As you may know, St John’s is the only church in Scotland to maintain the three principal choral services of the Scottish Episcopal tradition: Matins, Eucharist and Evensong and this August the music across these services covers some 400 years, 4 anniversaries and a world première, with music for no less than 3 choirs, two organs and a chamber orchestra!
2011 marks the anniversaries of Spanish composer Victoria, English composer William Boyce, legendary German pianist-cum-priest Liszt, and the famous French organ builder Cavaillé-Coll, whose instruments inspired the music of Vierne and Widor.
Victoria (died 1611) spent the first 20 years of his working life in Italy. He features in our opening Choral Eucharist (Aug. 7th) with a Mass for three choirs, the only triple-choir work to be published in Rome during his lifetime, coupled with a triple-choir motet by contemporary Palestrina. Over the following weeks the music enhancing Choral Eucharist will range from a Mass by Haydn accompanied by chamber orchestra- always a highlight- to Franz Liszt’s Missa Choralis with which Liszt set out to reform the poor church music of the time, and finishing with 19th century French composer Vierne’s monumental Messe Solonnelle, written for choir and two organs and featuring a new digital instrument constructed in the gallery- an event not to be missed!
Turning to Choral Matins, August 14th highlights the music of William Boyce, baptized 300 years ago and formerly Master of the King’s Musick. Rarely heard these days, we will perform some of his most popular sacred choral works framed by two of his Organ Voluntaries. Conversely the following week, August 21st will feature some recent compositions- rhythm and atmosphere is the name the game here- including the first performance of a Te Deum by Alan Smith, which I hope the composer will be in St. John’s to hear. Finally Matins on 28th August features some fun and energetic music showcasing the ladies of the choir, with perhaps a few African drums thrown in…!
The Evening Office, which has a distinctive spiritual quality of its own, features, on Sunday 14th August the music of one of the 20th century’s most significant composer’s for the Anglican Church, Herbert Howells. Howells frequently wrote for a specific building and its unique acoustics, and the Choir will be singing his setting for Gloucester Cathedral coupled with his lovely motet A spotless rose, here marking the Eve of St. Mary the Virgin. Another cathedral, the 1000 year-old sanctuary at Durham, provides the inspiration for Evensong on 21st August, with music by musicians associated with the cathedral including Ebdon, Smith and Richard Lloyd.
I couldn’t finish without mentioning one of the highlights of our Choir season- the Annual Concert which this year will be held on Saturday 20th August, 8.00pm. The music we will sing reflects the theme of the Festival of Spirituality and Peace and will include Hungarian folksongs by Mathias Seiber, the beautiful Totus Tuus by Gorecki, written for the visit of Pope John Paul to his native Poland, Walton’s thrilling Coronation Te Deum, Finzi’s Magnificat and finishing with John Rutter’s vibrant and colourful Magnificat, accompanied by a chamber orchestra with harp, percussion and organ.
I, for one, am looking forward to a month of great music, and I hope to see you at some of the services, and particularly at our Concert!
Stephen Doughty
Director of Music, St. Johns
