy - in English (Directed by Fr. Alexander McCabe OSB.)

Slavonic composers

Individual singers needed.

I actually heard the group who sang for a Liturgy back in October, and was rather impressed, but I've been told that experienced singers of all voices would be very helpful, particularly for this Liturgy in January as they want to pull out all the stops so to speak for Christian Unity Week.

They serve an excellent lunch afterwards!

2nd February [Wednesday evening]

Candlemass 2nd Vespers.

St Mary, Bishophill Junior, York

Likely to be Schola only as many people rehearse on Wednesdays with other choirs.

12th February. (National Event No.1)

English Martyrs' York 4pm.

Sung Mass at the conclusion of a Nationally organized training day for servers in the EF.

26th March (National Event No.2!)

YORK MINSTER/Bar Convent Chapel. Now confirmed!

Missa Cantata for the Feast of St. Margaret Clitherow. 1.30pm

This is going to be as part of a National Pilgrimage to York in her honour. The plan is for Mass, followed by a procession to her shrine at the Shambles, and then later in the day, 4pm I believe, going to the Convent chapel for Veneration of her relic & Benediction.

We would need a full choir for the Mass, but could cope with chant only for Benediction, though it would be nice if we had a quorum to sing a little polyphony here as well.

Music: Byrd 5, Iustorum Animae, Ave Verum & Ave Regina Caelorum. + chant proper from the Mass of Martyr Not A Virgin. (Didn't realise such a Proper existed, so I'm glad I looked it up! I was originally going to choose one from the Common of Martyrs - you learn something new every day!)

I've had a look at the side chapels, and there are one or two that could be suitable, depending on numbers of pilgrims, but I suspect a lot of people will come to this, & we may well end up in the Nave - so we'll need to be prepared!

30th April

Stow Minster, Lincolnshire 12.PM

Confirmed invitation for the Full choir, to sing a Sung Eucharist - votive of Our Lady in Easter Week.

18th June, venue to be arranged, but hopefully, St Joseph's, Scarborough. (I have now written to ask, but haven't had a reply yet, but hopefully, it'll be here!)

15th Anniversary Mass (Vigil of Trinity Sunday?)

The reason I'm going for this church, is that it's accessible for most of us re parking [lifts will be given to non-drivers!], and it has a generous acoustic AND a large West Gallery. Essential from my point of view, because I'd like everyone who has been involved with us for the last 15 years to be invited. (I realise some won't be able to make it, but it's the thought that counts!)

16th, 23rd, or 30th July [to be confirmed]

St Mary's Church, Barnard Castle

The Annual Founders' Day Requiem

The last 6 years this has just been the Gregorian Chant Requiem. Nothing wrong with that, but it would be great in our Anniversary Year to have a full choir to sing a polyphonic Requiem

10th September [provisionally]

Brinkburn Priory [to be confirmed]

It's usually the Second Saturday in September, weddings & other services permitting!

The Annual Solemn High Mass.

We've had a request for RVW's Mass in G minor!

October/November

Venue to be confirmed, but probably St Mary's Bishophill Jnr,

Choral [probably Orthodox] Divine Liturgy

Full choir. Not sure yet whether it will follow the Ampleforth model of various composers, or be a composed setting by an individual. I have a full score of Ippolitov-Ivanov's Liturgy which is very singable, but it will need to be transliterated, as the text is in Old Church Slavonic. For those of us who can read it, that's not a problem, but I guess we'll be in the minority!

Monday 19th December [provisionally]

St Mary's Bishophill Junior

The Annual Service of Carols by Candlelight.

Obviously, some of this may change, as I'm working up to almost a year in advance, but this is a general idea of what we are/or likely to be invited to this year! There are some other events likely to involve some, if not the full choir. These are at the Greek Orthodox Church in Leeds, where we hope to sing, in English, a new setting of the Liturgy in Byzantine Chant.

The others largely concerns Gregorian Chant, but MAY involve some polyphony also, as there are provisional plans for liturgical workshops to take place at Middlesbrough & Lancaster Cathedrals.

There will probably be other services throughout the year mainly in York, and there's always Compline or Vespers at St Mary's Bishophill on a regular basis, usually on Saturday evenings. Stay tuned! If you want to join us in what will be a very busy, but exciting year, please don't hesitate to get in touch!

That's it for us this year

2010-12-22T11:13:00.001Z

I'm exhausted! We've finally come to the end of our singing engagements for this year, signing off with yet another splendid Carol Service at Bishophill Jnr. I'm now going to take a break until the New Year & see if I can shake off this infernal cold that I've been nurturing for far too long now! I had been asked if I could sing for a Midnight Mass in Leeds, but that simply isn't going to happen this year. I'll be quite content to listen to others do the singing, just for a change!

Next year brings its own challenges, as it's going to be a very busy one for us due to the 15th Anniversary celebrations + the first ever service (Missa Cantata) for the Rudgates in York Minster. I've sung there several times previously, both in services and concerts, but this is going to be completely different as I'm planning the Liturgy! It's going to be a national event too. :-) Does this make me nervous? Not much... ;-)

I know it's still Advent, just, but I'm going to wish you a Merry Christmas now!

Normal (more regular, hopefully!) service will resume after the weekend.

Coolest. Incipit. Ever!

2010-11-27T11:26:00.002Z

I make no apology whatsoever for reposting this, and can't wait to sing it again this evening @ Bishophill Jnr!

Roll on 9pm :-)

By (Jeffrey Tucker) - originally posted on the New Liturgical Movement site.

Advent will soon be upon us, which means many things, among which is the annual fight--a polite one, no doubt--over who gets to sing the incipit (opening phrase) to the solemn version of Alma Redemptoris Mater.

The Original Post on NLM has a splendid version of the solemn tone sung to Ambrosian Chant.

Redundancy

2010-11-17T23:51:00.000Z

Apologies for the hiatus between posts, but as you can gather from the title, I'm officially 'at risk' of redundancy. It's been looming since February, with all the uncertainty that goes with an internal review, but confirmation came in at the end of October. Hopefully, I'll be found another job within the firm, but until/unless that happens, the days are being ticked off to the time my position expires.. It's a very depressing situation to be in. I know it's happened to thousands before me in all forms of employment, and now I'm on the receiving end!

Since the last time I put anything up here, the Pope has come and gone, and we've sung at various events, principally at Sheffield for the Golden Jubilee of St Theresa's church, York for All Souls, and at Scunthorpe for Remembrance Sunday. The next major event in our diary is the Annual Carol Service at Bishophill Jnr, on 20th December. If you're in the area and want to come along, you'll be most welcome. It might just cheer me up a bit to see familiar faces in the congregation! The service starts at 7.30pm. By then, I may know a little more on the job front. Fingers and everything else crossed! Prayers of course, especially welcome!

...... And Relax

2010-09-15T19:43:00.000+01:00

That's the general idea anyway. I'm now on holiday, the first time off I've had since April. I won't dwell on it here, but the months in between have been very stressful work wise, and I'm not looking forward to the pile of work waiting for me on my return a week on Monday, because I know it won't get done in my absence, thanks to the 'wisdom' of my employers not replacing two full-time positions within my department. But, that's not till a week on Monday.

I'm writing this just after having sung for two Solemn High Masses in 4 days. The first at Brinkburn was a resounding success, and was blessed again with glorious weather. It never seems to rain when we go there, although first thing Saturday morning, conditions were very much wetter! By the time we got round to eating, we were at the risk of getting sunburnt...

The music was great. The chant Kyrie: Clemens Rector, Tallis' Mass for 4 voices, Monteverdi Ave Maris Stella & Adoramus Te & the 'York' Salve Regina, complemented by the Jarrow Schola singing the Proper of the Mass. I was quite relieved that the only time the Kyrie was mistake free, was during the Mass itself, because the rehearsals beforehand were full of errors. It's a piece of chant that I've been longing to sing for a few years, and the opportunity provided by the Tallis Mass having no Kyrie was too great to resist. :-)

Brinkburn this year also provided us with the opportunity to have a full choir photo taken, the first in over 4 years. So here we are!

5 people in the above photo are original members from 1996. 3 others actually sang with us for the very first time. (I hope it wasn't a baptism of fire!) Looking back, it's incredible that we only got together for what was thought to be a one-off, or at most, an annual occasion...

The second High Mass, for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, to be honest, could have been better. Perhaps it was tiredness creeping up on me. However it was an opportunity to sing in one of Yorkshire's finest catholic churches, St Charles Borromeo in Hull, so the Eremite, Jimitrius B, and myself were the Schola for the evening, or if certain terminology is to be interpreted, the Band! Perhaps next time we sing a chant Mass, we should be accompanied by electric guitars and a massive sound system instead of the organ. Mmm.... Anyway, here's a photo from last night.

I'm off to see the Pope this weekend, and then spend a few days in Wales. When I get back, I've got music to prepare for a sung Mass in York, and then solemn EF & OF Masses in Sheffield the weekend after in addition to the day job. It never ends....

We're only making plans...

2010-09-05T17:40:00.000+01:00

Compline by Candlelight continues at Bishophill Junior. As can be seen from the above photo, we're getting the Lady Altar set up more or less how I'd like. :-) There's still more work to do though, but it's coming...

Meanwhile, here are some Rudgate future dates:

11th September THIS Saturday. Annual High Mass at Brinkburn Priory in Northumberland, with glorious music by Tallis, Monteverdi and chant from the Use of York.

14th September: Solemn High Mass for Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Schola only. More details here.

1st October: Solemn High Mass in honour of St Thérèse of Lisieux. Schola only.

3rd October: Solemn OF Mass for the Golden Jubilee of St Theresa's Church, Sheffield. Full choir - if we can get one, bearing in mind it's a Sunday morning!

14th November: Remembrance Sunday. Victoria Requiem à 6 in Scunthorpe

8th December: Solemn Mass for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the BVM. Schola only.

20th December: Our Annual Carol Service!

And if that wasn't enough, I was chatting to the wonderful Columba Aspexit (who's already proved to be more than worth his weight in gold, so to speak, since his move to York) last night after Compline. We're both very keen on the Divine Office, so expect Vespers to become a regular feature of the liturgical life of York (whether the city's ready for it or not!) whilst we've both got the energy... :-)

Catching Up

2010-08-20T00:40:00.000+01:00

A quick resumé of what I've been up to since the last entry here, which has been dominated by work & sleep with the occasional dalliance with Facebook.

17th July saw myself and a friend from the York EF Community visit the medieval church of All Saints, North Street to witness an (Anglican, obviously) Pontifical High Mass for the Feast of Our Lady of North Street according to the Use of York. An interesting experience backed up with super singing by 4 members of the excellent Ebor Singers.

The following day saw what could have been a potentially disastrous EF Missa Cantata turn into something of a mini triumph. With just a few hours to go, some key singers for the planned polyphonic music pulled out due to illness, leaving me with a makeshift schola of 8 and hastily rearranging the bulk of the music. It turned out to be one of the best chant Masses I've been involved in for ages, and that includes Ushaw, a credit to all involved, especially those who turned up for the rehearsal expecting to sing polyphony & ending up sight-reading chant instead!

Moving on to the next weekend, which saw me back in London - eventually, after discovering my train had been cancelled on the Friday evening, resulting in a taxi [not paid for by me] down to Doncaster Station in order to catch, literally the last train to London that night. The following day saw my host roydosan & I off to Oxford for the Diaconate Ordination of Br Lawrence, an old friend & one of the first choral scholas of Leeds Cathedral Choir, when even then, I was a veteran Bass [or so it seemed!] Let's not forget the other two Ordinations to the Sacred Priesthood that day of Frs Robert & Thomas, who I'm pretty sure were Deacons on the day that Lawrence made his Solemn Profession back in September last year. You can read more about the days events here. Sunday was a little different. We decided to visit the Chaldean Catholic Community in West London. There was me thinking 'What sort of church will they be using?' only to find out that they make use of a catholic parish church, which to all intent, could easily be mistaken for an aircraft control tower! Nevertheless the liturgy was an interesting mix of middle eastern languages, a [very] little of which I recognised, having sung in liturgical Arabic for the Ordination of an Orthodox Priest from the Patriarchal jurisdiction of Antioch - in Doncaster. The ordaining bishop came from Syria, & had to learn enough English in order for the Liturgy to proceed smoothly, but there were bits in Arabic, & I therefore claim to be one of a few Western Christians to have invoked the name of 'Allah' liturgically! The Arabic theme stayed with us for lunch, which was at a Lebanese restaurant just a few minutes walk from the London Oratory, where Solemn Vespers & Benediction was not to be missed.

So, this brings me to the following weekend, which saw the Rudgate Singers reduced to one [me], for the Annual Founders-Day Requiem at Barnard Castle. It very nearly wasn't even that, as I had a horrendous journey up to Barney, due to very heavy traffic in & around York & then the roadworks on the A1. I made it to church with literally 3 minutes to spare! Fr Elkin gives a good account of the day here.

This brings me up to August, a month which singers usually take a well-earned break, but behind the scenes, plots are already being hatched for major services which will take us right up to the end of this year and beyond...!

Next on the agenda is the Annual High Mass at Brinkburn Priory in Northumberland for which we rehearse on Bank holiday weekend. If you're in, or can get to, Brinkburn on 11th September, do come along. It should be a super occasion & we're planning music to match!

With Synod Over, Br. Stephen Asks "What Now for the Ordinariates?"

2010-07-12T22:23:00.001+01:00

With Synod Over, Br. Stephen Asks "What Now for the Ordinariates?"

I don't know how many of you have been following the recent developments at the C of E's Synod here in York. I happen to have friends on both sides of the debate, and they shall remain friends, no matter what. It's not a personal issue for me, as I'm not an Anglican, but I can't help but take notice as it affects so many friends of mine. I've been attempting to follow some of the arguments, especially since Anglicanorum coetibus was issued last year, and have consequently been following one or two blogs as a result.

I'm highlighting this one because the very last sentence scored a bullseye personally, a direct hit, straight between the eyes, whatever! You see, I have my 'parish'. I know the place. I know the people. I even have a key for the church. How can I not pray for my friends in this situation? If any of you reading this, could do the same, regardless of your personal position, I'm sure your prayers will be gratefully received.

Compline Returns

2010-07-08T00:30:00.002+01:00

This may be of interest. If you're free, please do consider coming along. If you're not, but know of anyone who might be interested, spread the word!

If you're free this coming Saturday we would love to see you!

ST MARY'S CHURCH,

BISHOPHILL JUNIOR, YORK

AD COMPLETORIUM

(The Rite of Compline)

According to the

Roman Breviary of 1960

10th July 2010 9pm.

The Traditional Night Office sung to Gregorian Chant

Mike

The Annual Founders' Day Memorial Requiem for John and Josephine Bowes

2010-07-01T23:12:00.000+01:00

Saturday 31st July, 2010

St Mary's Church,

Birch Road,

Barnard Castle,

Co. Durham.

DL12 8NR

The annual Requiem for the founders of the church & museum.

This is an unashamed plug for a service we've been involved in for the last 6 years. Our Schola has sung the Gregorian Chant Requiem + Absolutions, and will do so again at the end of the month, unless we get enough volunteers for a polyphonic setting of the Requiem instead. :-)

The Parish Priest, Fr Wilfrid Elkin has been a tutor at Ushaw for the past two trad Training Conferences, and gave a super talk about one aspect of life there as a seminarian at the close of this year's conference, which was very well received! He's a wonderful priest, and it would be great to see a good turnout for this year's Memorial Requiem. Do come along if you can.

Some info from the parish website...

If John Bowes' birth had been legitimate, then he would have become the Earl of Strathmore and our history would probably have been different. As it was, he inherited lands and money from the old Earl, his father, and after a classic education for a gentleman of his time he developed an interest in the theatre, was a successful owner of race horses (his horse Western Australian won the Derby in 1853), was a popular MP for several years, and together with his French wife Josephine became a great collector of French paintings and other artifacts which he intended to house in a great museum to be built at Barnard Castle. John was not a Catholic, but his wife was. He was devoted to his wife, who was much younger than him, and when she died in 1874 he decided to fulfill her desire to have a chapel next to the museum on which work had already started. The chapel reached the height of the eves when John became short of money to complete the museum. Work was stopped, and the chapel stood for almost fifty years as a folly. John died in 1885, but his will was not probated until 1905. Then began years of discussion between the trustees of the museum and the trustees of the chapel as to its siting and use. Eventually in 1926 agreement was reached for the chapel to be moved to a corner of the museum site, and the building was finished and opened in 1928. The bodies of John and Josephine Bowes were brought from their temporary resting-place at the vault at Gibside Hall, Dunston, and they rest now behind the apse of St Mary's Church with their tomb directly facing the front door of their Museum. A Requiem Mass for Founders' Day is celebrated each year in July.

Useful links.

http://www.stmarys-rc-barnardcastle.org/Default.asp

http://www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk/about/bowes/

Future Dates

2010-06-16T22:53:00.001+01:00

Our 'appointments diary' for the rest of the year is filling up quite nicely! In addition to our now monthly Masses in York, we've been invited to sing for the following services so far...

31st July 12pm. St Mary's Church, Barnard Castle
Annual Founders' Day Requiem

11th September 12pm. Brinkburn Priory, Northumberland
Annual High Mass

1st October 7.30pm. St Theresa's Church, Sheffield
Solemn High Mass [EF]

3rd October 11.00am St Theresa's Church, Sheffield
Solemn Mass [Latin, OF]

[Both these Masses are part of a triduum of Masses for the Golden Jubilee of the consecration of the
church]

14th November 3.00pm. Holy Souls' Scunthorpe

Solemn Requiem Mass [Remembrance Sunday]

The music - Victoria à 6 was confirmed in November last year when we sang it during the Octave of All Souls.

20th December 7.30pm. St Mary's, Bishophill Jnr, York

Our Annual Carol Service.

There's also the church of St Marie, Halifax to fit in somewhere, and another Orthodox Divine Liturgy, but these will probably have to wait until 2011, more of which later as it will be our 15th Anniversary year!

Suggestions for the Carol Service most welcome. We'll see how many we can actually incorporate. :-)

Resurrecting Tradition - A Man for All Seasons

2010-06-06T00:43:00.000+01:00

I've been to another concert this evening, with a slight difference. It was free, with a retiring collection for a very deserving charity. The choir 'Resurrecting Tradition' was a group of students from the University of York supported by Cassoc, the Catholic Students' Society, though by no means exclusively Catholic. [A bit like us in a way, but a lot younger!] Indeed, the concert took place in a Methodist church, where Nic, the conductor, is the organist. The choir - dare I say not all experienced singers, but full of enthusiasm[ :-) ], took us on a musical journey based around the Church year interspersed with Readings from the Bible and concluding with a couple of fun secular pieces. There was very little in the programme that I didn't know, which added to my enjoyment of the concert. They deserve HUGE credit for tackling this programme and singing a cappella, especially in not the most friendly of acoustics. (The temperature inside the church was stifling to say the least!) The two solo pieces were great as well.

We need to show our support for such initiatives as this, and I'm pleased that several people came & not just from the University. Otherwise choral music will be relegated to concerts sung by professional & aspiring to be professional choirs - at a price. You'll rarely hear it in church liturgically [where it's supposed to be] except perhaps in major Cathedrals & Parish churches which are able to fund it.

I'm very much looking forward to the next time they sing. Details will be posted here when I find out!

London Revisited

2010-06-05T23:49:00.002+01:00

This time last week, I was back in London again. I've actually invested in an Oyster Card, since my visits are becoming much more frequent, to save the hassle of paying up front for day Travel tickets! Anyway, my visit this time was to attend the annual CIEL UK Mass and Conference, as I'd heard that James MacMillan was one of the speakers. A good account of the days proceedings can be found here. What struck me about the Mass though was that despite being informed some time before that the Mass Ordinary had been chosen specifically to encourage the congregation to sing, it, (Missa cum jubilo) was sung in such a way as to positively discourage such activity. We were even given the music, but that was a fat lot of good because there was no indication as to when we should have been singing! A rare black mark for the Oratory! If the congregation were going to be excluded in this way, we might as well have had a full polyphonic Mass. Sigh....

That said, the Mass itself was marvellous, despite the 11th hour adjustment to accommodate the Full Proper of the Mass for Ember Saturday in Whitsun week. Full credit to Anthony and the rest of the CIEL officials for organising this and the following conference.

After the conference & Benediction in the Little Oratory, I got the opportunity to meet and chat at length with Dr MacMillan. What a gentleman! It is a pleasure to talk to someone, justifiably famous who puts you at ease and even lets you discuss your own musical activities - such as they are! It's reassuring to know that his own church choir in Glasgow [how many other eminent composers/conductors direct their own parish church choir?] struggles from time to time to attract a fair balance of voices. We are definitely in very good company then! The sheer contrast with being able to talk to such a distinguished composer in such a manner compares very favourably with my experiences with members of a certain liturgical group, one of whose members made me feel like something my sisters dog had deposited - and this while talking about a Diocesan Director of music whom we both knew. It was a case of 'I am a liturgical superstar, and you are nobody' I can still remember the occasion quite vividly. It was in the catholic cathedral in Newcastle after a 'Choir' Festival in which most of the music bore no resemblance to anything like Choral Music which would be familiar to most singers. However, I digress....

The following day my host and I ventured into Camden to visit the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of All Saints for their Patronal Feast Day. After the Pontifical Liturgy, we were treated to a home made BBQ cooked in the traditional Greek manner. For £5, it must have represented the best value Sunday Lunch anywhere in London that day! I shall compare London with Leeds on Monday evening, as I've been invited to another one there courtesy of the Greek Community & Parish of the Three Hierarchs.

Following my first visit to [& curry in] Brick Lane and a quick boat ride on the Thames, I reluctantly returned home, but not before putting some more credit on my Oyster Card in anticipation of the next visit....

I'm now going to explore the back catalogue of James MacMillan's recordings here.... :-)

Ascension, Parts 1 & 2

2010-05-11T21:56:00.000+01:00

Part 1:

The Feastday itself on Thursday sees me (Ceteris Paribus) travelling over to Brigg in Nth Lincolnshire for a full Solemn High Mass complete with choir & orchestra (a very rare event!) who will be performing Haydn's Missa Sancti Ioannis a Deo, better known as the Little Organ Mass.

Part 2:

Sunday Evening sees at many Rudgates who are available that evening singing Byrd 3 & whatever else I can find to suit the complete imbalance of voices we have this time around. We have *no* Altos on Sunday, hence the need to change the music we'd originally planned. :-(

We now have the opportunity every third Sunday in York to sing some wonderful music where it was originally intended - liturgically. It's been more or less handed to us on a plate! All we need is a regular group of singers to keep the third Sunday in each month clear...

We shall of course continue to sing elsewhere throughout the North of England (& beyond, if we ever get a trip to mainland Europe organised). If you're a singer, and interested, get in touch!

We need to get out more...

2010-05-11T21:35:00.000+01:00

I write the title to this tongue ever so slightly in cheek after attending two Chant workshops, the first at St Austin's Church, Wakefield ably led by Philip Duffy & organised superbly by Patrick Ganley under the umbrella of the Schola Gregoriana of Cambridge. The second at St Alphonsus' North Ormesby, a more localised gathering, despite my efforts to give it as much publicity as possible, but a success nevertheless thanks to the indefatigable efforts of Fr Bill Charlton - the Parish Priest, and Eamon Manning, who flew over from Belfast (narrowly avoiding the ash cloud!) to lead the workshop. You can read more about this here. Now that I know the Eremite is a more than useful Tenor, he's not going to escape the Rudgate Radar! Being an ad-hoc choir, we're always going to be looking out for new singers to replace those who come and go at regular intervals.

As for the workshops, I learned a lot from both of them. The main thing that struck me was the thought that we mustn't retreat into our own little enclaves, otherwise we run the risk of becoming too complacent & isolated and not benefiting from the scholarship & experience of dedicated people who lead workshops such as these, who impart their love of this music at such events for the benefit of all of us. The Internet is brilliant of course, both in terms of access to books & free sheet music as well as recordings and demonstrations from the likes of YouTube, but there's nothing quite like experiencing first rate tuition on a sound practical level with other singers.

The good news (in Yorkshire at any rate) is that there may well be more of the same coming our way in the not too distant future. There was talk of the Wakefield event becoming an annual occasion (St Austin's has a super acoustic btw), and Eamon is going to be resident in York for at least a year from September, and yes, I've bagged him as another Rudgate Recruit!

Ushaw MMX

2010-04-20T22:22:00.000+01:00

What a week! Very intense and very rewarding. There are a number of blog entries already in circulation regarding the Conference itself, notably from Fr Brown, Joseph Shaw, the Middlesbrough LMS blog and last but not least ( as I shall always refer to him from now on) the legend, Fr Wilfred Elkin! A very good selection of photos can also be seen on all these, and I'll add more to the Middlesbrough LMS Blog once I've converted all the video taken into DVD format, though this will be of inferior picture quality to the photos taken by roydosan.

Our Schola of 6 deserves special credit for coping with 15 services in 4½ days, so, a huge thank you to Louis Hurst, Nick Iannicelli, Anthony Dickinson, Christian Spence & Jeremy Boot in addition to yours truly, who not only prepared the Orders of Service, but also choir folders containing all the music and acted as Cantor for the week. That's *not* the reason why my cassock was episcopal purple, but I've explained that elsewhere, so won't go into it here!

Christian gets a special mention for conducting the three polyphonic Masses during the week, and thanks are also due here to those Rudgates & other volunteers, particularly Laurence Price, who came along on Thursday & sang the Victoria Requiem a 6, and to Antiphon, especially Paul Berry who helped organise this, who came on Friday to sing Palestrina's Missa Aeterna Christi Munera and other motets. It's the second year running that we've collaborated with Antiphon for the final Mass & it's an ambition of mine to see both Rudgate & Antiphon combine some time, perhaps at Brinkburn, subject to availability of singers.

I'm not going to forget the organist either, Robert O'Farrell, who also deserves special praise not just for his playing, but also for driving over to York on the following Sunday evening from Lincolnshire in order to play for the [now] monthly Missa Cantata!

Now, I mentioned 3 polyphonic Masses, only the latter 2 of which were public. The first of these was a private Mass in the chapel of St Charles Borromeo putting into practice an excellent idea from Louis, a very talented musician currently at the RNCM in Manchester. Consequently 3 of us sang Byrd's Mass for 3 Voices in what was a very intimate & rewarding acoustic, therefore adding an additional service to the other 15 which we were already scheduled to sing!

The week for me went by far too quickly, and more or less consisted of getting up very early & getting to bed very late and in between, singing services, rehearsing for more services, eating the splendid food prepared by the caterers and spending as much free time in the bar as possible! Before we knew it, we were processing out of the final Mass singing the Te Deum, a last minute addition into the the Order of Service that hardly anyone else knew about!

All the services were recorded, for "training purposes" you understand (one of the in-jokes of the week, another being our own 'CCTV' masquerading as a cam-corder!) So, there is a very distinct possibility of CD's & DVD's becoming available, but it's going to take me ages to go through all the recorded material. I shall post something here when it's all done.

We're hoping to to back next year & in anticipation, music is already being planned... :-)

Before then, and of much more immediate concern, there's the small matter of Gregorian Chant workshops to attend in Wakefield & Middlesbrough, and one to organise, hopefully in Birmingham. More later!

THE Wedding!

2010-04-11T08:44:00.001+01:00

This is a little experiment. I'm sending this from my phone to see if
it will upload to the blog as I'll have no access to a computer @
Ushaw.

After a round trip of some 600 miles, I got back to York from Glasgow
at midnight after singing for Colin & Helen's Nuptial Mass. A lovely
couple, who I Met in Fife 2 years ago on the first St Margaret's
pilgrimage. Who can ever forget Sext on the beach(!), but I digress...

The weather was perfect, & the music wasn't bad either! For a scratch
Schola, all but one of whom I'd never met until yesterday, we
acquitted ourselves very well indeed. The church was lovely too -
definitely merits another visit next time I go to Glasgow, & it won't
be another 26 years before I do!

I would love to have stayed for the festivities after the Mass &
catching up with friends old & new + some on facebook who I finally
got to meet(!) but I had to get back to York as I still have
conference admin to sort out before setting off this evening.

Helen & Colin, in the best Russian/Ukrainian tradition, may I wish you
Many Happy Years!

On to Ushaw!

--
Mike Forbester
www.rudgatesingers.co.uk
http://rudgateramblings.blogspot.com/

Gregorian Chant Workshop

2010-04-05T15:00:00.000+01:00

I make no apology at all for lifting this direct from the Diocese of Middlesbrough's Newsfeed which I subscribe to via Google Reader!

Saturday May 8, 2010

9:30 am

Saturday 8th May 2010 from 9.30am to 5pm at St Alphonsus’ Catholic Church
95 Westbourne Grove, Middlesbrough, TS3 6EW
In this day-long workshop we will learn and sing some of the most beautiful chants in the repertory of Gregorian Chant, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and based around the context of a Sung Mass. We will immerse ourselves in the sound, technique and language of this ancient musical style, working toward an authentic and beautiful performance at the end of the day. We will also discover the links between Chant and Polyphony.
The music we will study in the workshop will include:

Mass IX (Cum Iubilo)
The Propers of the BVM
Marian Processionals
Gregorian Hymnody
Marian Polyphonic Motets

All materials (an introduction to Gregorian Chant, scores and helpful resources) are included in the cost of the day. Beginners and more advanced singers are welcome. Registration Fee: £5.00 – No Fee for Students
To register please contact us at email@saintalphonsus.org.uk or telephone (01642) 245043. Further information may be found at www.saintalphonsus.org.uk

Sacred, Beautiful & Universal

2010-04-02T23:45:00.003+01:00

During my enforced lay-off from any service [so far] this Holy Week due to this infernal cold, I managed to watch a DVD that I'd received from the US a while ago, and never got around to looking at, until now.

It's interviews and edited highlights of the the nineteenth annual Sacred Music Colloquium, sponsored by the Church Music Association of America.

Whilst not everyone's cup of tea I suppose, it turned out to be one of the most fascinating and inspiring 56 minutes I've spent in front of the TV for ages. All I'll add here is if you're in the UK and you have ANY interest in Music & Liturgy [in either form of the Roman Rite] then you need to go here and buy one! Mine cost $30 which worked out at £20.42 including postage.

I think it's money well spent.

Go on, buy one.

Now.

And then we'll discuss the possibilities of such an event happening over here in the UK.

Holy Week & Easter

2010-03-31T19:44:00.010+01:00

It's an, as yet, unfulfilled ambition of mine to sing Tenebrae in Holy Week. I just never seem to get the time off work to join others in singing this most wonderful solemn music, when it's been done in other parts of the country. The chances of it happening in Yorkshire are virtually nil at the moment. A few years ago, the then Schola Greg of Northumbria managed it at Fr Michael Brown's parish in Forest Hall, and if you're in or around Edinburgh do make the effort to go to the Metropolitan Cathedral where the St Andrew's & Edinburgh Schola will be singing.

Apart from Tenebrae, another ambition is to sing the Passion. Again this hasn't happened yet due to lack of time and people. Whilst it would be wonderful to have a polyphonic setting performed [liturgically of course], I'd quite happily settle for chant!

As for the Triduum, I'm at a loose end this year as there's not a lot happening musically in the York area. Last Year I took part in the first EF Triduum to be held in Yorkshire for several years, perhaps even since the 1960's. Sadly this isn't happening this weekend, but I know from my own experience in organising services, the difficulties that can be encountered purely from an admin point of view. It's bad enough to organise the Ordinary Form, so just imagine how much more difficult the EF is, especially when you have a full time job to do as well! It's well worth it though, and I hope that sometime in the future, we'll be able to do it again.

So, that leaves me a 'free agent' so to speak, and as the Orthodox/Byzantine Catholic Easter is the same as the West this year, I have plenty of options. The music programme at Leeds Cathedral is excellent, but I'm reluctant to go there because the older I get, the more claustrophobic I seem to become, and I'm pretty sure the place will be packed, which for me would be a very uncomfortable experience despite the music. I do intend to go back there occasionally to see how my choral successors are faring...

I shall certainly be at the Greek Orthodox Church in Leeds though for one or two services. If I can get there on Friday evening I'll be taking part in the SERVICE of EPITAPHIOS (Burial of The Lord & Harrowing of Hell). This is an amazing service in which the Epitaphion [tomb] is taken out in procession around the local streets surrounding the church, during which hymns are sung in Greek and English. I don't know if this happens in other Orthodox/Greek-Catholic churches, but if you're near a Greek Orthodox church, do see if they have this service. The one in Leeds commences at 6.30pm with the procession starting about an hour later.

I shall certainly be at the Greek Church on Sunday for VESPERS OF LOVE [Gospel in Many Languages], as I've been asked to read the Gospel in Latin (& possibly German too if nobody else there will do it!) This is always followed by what can only be described as the 'mother of all barbecues' and has to be seen [& tasted] to be believed!

What I'll probably miss out on though is the Resurrection Liturgy which starts at 10.30pm and goes on for 4 hours. Another awesome experience, especially when 'Christos Anesti' is sung, but I don't want to be out that late as I'm not in the best of health right now, and need to be in tip-top condition, or as close to it as possible, for the following weekend as I'm singing for a Solemn Nuptial Mass [OF] in Glasgow, followed immediately by the EF Training Conference at Ushaw!
(See here for details of the services that are readily accessible to the public. ALL Services will be open to anyone, but I can't imagine too many visitors in the chapel at 8.00am for Lauds, or 9.30pm for Compline!)

I'm told the services at Ampleforth are worth going to, so may just go there for the Vigil, though I note that it's also likely to be beyond midnight when it finishes - but probably not 2.30am!

Wherever you are, may I wish you a Blessed final few days of Holy Week, and a very Happy Easter. I'll try not to over-indulge on the Lamb on Sunday afternoon, perhaps just 5 courses should suffice! ;-)

More About Hymns

2010-02-24T21:13:00.004Z

I've had some response from my last note about hymns. It's always nice to receive feedback, proof it seems that I have more readers than I thought! Let me just quote from one which came via Facebook.

"while I do think the 19th century Hymns by Faber, Wiseman etc gave us a rich devotional heritage it is far more Liturgical to sing Mass"

My response to this may come as a surprise considering what I wrote previously as I'm not as 'anti-hymn' as I appear to be. Believe it or not, but I actually like hymns too, and generally from the same era as Matt who posted the above comment. A recording I made in the early 1990's with a group of singers called the 'St Anne's Singers of Leeds' of wonderful hymns purloined from the Leeds Catholic Hymnal, the St Andrew Hymnal, [where can I get full music editions of these?], and the Parish Hymn Book is partly responsible for sowing the seeds which later bore fruit in the Rudgate Singers.

I'm going to quote something else now, from the forward to the great Parish Hymn Book which, in my opinion, was the last of the great Catholic hymnals before the publication of the Catholic Hymn Book some 30+ years later.

"We may never again see those crowded congregations at evening service - rosary, sermon and Benediction - but we shall still have crowded churches. There is nevertheless regret among the clergy and all who loved congregational singing that the day of popular devotions seems to be gone...

... Mass has become the popular devotion...

...The new Parish Hymn Book is welcome because it will halt the decline of congregational singing. Soon we shall have vernacular versions of the Mass in new musical settings but we shall not have completely satisfactory words and music for the Mass until after a long period of experiment. Meanwhile the English tradition of hymn-singing will be preserved by singing at Mass and at the new type of Service."

These words were written by Cardinal Heenan back in May 1966. How times have changed! It seems to me though that the use of hymns (good, bad, ancient, modern) has now taken over so much that in most parishes up and down the country, the '4 hymn sandwich' has become the staple musical diet within the Latin Rite Catholic Liturgy. I'll leave you to dwell upon the level of congregational singing & musical settings for the Mass, should you actually have the latter in your Parish! The Eastern Liturgy, for those of you lucky enough to experience it, is a different ball game entirely. By mentioning the classic hymn sandwich, I think I've come more or less back to my original point made in the previous posting. More thoughts would be welcome!

Hymns

2010-02-21T14:59:00.004Z

Those of you who know me are probably aware that I'm not the greatest fan of hymns in the Extraordinary Form Mass, preferring, where possible, that the Mass should be sung, rather than have singing at Mass. I've heard of similar arguments for the same to apply for the OF too, mostly falling on deaf ears locally. How many parishes do you know of that still rely on the '4 hymn sandwich'? Fortunately I'm not regularly called on to provide music for OF liturgies [yet, the last one I did, being Whit Sunday nearly 2 years ago], I'm busy enough as it is, with the EF in the North of England, not just York!

Nevertheless, I can't help noticing that when the York EF Masses have been sung, there has been an increase in attendance. Coincidence? These are of course hymnless, bearing in mind that the Mass is sung - either chant or polyphony and always concluding with the seasonal Marian Antiphon, a habit I first picked up when singing with the Leeds Schola Gregoriana some 20+ years ago. The Low Masses though, have a dreadful attendance record generally, and I can't help but think that there's a musical [or lack of] connection here.

Of course, the Mass being at 6:30pm on a Sunday evening, isn't helpful, because some people don't like coming out on dark evenings. There is also the shameful polemicised prejudice in Greater York [especially amongst some of the clergy] against *anything* connected to the EF or even the official language of the Church! (This despite all the initiatives coming out of Rome under this Pontificate...)

I've also heard arguments for/against music [any kind, not necessarily just hymnody] from those who attend the EF on occasion. It's interesting [to me at least!] to note that those who prefer quiet Low Masses are much older than those, considerably younger than me (!) who would like some music - even suitable hymns during Low Mass, which brings me back on topic!

Since October, when the EF Masses resumed in York, there have only been 2 Sung Masses so far. All the others have been Low Masses without any music except occasionally the appropriate Marian Antiphon sung at the end. Following last weekends highly successful Missa Cantata, which almost doubled the congregation, I've decided to introduce some music for the Low Masses during Lent. Not that controversial [I hope!] at first, as I'm starting with the Lent Prose, which amazingly is in the hymn book the parish uses, a vernacular hymn at Communion, and concluding with the seasonal Marian Antiphon, Ave Regina Caelorum.

I know I'm going to get some criticism from some quarters, because it's impossible to please everybody.

Wish me luck!

Singers needed.

2010-02-09T22:35:00.005Z

Can I ask a favour? I know this blog doesn't attract the thousands of visitors that other great bloggers receive [see bloglist on the right!], but it does get a fair few regular visitors, and I'm now going to prevail upon you, or more particularly, your networking skills. :-)

For the second year running, there is to be a clergy training course in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite [Traditional Latin Mass] at Ushaw College, in Durham. This year, it's from 12th-16th April & I've been given the unenviable task of organising the music & getting the singers together - most of which is done.

So far, I've planned for 3 Solemn High Masses, 2 other Sung Masses, Lauds [x4], Solemn Vespers once, ordinary sung Vespers twice and other services including Compline. Where I'm asking for a bit of help is regarding the Mass scheduled for 11.00am on the Thursday [15th April]. This will be a Solemn Memorial Requiem with the music planned being Victoria à 6. (The same music Rudgate sang in Scunthorpe in November last year.

We can't afford to hire a choir because the LMS [Conference organisers] have only budgeted for one choir who will be singing for the final High Mass the following day, & I certainly can't afford to hire singers - I drive a 10 year old rusting VW Polo for heaven's sake! [and that only because my even older , limited edition, beloved Skoda Felicia Bohemia was written off in an RTC in Leeds by an uninsured driver, just after I'd sung for the Easter Vigil.] But I digress.

This leaves me running around trying to find people who want to come & sing this wonderful music. What *can* be offered, provided I know in good time is accommodation @ Ushaw [bearing in mind the start time] & all meals. Some Rudgates have already valiantly taken a day off work and are coming to sing. Other singers will already be at Ushaw, as we're part of the Schola in residence. That leaves me looking for at least 3 Sopranos, 1 or 2 Altos and 1 Tenor. We already have 4 basses signed up!

If you know of anyone who might be interested & potentially available, bearing in mind that it's a work day for most people, I'd be delighted to hear from you via the Comments box!

London Calling.

2010-02-07T13:14:00.007Z

I used to hate London, but am now beginning to rather like the place - in small doses. For a city which I've usually visited only once in blue moon, to have been there 3 times in the last 7 months to me, speaks for itself.

This time it was for the launch of the Gregorian Chant Network at the end of January. Various accounts have appeared in the blogosphere already, so I won't repeat what's been written there. I will add, that I thought it quite appropriate that other organisations besides the LMS [who hosted the event] were represented, who do not, as a rule, have the same opinion on the EF held by most of us present.

Gregorian Chant is still the official music of the Roman Rite (in BOTH FORMS) and I'm personally quite fed up of people with their heads buried so deep in the sand who think it should be exclusively associated with the EF. (These generally tend to be people who either love or hate the Extraordinary Form with equal fervour!) Despite my preference for the EF, I'm more than happy to get involved with OF liturgies, either directly, as a singer, or indirectly by offering advice or by going to listen and supporting other singers. This applies to other choral music too. How are we going to encourage the use of Gregorian Chant & other good quality sacred music in parishes if we think it's our exclusive preserve?

I was particularly keen to hear that several cathedrals are using the Chant more often, although there is still a distinct bias towards South/Central England. I can only think of Leeds in N/NE England that is taking Chant seriously alongside other good Liturgical music, though I'm quite happy to stand corrected if that's not the case. That said, it's still good to hear, and I'm very much in favour of the proposed idea to have Regional Chant workshops in our cathedrals [led by the Cathedral Directors?] where details of local choirs/scholas such as ourselves can be provided should people who attend wish to take their interest further and start singing on a regular basis.

Putting Gregorian Chant aside, I'm also, as some of you know, very fond of the Eastern Rites. After leaving the Oratory, roydosan, [my host for the weekend] & I went up the road to the Russian Orthodox Cathedral for the Vigil Service of the Sunday of the Prodigal Son - all 2½ hours of it(!) accompanied by some excellent, virtually non-stop singing in both Church Slavonic & English by only a handful of chanters. Much praise is due, & if I knew who was in charge of the music there I'd write to them to let them know!

The Byzantine theme continued on Sunday with a visit to the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral. This was an experience not to be missed. Although there were only 3 chanters, they had only to intone various parts of the Liturgy and we were suddenly engulfed by the sound of the entire congregation joining in - in harmony! Considering there were about 300-400 people present, you can imagine what that must have sounded like... For those of you who want to see/hear genuine participation without it being forced on you in the misguided mindset of 'Community', go along to your nearest Ukrainian Catholic or Orthodox church and prepare to be overwhelmed! The Poles, to be fair, are pretty good too, but the Roman Rite - in either form - doesn't really allow for the same experience because of the way it's structured. Other Byzantine Rites could potentially do the same of course, but in my experience, Greek, Russian & Romanian congregations just remain silent and let the chanters or choir get on with singing the Liturgy along with the clergy.

I would have liked to have stayed longer, but had a train to catch in order to sing Vespers of Septuagesima Sunday back in York, which in the end didn't happen due to the train breaking down - twice! Still, a pretty good weekend, and I'm looking forward to the next one. :-)

Wassail!

2010-01-16T16:23:00.004Z

I'm off out to dinner this evening. To be precise, a three course meal with music provided by the excellent Ebor Singers. To quote directly from the invitation...

"if you wish to celebrate the end of Christmas in style, join us for our Wassail Dinner 2010, on Saturday 16 January at the Merchant Taylors Hall, for a 3-course meal, music, readings, and our own Mummers Play - if you think you've seen the choir perform, think again!"

I've been to these before, and it's always been a splendid evening's entertainment with a good meal provided too!

For those of you unfamiliar with Wassailing traditions in this country, any Google search should soon put that right. Here's an excerpt from a site I came across.

Wassailing

Wassailing has been associated with Christmas and New Year as far back as the 1400s. It was a way of passing on good wishes among family and friends.

What is Wassail?

Wassail is an ale-based drink seasoned with spices and honey. It was served from huge bowls, often made of silver or pewter. The Wassail bowl would be passed around with the greeting, 'Wassail'.

There are three main ways of wassailing.

The filling of a common bowl or cup often referred to as a 'Loving Cup' and passing it around a room to be shared.

Taking a bowl of Wassail around houses

A celebration of the apple harvest and the blessing of the fruit or trees.

Where does the name Wassail come from?

Wassail gets its name from the Old English term "waes hael" meaning "be well" It was a Saxon custom that, at the start of each year, the lord of the manor would shout 'waes hael'. The assembled crowd would reply 'drinc hael' meaning 'drink and be healthy'.

As time went on, the tradition was carried on by people going from door to door, bearing good wishes and a wassail bowl of hot, spiced ale. In return people in the houses gave them drink, money and Christmas fare (special foods eaten during Christmas time e.g. mince pies) and they believed they would receive good luck for the year to come.

What was in the Wassail?

The contents of the bowl varied in different parts of the country, but a popular one was known as 'lambs wool'. It consisted of hot ale, roasted crab apples, sugar, spices, eggs, and cream served with little pieces of toast. It was the toast floating on the top that made it look like lamb's wool.

A Wassailing Carol

One of the most popular Wassailing Carols went like this:

Here we come a-wassailing

Among the leaves so green,

Here we come a-wassailing,

So fair to be seen:

Love and joy come to you,

And to you your wassail too,

And God bless you and send you,

A happy New Year,

And God send you,

A happy new year.

There's more, all from this site which you can explore at your own leisure, but I think this gives you a rough idea of what the evening will be about! Should be great fun, but I can't be too late back because I'm going over to Gtr Manchester tomorrow to celebrate Theophany (incidentally the traditional date of celebrating "Wassail" in the Old English Calendar!) with my Ukrainian friends now that the weather's improved.

Until next time...

Waes hael!

Frustrated again....

2010-01-11T23:34:00.002Z

I am not happy. Having booked 3 days leave ages ago in order to celebrate Christmas according to the Julian Calendar with my Ukrainian friends - what happens? We get the worst winter for nearly 30 years! Needless to say, venturing across to the other side of the Pennines on 7th January was a non-starter, hence my disappointment yet again, having previously missed out on the only Solemn High Mass of Christmas [Midnight] in the EF to be celebrated in Yorkshire (& quite possibly the entire North of England.) I shall make up for missing out on the Ukrainian celebrations by going to the Ukrainian Cathedral in London at the end of the month. It will be the Sunday of the Prodigal Son by then, so not quite the same as Christmas, but as it will also be my first Byzantine Catholic Liturgy since June, I'm not going to lose any sleep over it! ;-)

I'm in London principally to attend this, believed to be the first meeting of its kind. Looking at the map that Joseph has so kindly created (& put a lot of work into), it's quite clear that there's a distinct lack of organised singers who provide music for the EF in North/North-East England. There are other groups around, I can think of one on South Tyneside, the Leeds Schola Gregoriana - the first chant only group that I joined over 20 years ago & the fledgling Schola founded by the indefatigable Fr Bill Charlton based at North Ormesby whose name escapes me at the moment. The harsh reality is though, that the only opportunity for people to hear a Chant Mass in either form with the full Propers taken from the Graduale Romanum or Liber Usualis is from groups like ourselves who travel miles to sing by invitation & therefore put a lot of hard work & money into ensuring that the services are given the due musical solemnity that they deserve.

Still on Chant matters, I had intended to resume the chanting og Compline & Vespers last week also, but due to the weather, postponed that to this week instead. At least it gave me an opportunity to change the times, bringing them more into line with what I'd originally intended. So, Compline will now be at 9pm on Fridays, and Sunday Vespers will be at 5pm. (Term-time only unless my arm's twisted by people desperate to take part....) Whether anyone actually turns up remains to be seen. As I've mentioned here before, York is a very secular city when it come to chant (& polyphony too) in it's proper context. The concert venues thrive with superb performances by the many talented choirs in the area. We also have the National Centre for Early Music here, as well as an excellent music department in the University, but the only full churches you're likely to see will be at Carol Services, or for sheer snob-value, the Minster at major Festivals. (The regular Minster congregation are completely exempt from this criticism!)

OK. Mini-rant over. Let's hope the meeting at the end of January bears the seeds of a gradual recovery to get quality music, not just chant, back into churches where it belongs.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-02T19:12:00.005Z

A day late maybe, but as this is the first entry, still justified methinks. In the month plus since I last managed to write anything here, I've recovered most of the work, photos, music and other files which were almost disastrously lost after what I now call the great crash.

Unfortunately all my work for the LMS Ushaw Conference bit the proverbial dust, so I've had to recreate all the planned services, which for added insurance purposes, I've now uploaded to my webspace! This is provisional at the moment, as some things may change, but the work is done so any minor alterations will be relatively easy. 'Tis a great relief to be at this stage now because last year I beat the publishing deadline for the booklet by only two days....

I have a large chunk of spare time now which I can devote to other things before I get around to preparing full music folders for the resident singers. We hope to have two full scale polyphonic Masses this year, and even polyphony [motets] during the chant Masses too. It promises to be magnificent!

So, I now plan to spend a bit more time reading [I have a pile of books, which at this rate will take me a decade to get through!], writing here more often & indulging in taking more photographs - not necessarily of church events, but I've just noticed that my set from St Alphonsus' North Ormesby have been published on their new website. Do go and take a look. Fr Bill Charlton is a wonderful priest who deserves all the support we can possibly give him.

I had hoped to be there for Midnight Mass, but unfortunately fog descended in the Vale of York, so it was to my intense frustration, but common sense prevailed - a 100 mile round trip at night in freezing fog is not to be recommended!

The Rudgates were busy just before Christmas though at our now Annual Carol Service. We did have a group photo taken beforehand, but I've yet to receive this from the photographer, so you''ll just have to make do with my mobile snapshot just before the service started of the East End.

It was, another huge success, and has given us the nice headache of "how do we follow that?" Well, I've already got some wonderful pieces for Next Year....

The full choir now has some respite between now and April, when we hope to persuade as many as possible to come and sing Victoria's glorious Requiem for 6 voices in the equally glorious St Cuthbert's chapel at Ushaw. It's a working day fo most people, and as the Mass is scheduled for 11.00am it means, taking a day's holiday. I'm pushing it like mad at the moment in the hope that we can get the required quorum. If the worst comes to the worst, we've always got the chant Requiem, but the Victoria would be just stunning in that location.

However, that said, we are trying to get a full choral Mass in York for the Chair of Peter on 22nd Feb. Depending on the church, & the availability of people it may or may not happen as it's a Monday evening & we'd be relying on quite a few people - not least our choral Director travelling many miles to York & back home again before work the following day. Watch this space..

Chant-wise Compline resumes on 8th January followed by Sunday Vespers on the 10th. Before then, I'm switching calendars to celebrate with the Ukrainians on the 7th, so if you use the Julian Calendar instead of the Gregorian, Happy Christmas for Thursday!

Back to normal? We'll see!

2009-11-30T23:16:00.004Z

I've just spent the best part of the last month gradually restoring my data, music and photo files which went AWOL when my External Hard Drive crashed. [That's in excess of 40,000 files!] Unfortunately, some have been lost, including a chant responsory arranged by yours truly - the first time I'd ever arranged a piece of music for public performance, and now you'll never know how good it was. ;-) Also lost is all the work I'd done so far for Ushaw next year. :-( Very frustrating, but as most of this years files actually survived, I've got the foundations, as it were, to rebuild what I'd done, making the necessary changes to reflect the different dates in April next year, as the conference is a week earlier. It helps that the first day is going to be exactly the same!

Depending on numbers in the choir, we may even introduce some polyphony in the first 3 days. We certainly hope to have a polyphonic Requiem on the Thursday if enough Rudgates can be persuaded to take a days leave to sing the Victoria Requiem a 6 which went down so well in Scunthorpe.

The final Mass will definitely be polyphony, as we'll be booking a choir from the local area to sing. (We'll still have the Proper to to...) Palestrina's Missa Aeterna Christi Munera is the favourite at this stage. It's all looking very good planning wise. I just need to recreate the lost Orders of Service and add Thursday & Friday. Simple to write about, but I know there'll be much slaving away over a hot computer before it's finished. It took over 60 hours to do last time - and then I noticed the mistakes I'd failed to spot in the preparation... With the benefit of experience, there shouldn't be any this time! Famous last words. ;-) I'm tempted to say that't I'll buy drinks for the first person to spot one, but that might be a tad too risky. Can't wait for next April though. It'll be wonderful!

Ushaw apart, life is as hectic as ever. I've been involved with my sister's choir, taking photographs of their last concert for the choir website - yet to be launched, and have temporarily joined another choir to help them out with their major Christmas Concert, as they're short of Basses.

As if that wasn't enough, there are plans for the first sung Extraordinary Form Mass in York for a year. It will be our priests first sung Mass, so we hope it will be a success. We also have our Annual Carol Service to look forward to on 21st December.

Planning all this keeps me out of mischief I suppose!

Victoria's Requiem a 6

2009-11-10T22:23:00.001Z

One of my favourite pieces ever is Victoria's Requiem for 6 voices. We were

privileged to sing this last Saturday at Holy Souls' Church, Scunthorpe.

Apart from the repeat of 'Quam Olim' in the Offertory - which very few people seem

to have been prepared for, despite the rehearsal, it went very well. It's a shame that

more people weren't there though. We now hope to repeat this for Remembrance

Sunday next year. I'm also hoping that it will be sung, either by us, or some other

group during the next LMS Priestly Training Conference at Ushaw, next April. It will

sound glorious in St Cutbert's Chapel! Here's an excerpt purloined from Youtube.

If you don't know the piece, then I recommend you check Amazon, or your favourite

supplier and get yourself a recording!

Our next fully choral service will be our Annual Carol Service @ Bishophill, always

well attended. We're looking forward to it even more this year, as it will be followed

by out first organised Christmas Party!

Music Matters.

2009-09-26T17:28:00.002+01:00

No sooner am I back from holiday and back at work in 'the day job' then I manage to get involved in musical events of one form or another! I've already written about the EF Missa Cantata in Howden for which I'm providing the music along with one or two other 'volunteers' [I didn't even cross their palms with silver, although it may cost me a pint or two later!]

More importantly, someone's coming to York, and it's not Pope Benedict - at least not yet anyway. I am of course, referring to the visit of the

Relics of St Thérèse of Lisieux

to York Minster

Many things have been said about this, some quite controversially, as the Minster is one of two non-Catholic venues, the other being the chapel of Wormwood Scrubs Prison. There are various services and events being planned in the Minster itself, but there will be at least one musical event taking place elsewhere, as all the good time slots have been taken already. :-(

I [and a few others I hope!] will be singing 2nd Vespers for the Feast of

St Thérèse of Lisieux

at the church of St Mary, Bishophill Jnr - our regular venue for Chant Vespers & Compline.

The idea came about because a few of us want to to *something* connected to St Thérèse on her Feast Day whilst the relics are in York. We didn't think that the Ecumenical Service of thanksgiving for the Malines Conversations of 1921 to 1927 was really appropriate...

Thanks, to Fr Elias, the previous Carmelite Chaplain to the University of York, we're going to commemorate the visit with, we hope, a service that's a little bit, well, more appropriate! He very kindly copied and sent me chants from the Carmelite Office for her Feast Day, which I'm supplanting with Gregorian Chant and chant from the Use of York for the final Marian Antiphon. If you're in the York area that evening, please do come along. Our service is at 7.30pm, a little late for Vespers I know, but I've got to account for people who are at work and travelling some distance to be with us.

The following day, there is a Mass in the Zouche Chapel to which all are welcome, but I wanted to do something specifically on her Feast Day whilst the relics are in York, hence Vespers.

[I know that in the EF Calendar the Feast isn't until 3rd October, but I'm not getting into that argument here!]

Le 'Mini-Tour'

2009-09-26T16:34:00.002+01:00

It's been almost a week now since I returned from holiday. I turned the invitation to sing for Brother Lawrence Lew's Solemn Profession into an even greater opportunity for me to get a few days away and even spend some time in France and quick visit to London before heading back to York.

I won't bore you with details, suffice to say that the week started in Oxford and ended with an Extraordinary Form Mass at the church of Our Lady of the Rosary, Blackfen. Some of you may already know the Parish Priest. :-) If you want to experience a sung EF Mass in a normal parish setting, then I strongly recommend that you visit at least once! It was a pleasure to meet Mac again, who I hadn't seen since the Pontifical High Mass at Westminster Cathedral last year. It was also wonderful to meet so many others including Patricius, whose blog Singulare Ingenium is now well and truly bookmarked!

Between Oxford & Blackfen, I managed to spend some time in Kent, replenishing my stock of Real Cider with some excellent stuff from Badgers Hill Farm which I cannot recommend highly enough. I've been here once before and the quality is as good as ever. I also took the opportunity to do a little Channel Hopping over to France, where I visited Lille [where I sang whilst in Leeds Cathedral Choir] and brought back copious amounts of Rosé wine, which even accounting for the not so favourable exchange rate, was still a bargain due to the fact that French duty on alcohol is so much less than ours is here in the UK.... I almost ended up stranded in Belgium at one point due to misreading my French railway timetable, but that's another story!

All in all, a good trip. Photos can be seen here.

Brinkburn, 2009

2009-09-05T21:57:00.006+01:00

I got home from Northumberland at about 5.30pm. After a 7.00am start, a round trip of 230+ miles including singing, I promptly nodded off for a few hours! The TV was on in the background, & I vaguely remember something about Slovenia scoring at Wembley..

Now awake again, but not completely refreshed [I'm going to have some more tea in a minute, which will probably keep me up half the night, but never mind!] I thought I'd post some photos taken at Brinkburn earlier today. It was, as ever, a fabulous occasion, and the music was very enthusiastically received. I'm already looking forward to next year, when we hope to sing the Tallis Mass we'd planned for this year until a shortage of Tenors this weekend made us alter our plans.

I'm having a well earned rest first thing tomorrow, & not doing anything remotely musical until Vespers @ Bishophill in the evening. I'll write more about this later, as, at the moment, it's only a trial to see how we like it.

Anyway here are some of the photos from this afternoon.

More can be found here.

Plans after Brinkburn

2009-09-03T23:50:00.002+01:00

My apologies for not posting as often as I should. I can't believe it's over two months, since I last wrote anything here...

Anyway, first things first, the excellent Fr Brown has already written about the Brinburn Solemn High Mass here, so there's little more for me to add, other than that it should be a splendid occasion.

Afterwards, and after my holiday [which begins with a trip down to Oxford to sing for the Solemn Profession of a Dominican friend of mine whom I've known since he was a choral scholar in Leeds Cathedral Choir], there are musical plans afoot in Yorkshire. For those of you reading this whom I've already emailed, this is the same information! For everyone else here goes...

I know this will appeal to some more than others, so I crave your indulgence, if you're not too interested in Chant. I wonder how many people may be free on the 29th September [Tuesday evening]. There is to be a Mass at the Church of the Sacred Heart, Howden at 7.30pm. We need singers for the Missa de Angelis. At the moment, Seishi [one of our most enthusiastic Schola Members] & I are singing the Propers, but more voices would of course be welcome! If there's a decent quorum, we could even try & sing the Dering Panis Angelicus again which will be sung at Brinkburn + possibly Isti Sunt Sancti also. We sang both pieces in Everingham on Michaelmas Day 2000.

On Thursday the same week 1st October, many of you will know that the relics of St Therese of Lisieux will be coming to York Minster. I'm proposing that our Schola sings 2nd Vespers that day which is her Feast Day in the New Calendar. I've been given the Carmelite Chants for the Antiphons & Hymn by a Carmelite Monk & very good friend of mine who some of you know, as he was the previous Catholic Chaplain to the University of York. It would be great though if some people could come along & sing the psalms with us. They're not difficult, as they'll be straightforward Gregorian tones which I can provide but only if I know you're coming! The venue for this will most likely be St Mary's, Bishophill Jnr, as it's most unlikely we'd get into the Minster, as all the good time slots are already taken. The time for this will most likely be 7.30 as well, which is the latest time I dare contemplate starting Vespers!

Looking beyond October, the full choir are booked to sing a memorial Requiem in Scunthorpe on 7th November and the Annual Carol Service in Bishophill on 21st December. New members will of course be very welcome, so please feel free to point interested singers [especially Tenors] in our direction!

For those intrepid souls who are free on Christmas Eve, and fancy being part of what will probably be the only Midnight Solemn High Mass of Christmas in the entire North-East of England & Yorkshire, please let me know. The drawback [for some] is that it's in North Ormesby where we sang in June! Plans are currently the Missa de Angelis again, [as well as the Propers] but if enough singers are free & want to take part, there may be a possibility of some polyphony. I'm meeting the parish priest, Fr Bill Charlton again on the 8th after the Haydn Mass for Our Lady's Birthday, so may know a little more about what else is planned for Christmas then.

Looking forward to seeing some of you this Saturday at Brinkburn, & everyone else soon!

Music Workshops

2009-06-26T13:21:00.002+01:00

After having experienced drivel masquerading as Liturgical Music in so-called 'choir festivals' back in the 1980's, this comes across as a very refreshing change!

How long will it be before our own musicians can be persuaded to do something along similar lines?

Many thanks to Joseph Shaw for spotting the link.

A Tale of two Chant Performances

2009-06-23T18:12:00.003+01:00

Last weekend I went down to London for the Annual High Mass of the LMS. Much of what went on has already been reported here and here, so I'm not going to regale you with another version of official events, but instead offer my thoughts on the music.

The choir of Westminster Cathedral are renowned world-wide for the quality and standard of their musicianship, as can recently be evidenced by the Installation of Archbishop Nichols, so it was a shame, but not totally unexpected that we only got the Lay Clerks this year. Even though there was no Cardinal this time, surely it would have been fitting to hire the full choir for the principal Mass of the LMS's year? Money, I'm fairly certain, shouldn't have been an issue - should it? :-)

Back to the music. The Ordinary of the Mass was Duruflé's Missa 'Cum Jubilo' with the Chant Propers for the Saturday Mass of the BVM. I have to admit that I felt thoroughly deflated. My friend, roydosan who I stayed with for the weekend, offers his thoughts here. Normally I would agree, but if the Chant Mass suggested was sung as operatically as the Propers were on Saturday, I'd have been tempted to stick cotton wool in my ears and just follow the Mass visually! Honestly, it felt like listening to Pavarotti! I've sung in Westminster Cathedral myself, and whilst not a professional singer, am certainly no mug, and definitely don't think the music, particularly the Chant, came across at all well.

Now, on to Sunday. As roydosan had never been to a Byzantine Catholic Liturgy before, we decided to go to the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in the morning - a much more satisfying experience! The choir sang music which I am largely familiar with, so I felt quite at home here. I particularly enjoyed listening to the old man in front of me singing from memory - and in time - the Bass line to some of the major choral parts of the Liturgy, even though the choir were in another part of the building!

After a brief visit to St Patrick's, Soho Square, a quite outstanding church, and lunch in Chinatown, we ended up at the Oratory for Sunday Vespers & Benediction. This was simply superb, marred only by the woman in the front pew who insisted on standing throughout Benediction when everyone else, including clergy of course were kneeling...

My faith in the singing of Gregorian Chant was completely restored, not only because the Oratory Choir proved that you don't have to sing like one of the Three Tenors[!], but also because of the tempi at which the psalms in particular were sung. I've often been accused of singing chant far too quickly, but after hearing this performance (also sung by professionals btw), I feel completely vindicated. :-) If anyone accuses me of singing too quickly now, I can just reply by saying "well, the London Oratory Choir chants just as quickly, if not quicker." Thanks, guys!

Sunday was super (It's a shame that Saturday's experience was so disappointing), and has inspired me to make Sunday Vespers in York actually happen instead of just thinking about it, which I've been doing for far too long now! It's my intention that this will become the main Rudgate Schola service at Bishophill from September instead of Compline. (You saw it here first!) I'll decide on a time later, when I find out what's happening with the York TLM also scheduled to restart in September, as I don't want the services to clash for the obvious reason that I'm likely to be involved in both of them! I do quite like the idea of 3.30pm though, as is the custom in London.

That's it for now - back to nursing the blisters I acquired whilst walking around London at the weekend...

Reminder. Missa Cantata this Saturday!

2009-06-22T23:59:00.001+01:00

For those of you able to go, we have a Missa Cantata this Saturday at 3pm in the church of St Alphonsus, North Ormesby, Middlesbrough for the Patronal Feast of the Diocese, Our Lady of Perpetual Succour. The Mass will be sung by the full choir who will sing Palestrina's Missa 'Veni Sponsa Christi' with motets by Elgar and Croce. The Gregorian Chant Propers for the feast will be sung, and the Mass will conclude with the singing of the Solemn Salve Regina.

Please do come if you can, and encourage others to do so!

A further note: we desperately need servers for this Mass! Please email me via the choir's link if you are able to serve.

Thank you.

Admin. Sigh....

2009-05-25T13:17:00.002+01:00

Having a website for the choir is great, but can be rather time-consuming, especially with regard to dates and events. I know I should try and update it more regularly so when I eventually do get around to working on it, it wouldn't take me ages each time to bring it back up to date!

Anyway, the current version can be seen in the links to the right of this blog, or here if you prefer!

There are also a couple of photo sets on Flickr which may be of interest. Forthcoming Rudgate Services is a bit like the Ronseal Ad, in other words, contains photos of the next venues of our 'forthcoming services'. Rudgate Venues is quite literally, a selection of churches, cathedrals and other locations where we have appeared over the years.

After Saturday's successful Mass in Halifax, I'm quite looking forward to - in a manner of speaking - putting my feet up and listening to someone else do all the work. :-) In this case, it's the St Philip Neri Singers, based at the Holy Name in Manchester who are singing a Mozart EF Mass tomorrow evening. I'm not back at work yet, so a leisurely train ride via a liquid [and food as well!] lunch at the legendary Buffet Bar @ Stalybridge, followed by the Mass itself. A recipe for a good day out!

Some Good News! Young Catholic Adults Douai Abbey Retreat Gets Bigger and Better

2009-05-22T22:00:00.001+01:00

These are thoroughly recommended, though I don't personally get to go as I'm not a *young* Catholic Adult anymore!

During the weekend of the 18-20 September 2009. Young Catholic Adults (YCA are part of the international Juventutem Federation) will be running a Traditional Retreat at Douai Abbey in the south of England, the weekend will be led by Juventutem Ecclesiastical Assistant Fr de Malleray. Summorum Pontificum must be working - at least in a "brick by brick" fashion, just look at the following:-

-For the first time Young Catholic Adults will be using the main Abbey Church for Mass

-For the first time YCA will be organising a Missa Cantata, sung by the Douai Singers; this will be followed by a Marian Procession

- YCA has booked out the whole of the retreat complex this year, on the advice of Douai Abbey itself, as the monks were so pleased with the YCA retreat last year

Places are limited so please book early

-YCA will have the retreat centre to itself
-There will be a social in the evening
- Fr. de Malleray FSSP head of Juventutem will preach the retreat, all Masses will be in the Extraordinary form
- There will be a Sung Mass (Missa Canta) on Saturday 19th September 09’ at 10am. The choir will be the Douai Singers, in the main Abbey Church, followed by a Marian Procession at 11am (starting from the main Abbey Church) around the extensive grounds of the Abbey (weather permitting, if the weather is poor there will be Marian devotions in the main Abbey Church )
-The weekend will be full-board (except for the Sunday lunch)

How to book

The cost of the weekend will be from as little as 25 pounds for students (or 48-88 pounds for non students) for more details, please see http://www.youngcatholicadults.co.uk/news.htm or email juventutemcatholicam@yahoo.co.uk or ring 07908 105787

Events Open to the Public

The Sung Mass (Missa Canta) on Saturday 19th September 09’ at 10am followed by a Marian Procession around the extensive grounds of the Abbey at 11am (starting from the main Abbey Church) are open to the public.

There are also a few rooms allocated for all age groups (not just YCA) so please book soon.

There are limited places so please reserve your place early!

For photographs of previous Douai Retreats go HERE!

Now. Where was I?....

2009-04-30T15:24:00.003+01:00

Several things have happened in the month since I last managed to post anything here. Firstly, I was diagnosed with stress and am now on medication - hopefully not caused by too much preparations for the Conference at Ushaw! Holy Week and Easter has also come and gone. Two members of our intrepid Schola provided all the music for the Sacred Triduum in Leeds at Notre Dame Chapel. This all went wonderfully well, but was marred somewhat on Holy Saturday night by my car being written off in a Hit & Run Road Traffic Collision. Basically, I went through a green light - offending car went through red and then didn't stop. Fortunately the vehicle details were noted and passed on to the police and my insurers, so I may yet not have to claim on my own insurance.

And so to Ushaw. Having put in well over 60 hours work on the music and also recruiting another choir to sing the polyphony for the final High Mass, it was nice to be recognised during the formal dinner on the last night we were there. Apart from a blip during Solemn 1st Vespers of St George, the music went really well - I have the recordings to prove it! My sincere thanks to my fellow Chanters, Alan Henderson, Anthony Dickinson and Jeremy Boot, and also to Antiphon for the Byrd Mass and motets on St George's Day. The Conference has been blogged about several times already. The best accounts can be found on Fr Brown's Forest Murmers, and the Middlesbrough LMS Blog. Several photos were taken during the week, many of which can be seen here, here and here!

Having just recovered from one major event, we're now gearing up for rehearsals for our next two Services, both Sung masses in the Extraordinary Form in Halifax & North Ormesby respectively.

We also have a full programme of services for the rest of the year, up to our Annual Christmas Carol Service. More details will be announced later!

ISP Problems

2009-03-29T13:21:00.002+01:00

You may wonder why you've been diverted here if you clicked on www.rudgatesingers.co.uk. At the moment, there's a problem with the server and the site bandwidth, which I won't go into here, but needless to say, I'm not to happy about! Normal service, I hope, will be resumed as soon as possible...

Compline

2009-03-20T16:35:00.001Z

As those of you who know me will no doubt realise by know, I've become a big fan of Compline, which we sing regularly on Fridays. The original inspiration behind me starting up the Traditional Latin form was hearing the Anglican version in York Minster some years ago. This is sung each Thursday in Lent and occasionally at other times by the excellent Ebor Singers. The format varies from that in the Divine Office, but some of the chants are familiar, albeit in English rather that Latin! There are usually 2 or 3 polyphonic motets too. All in all, a wonderful experience! If any of you are within reach of York on Thursday evenings between now and Holy Week, Compline continues to be sung at the Minster commencing at 9pm. If you would also like to hear Compline chanted from the Traditional Office, then do please come to hear us at Bishophill every Friday at 8.30pm!

Ushaw again + other plans.

2009-03-08T15:50:00.003Z

At last! I think we're in a position to finally go ahead with everything as planned with the possible exception of the motet for the final Mass on St George's Day. It's an incredible relief, but just as I was putting the finishing touches to the administration re the musical side of things, I was floored by a very nasty bug which I'm told I'd probably been incubating for some time before, and only when I started to relax a little bit, did it hit me....

Fortunately, I'd no great plans for this weekend other than to sort out an Order of Service for our next venture @ Bishophill other than Friday Compline. If all goes well there, we may chant one or two of the Passions before Compline later this Lent. An extra bit of devotional music/chant never did anyone any harm - but we'll have to learn them first. :-)

Before that we're definitely chanting Saturday Vespers before the 4th Sunday in Lent. Some people would call this 1st Vespers of Laetare Sunday. It matters not, as it's the same thing, just viewed slightly differently!

After Ushaw, we're then back on the road again with services in Halifax on 23rd May, Middlesbrough on 27th June and the 6th Annual Founders-Day Requiem at Barnard Castle in July, date yet to be announced.

Music in church

2009-02-19T00:05:00.002Z

Specifically referring to the Latin rite here, as the Byzantine/Eastern Rites are completely different here in so far as they are always sung. There's an excellent article by Michael E. Lawrence over at the Recovering Choir Director. Whilst this particularly referred to the Tract for the 1st Sunday in Lent, it's true for any Graduals & Tracts which are often the longest [& most beautiful] items of chant in a given Mass.

When we provided the singing for the EF Masses in York before their temporary suspension pending a new Celebrant, I was always conscious of time, especially if the priest singing the Mass had come a long way, and regrettably, the Gradual or Tract, and occasionally even the Alleluia verses, were curtailed to psalm tones, either basic or from Rossini, to save time. Even this wasn't good enough for some people who complained that there was too much music & they would rather have Low Mass all the time, despite the norms indicating that Sung or even High Masses are the ideal.

Sometimes you just can't win, no matter what you do!

It is hoped, that when EF Masses resume, with the proposed new Celebrant, who is now here, once he has been fully trained, and is confident enough to start celebrating Sung Masses, we will sing the full Gregorian Propers from the Liber/Graduale. I for one, won't be clock watching to see how long it takes!

Meanwhile, I urge you to read Michael's post. It really deserves a wider circulation.

Carpets in church

2009-02-18T23:55:00.002Z

Whilst taking a break from work for Ushaw, I'm tring to catch up some of my favourite blogs. I have to admit, that I have a great admiration for Jeffrey Tucker of the New Liturgical Movement.

He has written an excellent item on carpets in church. In case you missed it, here it is.

I am in total agreement. :-)

Ushaw Update

2009-02-18T23:35:00.002Z

Just taking a brief break from music preparations for what is now going to be known as "the Conference at Ushaw". Had a look round today. The chapel is magnificent, but it's given me yet another problem to solve, as there's no way that the chant Schola and the polyphonic choir [hoping that we get one!] can realistically occupy the same space, which puts an end to my thoughts that people singing chant could also 'double up' and sing polyphony in the closing Mass.

I'm glad I know *now*!

This of course, means that we need a completely separate polyphonic choir. I'm going to start work on this tomorrow evening. The intention is still at this stage, to have music by Byrd as we're celebrating a great English Feast, so why not have music by one of the greatest English composers?

On another note, I'm a bit miffed that I hadn't discovered the online Officium Divinum before. It could have saved me a lot of work, and has, in fact given me some more to do, as I may now have to make some revision of services that i've already prepared. :-(

Still, better to find out at this stage, rather than at the event itself!

Prayers and Practical Help needed!

2009-02-01T17:00:00.002Z

The cat is well and truly out of the bag!

As has already been reported by Fr Ray Blake, the legendary Fr Z, Fr Michael Brown and also advertised in this week's Catholic Herald, the Latin Mass Society of England & Wales have made public their plans for a Residential Training Conference for Priests Wishing to Learn the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite (Traditional Latin Mass) at Ushaw College, Durham.

Quoting from the press release...

"The Latin Mass Society of England and Wales (LMS) is organising a residential training conference for priests wishing to learn the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite (Traditional Latin Mass) at Ushaw College, Durham, one of England’s most prestigious seminaries.

The conference will run from Monday 20 April to Thursday 23 April 2009 (i.e. Low Week) and will feature Traditional liturgies in Ushaw’s magnificent neo-Gothic St Cuthbert’s Chapel together with a Gregorian Chant schola and polyphonic choir.

Expert tuition in the celebration of Mass in the Usus Antiquior will be provided on a small group basis. There will be guest lecturers and all participants will receive 1962 Missals and altar cards.

Daily devotions will include Lauds, Vespers, Benediction and Rosary.

Further details and registration forms can be obtained from the LMS office (Tel: 020 7404 7284) or downloaded from the LMS website, www.latin-mass-society.org"

What's this got to do with me?

Well, I've been asked by the organiser to provide the Gregorian Chant schola and the polyphonic choir!

This is a HUGE task for one person (particularly as I'm not a professional musician) and it therefore should go without saying, that I'll need considerable help to get enough singers + organist on board to do ourselves justice.

I don't wish to compete with the excellent Schola Sainte Cecile who provided the chant at the Merton Conferences, or the polyphonic choir which, I believe, was provided by one of the Oxford Colleges, BUT I do need reasonably confident chanters for the Schola, who will need to cope with the demands of Mass & the Divine Office for the duration, and a balanced polyphonic choir to sing Byrd's Mass for 4 voices, and motets, O Quam Gloriosum, Ave Verum and Regina Caeli for the Solemn High Mass on St George's Day which will conclude the conference.

There are 12 weeks to go between now and the Opening Day. I have, at the moment, 2 singers for the Schola, and the Director of music for the polyphony. Much work needs to be done! I'm also very much aware, that this is a working week and several people who form the backbone of the current Rudgate Singers & Schola won't be able to take annual leave at that time. It is, fortunately, before the start of the University Summer Term, so I'm praying like mad that we get some musically gifted students involved!

There are two things that I'd like readers to do. Firstly, pray for it's success, as this is the most important event that we have ever been asked to be involved in, and also let me know of singers who wish to take part. We need men for the Schola for all 4 days, and at least 8 people for the polyphony on St George's Day (Thursday).

As and when I get more information, I will post it here!

Another First

2009-02-01T16:25:00.006Z

Over the last few months at Leeds Trinity & All Saints College there has been a series of public lectures and special talks as part of the inaugural Eastern Christian Studies Seminar series. It began last October with His Eminence, Metropolitan Kallistos (Ware) of Diokleia, and most recently continued with the Rev. Professor Andrew Louth from the University of Durham. A feature of these seminars is that they are preceded with Vespers in the college chapel. Last Wednesday, for the first time, we had Orthodox Vespers [slightly edited for time!]. This was the first time that they had ever been celebrated here. Another first last summer was Solemn High Mass in the Extraordinary Form at which I provided the Schola!

Celebrating Vespers was my good friend Fr David Carnelly. The Deacon was Rev. Professor Matthew Steenberg, who besides being Professor of Theology and Head of Theology & Religious Studies at the college, is also a Deacon in the Russian Orthodox Church.

What made this event extra special was the fact it was the day after the election of the new Patriarch of Moscow, Kirill, formerly Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad.

Here are some photos.

Another Ordination

2009-02-01T15:22:00.002Z

Back in December, at the Priestly Ordination of my good friend, Fr David, I was invited along with others, by the Romanian priest who had come, to their own Patronal Feast day of St Macarios the Great, which is always celebrated on the weekend in January closest to his actual Feast day in the Eastern Church, which is January 19th. (In the Latin Church it's the 16th).

So, on Saturday, 17th January, a few of us set off for the Community of the Resurrection in Mirfield, where the Romanian Community in Yorkshire has the use of the Lower Chapel for it's Liturgies. What we didn't expect was another Ordination, this time to the Diaconate. Present were His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis for Western and Southern Europe and His Grace Macarios, Bishop of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Northern Europe and former Parish Priest. Indeed Fr Macarios, as he then was, was the founder of the parish.

There was also an excellent Romanian Choir, the Grupul Psaltic Nectarie Protopsaltul from Bucharest, who sang the Liturgy to traditonal Byzantine Tones, but in Romanian of course, not Greek! After the Liturgy, which lasted for over 3 hours, we were treated to a traditional Romanian meal organised by the Parish Council.

Photographs of the Service can be found here

And a video here

Thanks are due to Fr Constantin, the Parish Priest and the Community for their splendid hospitality, and congratulations to the new Deacon! [Unfortunately I never did find out his name! If anyone reading this does know, please tell me, and I'll update this entry.]

Sad News

2009-02-01T14:51:00.002Z

I only seem to be updating this blog at the moment when I'm either not busy or unwell. I hope this isn't going to be the case all the time, & I'll try and keep up to posting a bit more regularly....

Unfortunately my first entry in ages relates to sad news. A friend of mine died last Monday. She had been suffering from cancer for some time, and, whilst it wasn't totally unexpected, it's still rather unsettling as Ruth was only 45. I'd known her since the early 80's when we were both students. She was the girlfriend - and later wife - of another friend who I was at school with. The funeral is on Wednesday in York. Please remember Ruth in your prayers, and also Stephen her husband and their daughter Sarah.

I've also just found out about the death of I priest last November who I knew back in the early 1990's. Hegumen Gregory [Woolfenden], an Orthodox monk who was parish priest of St Mary’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church, New Britain, Connecticut (USA). I first met him when he was still Fr Graham, a catholic priest of the Diocese of Liverpool, who had bi-ritual faculties, and was therefore able to serve Byzantine Catholic Liturgies as well as Latin Rite Mass. We met several times in Liverpool, usually at the Metropolitan Cathedral, which was host to a number of Byzantine Liturgies at that time. After he left the area and moved to Oxford, we gradually lost touch until only fairly recently when we were able to communicate with each other again, thanks to Facebook.

May his memory be Eternal!

Much Ado about 'Something' [I hope!]

2009-01-09T01:41:00.005Z

The first part of 2009 finds us at a relatively quiet time. We've nothing major planned for the first quarter of the year yet, though I've tentatively bookmarked 21st February as a date when 'something' may happen. This 'something' could either turn out to be an Orthodox Divine Liturgy or a Trad Latin Mass depending on who 'books' us first! It's a bit like doing a jigsaw puzzle at this stage though & a bit frustrating, but we can't make any progress until the relevant pieces are in place regarding venue and nature of Service.

There's something of interest in both options as that date in the Eastern Calendar is All Souls' Saturday - the equivalent in the West of 2nd November. The Mass on the other hand would be a Vigil Mass of Quinquagesima, as it's the weekend before Lent.

I don't really mind which one we end up singing for, the important thing, in my opinion at least, is to keep up the interest & momentum built by the excellent Carol Service in York just before Christmas. We do have a very important date already in April and the gap between the Carol Service and St George's Day is, I think, too long.

As for St George's Day itself, there's not a lot I can say about it right now (due to not being allowed to!) except that it will be at Ushaw College in County Durham and will be potentially the biggest and most important service we've ever been involved in. It's a working day for most people, so I've already sent out an email whilst acknowledging this, urging and imploring singers to try and book a days leave that day. Time will tell, but the more people declaring their availability between NOW and the end of February will ease my stress levels considerably!

I live in hope! Meanwhile, Compline by candlelight continues every Friday, but the monthly Chant Masses in the Extraordinary Form have come to a temporary halt. This is because we've lost the priest who was offering these Masses to a Parish in Middlesbrough (more on that in a later post as we intend to visit!) and his replacement is still learning the EF. I don't yet know when 'Normal Service' will be resumed, but am looking forward to Masses with Fr Stephen when he's given the Green Light after his training as he is an excellent singer.

As this is my first post since the end of December, I'll close by wishing everyone a very Happy New Year!

Carol Service Recording

2008-12-28T22:04:00.004Z

It seems like light years ago [only 10 days actually!] since we had our Annual Carol Service. This was another huge success, and thanks are due to all who took part - not just the singers, but those who prepared the church, lit all the candles and brought the wine & mince pies! The small church was packed with, we think, just over 100 people.

I've been asked if some of the music could be put online. I wasn't too sure about this at first, having fallen foul of my webspace provider's bandwidth restrictions before - BUT, I discovered that I had more space available courtesy of my cable tv provider which I've hardly ever used! So, if you want to hear the choral highlights of the service, just click here. The sound files work best in QuickTime, although they can also be played in RealPlayer, but the quality isn't anything like as good. Whatever source you use, don't try Media Player as it won't work with these mp4's encoded via Nero.

I hope everyone is enjoying a very joyful Christmastide. Plans for 2009 to follow, once they're set in stone and not just being discussed.... There are one or two very exciting services but I've been banned by the organisers from telling you who might be involved, so you'll just have to wait!

Busy Busy Busy....

2008-12-18T16:53:00.002Z

This Evening. Our Annual Carol Service. Tomorrow we sing Compline by Candlelight, both at Bishophill.

Saturday is David's Ordination in Leeds.

And Sunday is our regular Chant Mass in York.

I'm back at work on Monday.....

Compline by Candlelight

2008-12-12T22:51:00.004Z

When we decide to do something, we don't compromise. :-) We even switched all the lights out before the service, our only concession to electricity was keeping the heating on!

Better images could have been obtained with a proper camera, but these pics from my phone will at least give you an idea.

Must be that time of year….

2008-12-12T17:02:00.002Z

Arrangements have been made for the final rehearsals for our Annual Carol Service on the 18th. That can only mean that Christmas is coming. I’ve not even written any cards yet, so if you don’t receive any from me, consider this note as an apology in advance! Plans are already being made for Services well into 2009…

Between the Carol Service & Christmas itself, we have a Gregorian Chant Sung Mass for Advent IV at English Martyrs in York. As this is our only sung Mass this month, I’ve overloaded it with some personal favourites besides the Propers & Chant Mass for Advent - the Rorate Coeli, solemn Alma Redemptoris with its glorious incipit, the ‘O’ Antiphon of the day and rounding everything off with Veni Emmanuel. In this case you can have too much of a good thing!

I just wish more singers were available at Christmas though, rather than just before. It always seems to be to be a huge letdown service-wise. Even if we could just get an SATB quartet together, we could achieve so much. However, I know that most of our singers actively involved in church, will be scattered across the North of England at this time, myself included, as I’ve been ‘booked’ to sing a Chant Midnight Mass in the Extraordinary Form in a West Yorkshire Parish.

Besides Christmas, there is another HUGE event looming on the horizon, which has nothing to do with any of the above. A good friend, and occasional singer, when he’s not involved in his own church services is being ordained to the Priesthood in the Greek Orthodox Church in Leeds on 20th December. Please pray for Fr Deacon David on this very, very special day.

If you’re in York and free on the 18th or 21st December, please do come along to the Carol Service and/or the Mass and say hello!

Meanwhile, we continue to sing Compline every Friday at Bishophill. The ultimate aim is to sing the Office entirely by candlelight. I've just invested in more candles and candlesticks, so we're getting there, gradually... I hope to take some photos tonight, and if they come out ok, will post them here, so you can see what we're doing!

From the New Liturgical Movement

2008-11-27T22:15:00.003Z

Coolest. Incipit. Ever!

By (Jeffrey Tucker)

Advent will soon be upon us, which means many things, among which is the annual fight--a polite one, no doubt--over who gets to sing the incipit (opening phrase) to the solemn version of Alma Redemptoris Mater.
Coming to York this Advent!

The Original Post on NLM has a splendid version of the solemn tone sung to Ambrosian Chant.

Chant & Carols

2008-11-26T21:40:00.002Z

Well, since the last time I posted anything here, we've created another bit of history. A week ago on Sunday [16th], 4 intrepid chanters went to St Mary's Abbey and sang Vespers, concluding with the 'York' Solemn Salve Regina. We had done this last year, the first time [we believe] it was sung there since the Reformation - almost 500 years ago, only to be told that the monks wouldn't have sung from the place where we did, which was the main ruin. So, this year, we went and sang in the Monastic Choir and can now, quite legitimately, claim that we've sung music written for the Monks of the Abbey in the very place they would have sung it almost 500 years ago!

We now seem to have established a good relationship with the Museum Gardens authorities, so I would think it more likely that we'll return again for more services, maybe even Mass one day, though perhaps when its a bit warmer!

The full choir have now started rehearsing for our annual Carol Service at Bishophill on 18th December. This promises to be just as good as in previous years, so if you're in the York area and are free that evening, do please come along!

The Order of Service can be found here.

Chant Workshops

2008-11-10T18:39:00.004Z

Yesterday, I spent most of the day on Tyneside, taking part in the last event [Mass in the Extraordinary Form] of a Gregorian chant workshop which took place there over the weekend. This was based mainly at Forest Hall, but the Mass I went to was at St Joseph's Church in Gateshead. It was organised by Dorothy of the Schola Gregoriana of Northumbria and led by the Scottish Gregorian Group directed by Alan Henderson.

During a very nice pub lunch, I was able to renew acquaintances with singing friends in Northumbria and also north of the border. This could lead to a collaboration in late spring/early summer next year, possibly at Brinkburn Priory, a venue of which I have already spoken very favourably earlier this year!

As for workshops, I've been asked if we can have one in York on a more limited scale. One of our new singers has requested one on singing Compline; basically going through the music for Compline in an afternoon session culminating in the service itself in the evening. It could be a good way of introducing people to singing and experiencing Chant in a relatively simple/informal setting. I'd be interested to hear what people think about this.

Meanwhile, our own Schola Cantorum is scheduled to sing in St Mary's Abbey ruins in the grounds of the Museum Gardens this coming Sunday at 3pm- weather permitting. We intend to sing Vespers of the Blessed Virgin Mary, concluding with the 'York' Solemn Salve Regina, which will be sung there for only the second time since the Reformation! Please do come and support us if you're in the area! The following weekend sees the first full choral rehearsal for the annual Carol Service at St Mary's, Bishophill Jnr. It never ends! Still, it keeps us out of mischief.. :-)

Busy weekends!

2008-10-31T16:34:00.004Z

Last weekend was momentous! I think I’ve just about recovered…..

We started off on Friday evening with Compline, at which we were joined [for the first time in a singing capacity] by David. Saturday’s Mass was excellent. The polyphony had one or two hairy moments, which fortunately, only we noticed, and the singing of the ‘York’ Salve Regina was, I think, the best we’ve ever done. For a brief report of the Mass go here.

Sunday saw three of us go across to Oldham to fix our cravings for the Greek-Catholic Liturgy, which we’ve missed since May, when they were a regular feature at the University of York Chaplaincy. I introduced Bianca and Andrew to Stefan who is cantor for the Oldham church and a good friend of many years standing. The Liturgy was like a breath of fresh air – not that I don’t like Latin services you understand, but sometimes, they can be a little too intense, especially if you’re also involved behind the scenes. Once you get used to the Eastern Rite and if you invest a little time learning the basics of the Cyrillic alphabet [not difficult, I assure you[!] you’d be surprised at just how quickly it can be to pick up liturgical Ukrainian and take part in at least bits of the Liturgy! I hope we can go back there - sooner rather than later...

This weekend promises to be just as momentous, although the only singing involved will be this evening during Compline. Tomorrow, it’s another Liturgy in the morning at Bishophill, celebrated by our Orthodox friends, and then a concert in the evening performed by the excellent Ebor Singers. Sunday evening sees one of our friends being received into the Catholic Church and I’ve been asked to be his sponsor. Please keep John in your prayers this weekend.

The following weekend - Sunday at least, I'll be back on Tyneside. It often seems that I go to work during the week just for a rest!

New members!

2008-10-20T22:10:00.003+01:00

I really should use the word 'member' loosely, as the people who sing with us are scattered all over the north of the UK, and only sing when they are able to do so, as opposed to choirs whose members meet at least weekly for rehearsals and services/performances.

Anyway, that said, welcome to Alan who will be singing with us this Saturday in York and David who wants to join the Schola Cantorum when we sing Compline each Friday at Bishophill

If you wish to sing chant and other sacred music in its proper context and live in the North of England preferably [though we have had singers from as far afield as Edinburgh & Nottingham!] then I would encourage you to get in touch!

Singing opportunities for choirs in church.

2008-10-16T22:35:00.004+01:00

I find York at times a very frustrating city to live in. In fact I would go as far as to say that despite its historical importance as a religious centre, it's a very secular/liberal city, especially when it comes to church matters [of all denominations] as far as I can tell. More especially when it comes to music and liturgy or what passes for it!

Not convinced? Those of you reading this who are from the immediate area [or know it] just take a look around you. Where are the opportunities for people to sing sacred music, in church, on a regular basis?

Before I continue, let me say that this isn't an exclusive Latin Catholic rant. Members of other denominations, please feel free to chip in via the comments section with your own thoughts on the matter! If you've looked at the Rudgate Website you'll see that despite our Catholic leanings & history, we actually exist to sing quality music usually only heard on CDs or in concerts in its original liturgical setting, regardless of denomination. This is reflected in our singing members, who come from all over the north of Britain. On our 'books' at the moment we have Catholics, Anglicans, Orthodox, Methodists and others who don't belong to any Christian Church/community at all but just like singing the music. We've even had a Buddhist who was quite fascinated to hear Gregorian Chant, especially in it's proper context!

Before I get completely sidetracked though, let's return to the main thread. What opportunities are there for choirs, or people who would like to sing this music.

Forget the Minster. That's professional. Nothing wrong at all with that, but I'm thinking principally about amateurs, particularly as there isn't a lot of money floating around at the moment. The only other C of E choir that sings regularly to my knowledge is St Olave's - Marygate [Any others out there? Please let me know!]

What of the Catholics?

The only place I know of is English Martyrs, where our Schola Cantorum sing on a monthly basis. It's fair to say that a very good group of singers from the parish met to sing an excellent Mass by Palestrina in the Ordinary From back in June, and we ourselves will be singing there
later this month - a repeat of the music we sang in Brinkburn Priory in September. But these are special events. Why can't this music be sung more regularly?

You may wonder what provoked me to write about this. Well, I was at a concert last weekend sung by the excellent Ebor Singers. Whilst I admit to being a fan and regular supporter of theirs, they're not the only choir in York that sings wonderful music which needs to be heard in its proper context. It bugs me that this isn't the case, as you may have gathered by now!

This city has many wonderful talented musicians, not to mention an excellent musical Department at the University. The National Centre for Early Music is based here. Early music CD's are very popular, witnessed by the very recent fact that a CD of Gregorian Chant by the Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz topped Clasical Album charts worldwide and even made the top ten of the pop charts - yes, you read that correctly, the pop charts[!] in the UK. And yet, it's nigh on impossible to find quality liturgical music sung anywhere except on special occasions.

Why is this so?

Can anything be done about it?

Answers please via the comments box!

Plans for Next Year...

2008-10-01T00:02:00.002+01:00

Having got home quite exhausted from work, as is my usual custom, armed with mug of tea in one hand & CD remote in the other, I put on a CD from my ever expanding collection in order to unwind a little bit.

I happened to pick a recording of Marian Vespers - a reconstruction of Vespers for the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, by the excellent Edinburgh University Renaissance Singers

This recording features music mainly by Victoria, and the more I listened to it, the more I thought "we could do this liturgically!" The psalms and hymn are the same as 'ordinary' Vespers of the BVM which can be sung more or less anytime unless it's a Major Feast Day, and all the music is available at cpdl, so there's every chance we might do this next year, perhaps in May or October which are traditionally months in honour of Our Lady.

Another major event I'd like to see happen is a performance of the newly translated Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom as recorded by a truly amazing choir, Cappella Romana. You're not likely to hear them often over here in Europe, so go over to their website and buy their CDs. Now! And say I recommended you to do so!

This is already at the discussion stage with our friends at the Greek Orthodox Church in Leeds, and we hope to sing this also next year.

Just a quick reminder of upcoming events for the remainder of this year.

25th October 3.30pm English Martyrs Church, York
Solemn Mass in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

16th November 3.00pm. St Mary's Abbey, York. [In the grounds of the Museum Gardens].
Vespers of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

18th December 7.00pm [TBC] St Mary's Church, Bishophill, York
Traditional Service of Readings and Carols.

Head-Hunted

2008-09-28T22:33:00.002+01:00

Our services are being sought not by one, or even two, but 3 potential Cathedral Masses!

One of these is Lancaster where there is a regular monthly Mass in the EF. The other two, I'll have to keep quiet about for now, as I've been asked to be discreet regarding both potential venues, so am hardly likely to be proclaiming the news here - yet.....

Depending on who is available, and dates, which are crucial in a group like ours, something may happen. Watch this space!

Future Dates

2008-09-24T14:50:00.003+01:00

As promised, I said that as soon as I had any information, I'd publish it here!

I can confirm two fully choral Rudgate Services! These are Saturday 25th October, 3.30pm at the church of the English Martyrs in York, where we shall sing the music which we sang at Brinkburn Priory. The other date confirmed is the Carol Service at the Church of St Mary, Bishophill Jnr - also in York. This will be on Thursday 18th December, time not confirmed yet but probably 7.00pm.

I'm still waiting to hear from the Museum Gardens about the Schola Cantorum singing in the grounds/ruins of St Mary's Abbey. I've asked for 19th October, as this should give us enough singers for this event, and also for the monthly Mass in the Extraordinary Form which will take place in English Martyrs' Church later that evening.

The Schola are singing Compline again at St Mary's Bishophill this Friday [cough permitting :-) ] at 8.00pm. If you're in the area, do come along and say hello!

Other musical matters

2008-09-24T13:34:00.002+01:00

I'm on on leave again. This time it's sick leave. :-( . I crawled into work on Monday morning and lasted for the grand total of 90 minutes before deciding that this wasn't the best move I've ever made and *not* so quietly retiring back home...

Whilst coughing away, in between heaps of medication, I've been reading - both books and blogs, and would like to pick one of the latter out here, and recommend you visit if you haven't already done so!

Over at Holy Smoke, Damian Thomson has started a topic about the state of music in the Catholic Church. This is essential reading if you care about the state of Liturgy (in whichever form) in churches today. Whilst not strictly applicable to Rudgate - as we tend to sing choral music and chant that you would normally only hear either in concerts or on CDs - I thought it worth mentioning here because I've had plenty of experience in listening to and singing this stuff throughout the years.

It's not just the sheer banality of some of these pieces, its also the egos, and dare I say it, the arrogance of the 'composers' too. For many years, [back in the 20th Century!] I used to attend 'Choir' Festivals on a regular basis up in North East England. I use the term 'Choir' very loosely, as most of the music provided - particularly in the latter years that I went, before I saw sense - had no resemblance to any kind of choral music whatsoever! There were one or two good Directors of these events [actually Directors of music at Catholic Cathedrals at the time] but my main recollections are of one of the 'magic circle' of 'composers' not being able to conduct music [not even his own stuff!], and being spoken to in such an arrogant condescending manner by another, that had I not known anything better, it could easily have put me off music for good. I might even have left the church were I not of sterner stuff. A bit extreme perhaps, but sadly, I do know of people who have done just that.

Crisis. What Crisis? :-)

2008-09-20T22:08:00.002+01:00

We aquitted ourselves well at Brinkburn today, and received many favourable comments about the music - not just from Fr Brown! It could have been so much worse. We lost our Director in midweek for reasons that are *not* bloggable [trust me!], and I shouldn't really have sung. I'm still coughing as I type this.

Nevertheless, we persevered, and our stand-in conductors, my sister Bernadette, and Jennifer, one of the alto's, deserve great credit for stepping into the breech.

Next on the agenda besides the regular monthly chant Masses and weekly chanting of [usually] Compline is going to be a service - probably Vespers of the BVM in the grounds of St Mary's Abbey in York. This is likely to be on Oct 12th, though I've yet to confirm that with the Museum Gardens authorities.

We then have two other provisional dates to work towards this year. The first being a repeat of the Brinkburn music in a solemn Mass in York, hopefully with Christian back at the helm for the polyphony! This is tentatively scheduled for October 25th. I may be in a position to confirm that tomorrow, as it will be in the same church, English Martyrs, where our monthly chant Masses take place.

The other date, 18th December, also yet to be confirmed, but I'm not anticipating any problems, is our Annual Carol Service at St Mary's Church, Bishophill Junior, also in York..

When all dates are confirmed, they'll be published online, both here and elsewhere. We may even resort to more traditional methods such as letters and posters to advertise them too. ;-)

Chant Mass Settings

2008-09-18T19:52:00.003+01:00

I've just been reading some of the comments made about Saturday's Mass in St Mary's Cathedral, Newcastle on Fr Brown's excellent blog, particularly about the choice of music.

One comment from 'Claire' made this point. "Mass was beautiful, but I was extremely disappointed that the music chosen was so obscure that no-one could join in the singing, even with the Salve Regina at the end! I think this was a huge opportunity missed for such a showcase."

Talk about a red rag to a bull! Before I get too far on my high horse though, I'd be foolish not to admit that I've made a few mistakes over choice of music in the past, but this isn't one of them. :-)

The Mass was a Solemn High Mass in honour of *Our Lady*. Once it was clear that there weren't enough singers available for a polyphonic mass setting, Missa Cum Jubilo was the obvious chant mass setting to use as it is one of the Masses in the Graduale prescribed for Marian Masses. I could quite legitimately have chosen Missa Alme Pater instead! The same goes for the choice of Solemn Salve as it was a Solemn Mass.

I had actually been asked beforehand if we were going to have the Missa de Angelis 'so the people could join in' but was able to explain quite nicely [I hope!] that Missa Cum Jubilo was the appropriate setting to use. I suspect that 'Claire' is one of those people - and I've come across several, who think de Angelis is the only chant Mass there is, as it's the only one 'they know'! Quite frankly, I find that the over use of this particular setting to the almost exclusion of the other 17 chant Mass settings available - not to mention the ad libitum settings too, profoundly depressing.

It's a matter of education I think. Congregations [and clergy also!] have got to be made aware of the treasures that are readily available. all of these masses can be accessed quite easily by following links provided by the good people who run the Musica Sacra website.

The same educational argument can be applied to the Creed as well. I know Saturday's Mass didn't have one but how many people seem to think that Credo III is the only one that exists? Credo I is actually the setting that should be used most Sundays. There are, to my knowledge, 7 - yes, seven, chant Creeds available!

OK, rant over!

Slightly changing the subject, but staying with chant, another comment from 'seeker' made this point along with a few others. "The temptation to recite the Pater Noster out loud was very strong, and I only just held myself back".

This may come as a surprise to those of you who know me personally, but I have a lot of sympathy for this point of view. I know it's not the done thing for congregations to sing this in the Extraordinary Form at the moment, but Summorum Pontificum does make allowances for it to develop again, as opposed to keeping strictly to the 1962 Missal. This is a development I would welcome, as well as being able to have Masses for particular Feast/Saints Days created since the introduction of '62. That however, is a subject which can be discussed another time. :-)

Brinkburn

2008-09-16T16:21:00.003+01:00

I think it's fair to say that this has to be our favourite venue by the proverbial country mile!

There's so much that could be said about it, but I'm not going to! Instead I'm going to point you in the direction of Ian Graham's blog for the Schola Gregoriana of Northumbria. Ian sums it up perfectly. I have to add, it really does have an acoustic to die for, and the contrast between it and the cathedral in Newcastle will be very noticeable...

Brinkburn is by far the furthest of our regular venues, at a round trip of over 250 miles for most of us. With petrol prices as they are, it's going to be a very expensive day, but very worthwhile. We shall be singing the Messe Ave Maris Stella, by Josquin and motets by Guerrero and de Rivafrecha while the Northumbria Schola will sing the Chant Propers of the Mass and a chant recessional.

It's Ian's last Mass in charge of the Schola in fact, so I hope our contribution to what is an annual event will make his swansong all the more memorable for all the right reasons!

If you can get to Northumberland on Saturday please do go - you won't regret it. :-)

It's another busy weekend for some of us though, as the day after, there will be an Extraordinary Form Missa Cantata in York . This will all be in Gregorian Chant, sung by our own Schola Cantorum.

Cathedral High Mass & a trip down Memory Lane

2008-09-16T14:44:00.008+01:00

Last weekend, I was asked if I could organise the music for the first Solemn High Mass in the Extraordinary Form to take place in St Mary's Cathedral Newcastle upon Tyne since the advent of the Mass promulgated by Pope Paul VI. The Mass was organised by the Hexham and Newcastle branch of the Holy Family Guild to mark the 40th anniversary of the encyclical Humanae Vitae.

Despite having only 3 singers, we acquitted ourselves well - the recording proves it. There were supposed to be more of us, but some dropped out just a few days before, which didn't give us enough time to replace them. A pity for such an important occasion, which made it harder work for the rest of us, especially in an acoustic which isn't the friendliest I've ever encountered. Nevertheless, I was pleased with the result. For another account from the Forest Murmurer, Fr Michael Brown, who I sat next to at the dinner that followed, go here.

Singing at the cathedral again was quite a nostalgic event for me, as I was a member of the Cathedral choir there when I was a student, back in the early 1980's. I would never have imagined then that many years later I would be in charge of the music for a major service there!

I stayed on Tyneside all weekend, deciding not to return home until Monday, as I'm on leave all this week but not taking a proper holiday due to having forked out too much money elsewhere, mainly on car repairs! I'd booked accommodation near the Fenham area of the city where I lived over 25 years ago whilst a student at Northumbria University [Newcastle Polytechnic as it was then known].

My hall of residence was in fact St Mary's College, which was then a Teacher Training College which also let out rooms to other students. It was also home to the Convent of the Sacred Heart. The college closed in 1984 [also my last year there] and is now - after some redevelopment - being used again to provide accommodation for students from Newcastle University. There are still some reminders from the past, but a little worse for wear which is sad to see.

Here's the statue of the Sacred Heart facing what was the the main entrance.

And here it is taken back in the summer of 1983.

I also learned something else over the weekend. There is another cathedral in Newcastle that is perhaps nowhere near as well known as St Mary's or indeed St Nicholas' Anglican Cathedral. This is the Coptic Orthodox Cathedral of St George & St Athanasios, which is literally only a few yards further along the road from where I was staying.

As my dad's family were from the West End too, I took the opportunity to wander around Elswick where they were born and brought up. Perhaps there's a future post there as there are tales I could relate [if I get the details right] of choir rivalries in Newcastle from times gone by....

This was the first hectic weekend spent up in the North east. Next Saturday, we go to Brinkburn!

St Mary's Abbey

2008-09-16T14:10:00.004+01:00

Last September some of our intrepid singers gathered at St Mary's Abbey ruins in the Museum Gardens in York, to sing Vespers of the BVM concluding with the 'York' Salve Regina, which was actually written for the monks of the abbey, and sung there liturgically again for the first time in nearly 500 years!

We're going back this year. When exactly I'm not sure, but it will be a Sunday afternoon, as that's what the Museum Gardens authorities prefer. It will be before Advent though, as I want to do the York Salve there again. Watch this space!

[I can now confirm that we'll be going there on 16th November! We'll be chanting Vespers of the BVM]

Meanwhile here's a clip from last years service

The Office

2008-09-16T12:52:00.000+01:00

Nothing to do with Ricky Gervais, or where many of of work every week, this is the Divine Office, usually thought to be the prerogative of monastic communities.

Well it ain't so.

Anyone can sing or read the Office, either in their own communities, or individually. The Schola Cantorum have been singing regularly now in the Church of St Mary, Bishophill Junior in York, after being invited to do so by Andrew Stoker, who is the Priest-in-charge there.

St Mary's is of one of Yorks historic churches, in fact, the oldest church foundation in the city. This church is in use only early on Sunday mornings, Wednesday evenings for services, Monday evenings for a choir practice [not connected to the church] and the local Greek Orthodox Community use it every first Saturday in the month. The regular congregation is very small, and Andrew, the vicar, is quite keen that the church to be used more often and to be seen to be used.

How we came to take up part-residency there is as a result of a conversation over a drink or three at one of York's fine Real Ale Establishments. :-) We've known each other for many years, long before he and his family came to York, so it's not uncommon for us to share the occasional drink together. When I half-jokingly suggested that we sing the Traditional Catholic Divine Office there, the offer was taken up there and then! I've been given my own key to the place such was his enthusiasm for more use being made of the building.

The Schola Cantorum began by singing Compline at the beginning of last year. We currently sing most Fridays at 8pm, though this can and does change - best to check our Calendar regularly!

We also sing Vespers too, mainly of the BVM, though we have actually sung for other Feast Days. I'd like to get us to sing Sunday Vespers at some stage too, but right now we're busy enough!

We'll be there this Friday @ 8pm, so if you're in the area and want to come to a traditional chanted Compline, come along, and say hello afterwards!

An introduction of sorts..

2008-09-16T12:13:00.000+01:00

To anyone reading this, welcome!

After several months of deliberating, I've finally taken the plunge and write on my own. How often and whether I can keep this going remains to be seen. I am an occasional contributor to the Middlesbrough LMS blog, so am not a total novice in the blogosphere, but writing on one's own is somewhat different! I'll be drawing on some of the material I've written there initially [albeit updated] which really has a more natural home here.

You can read all about the choir, and how we originally got going on our website, but if you just want brief details - here they are :-)

We are an ad-hoc choir with the emphasis on restoring Sacred Music to church services in its liturgical context as opposed to the concert hall or recording studio. Members, who are all volunteers, are at present based in the North of England, the East Midlands, and in Scotland.

We normally sing four to five times a year at specially arranged services, usually - but not exclusively - Mass in the Traditional Roman Rite and would like to increase this to sing for other services such as Solemn Vespers and in more locations throughout the UK. We are therefore looking for more people to join us.

The choir is Catholic in ethos, though many of the singers are from other churches, mainly Anglican. Anyone who wishes to sing traditional church music in its original liturgical setting would be made very welcome. Attendance varies from event to event, depending on the voices needed and the location of the churches where we sing. There is no commitment to sing for every service, though the more people can manage the better!

Our repertoire consists mainly of Gregorian Chant and Polyphony, and we occasionally join forces with theSchola Gregoriana of Northumbria to great effect.

Music we have sung so far includes, Palestrina, Missa Papae Marcelli, Missa Brevis & Missa Assumpta est Maria Victoria, Requiem & Missa O Quam Gloriosum and motets by Victoria, Palestrina, Byrd, Bruckner & Stanford to name but a few.

To date we have sung in churches mainly in Yorkshire, including the wonderful church of St Mary & St Everilda at Everingham with its glorious acoustic, Leeds Cathedral and Brinkburn Priory in Northumberland. We also have an open invitation to sing in Fontgombault Abbey in France. (The latter depends on an equal number of singing volunteers to make the journey viable both economically and musically!)

That's the sales pitch over - now onto the business of blogging!

Rudgate Ramblings...

Come and sing with us!

Happy New Year!

Video Recordings

2012 - The story so far.

Our 15th Anniversary year - a review

Remembrance Day. 11th November

Services/Events for October

Services/Events for September

Sunday Vespers

Compline during the summer

The Advantages of Being Ill...

For those who need to know...

The Rudgate Singers' 15th Anniversary Mass

Compline by Candlelight during May

Young Catholic Adults National Weekend

Compline by Candlelight during April.

Who would ever have believed?.....

There's also a report from the local paper here.

Sets of photos are already making their way onto Flickr.

You can see some here, and here!

Sing Compline for Lent.... or anytime.

The Year So Far...

Christmas comes but twice a year...

Welcome to Rudgate's XVth year!

That's it for us this year

Coolest. Incipit. Ever!

Redundancy

...... And Relax

We're only making plans...

Catching Up

With Synod Over, Br. Stephen Asks "What Now for the Ordinariates?"

Compline Returns

The Annual Founders' Day Memorial Requiem for John and Josephine Bowes

Future Dates

Resurrecting Tradition - A Man for All Seasons

London Revisited

Ascension, Parts 1 & 2

We need to get out more...

Ushaw MMX

THE Wedding!

Gregorian Chant Workshop

Sacred, Beautiful & Universal

Holy Week & Easter

More About Hymns

Hymns

Singers needed.

London Calling.

Wassail!

Frustrated again....

Happy New Year!

Back to normal? We'll see!

Victoria's Requiem a 6

Music Matters.

Relics of St Thérèse of Lisieux

St Thérèse of Lisieux

Le 'Mini-Tour'

Brinkburn, 2009

Plans after Brinkburn

Music Workshops

A Tale of two Chant Performances

Reminder. Missa Cantata *this* Saturday!

Admin. *Sigh....*

Some Good News! Young Catholic Adults Douai Abbey Retreat Gets Bigger and Better

Now. Where was I?....

ISP Problems

Compline

Ushaw again + other plans.

Music in church

Carpets in church

Ushaw Update

Prayers and Practical Help needed!

Another First

Another Ordination

Sad News

Much Ado about 'Something' [I hope!]

Carol Service Recording

Busy Busy Busy....

Compline by Candlelight

Must be that time of year….

Reminder. Missa Cantata this Saturday!

Admin. Sigh....