MUSIC NOTES DECEMBER 2024
As we approach Advent, Christmas and the end of term I would like to look back at this term. It has been hugely busy and the choir has given of its best. As well as providing music for services each week we have had a number of special occasions.
We began by giving the final concert in the seven-concert series that was part of the Festival to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the restoration of the Church. The programme entitled ‗What we really do‘ featured music that we have sung in services and included works by Haydn (from ‗The Creation‘), Handel (two pieces from ‗Messiah‘) and the famous Allegri ‗Miserere‘ with the passages where a soprano voice has to reach a top C no less than five times, ably accomplished by Aoife Brennan. The concert was beautifully sung throughout and much appreciated by those who attended.
The very next day we sang for the closing service of the festival in the presence of the Bishop of Lichfield, the Lord Lieutenant, our MP and a number of other distinguished guests.
This was quickly followed by All Saints and All Souls Day with a very moving service to remember loved ones who had died during the year.
Equally moving was the performance of Fauré‘s ‗Requiem‘ in the evening of Remembrance Sunday. Michael Birchwood, a member of the church‘s Chamber Choir ‗The Scholars and Gentlemen‘ and an old friend of the music here at St. Oswald‘s made a huge impact as the baritone soloist and Aoife Brennan‘s pure, clear voice did more than justice to Fauré‘s setting of the motet ‗Pie Jesu‘. This was followed by the Office of Compline using the ancient plainsong tones which, as one person present said, brought an intensely spiritual atmosphere to the conclusion of the evening.
The Choir, but particularly the children, deserve high praise for learning so much music in such a short period of time and to such a professional standard.
CHRISTMAS
Now we come to the end of another year and the Choir is busy preparing for Advent and Christmas. We will be singing two Carol Services. The Advent Procession and Carol Service (From Darkness into Light) starts us on our Advent journey at 6.30pm on Sunday 1st December. This is a wonderful candlelit service so if you haven‘t been before put the date in your diary.
Sunday 22nd December brings the traditional Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols. If you can‘t get to King‘s College, Cambridge then St. Oswald‘s is definitely the place to be
FRIENDS OF THE MUSIC
A reminder for existing ‗Friends‘ that subscriptions become due on 1st January and a chance for those readers who are not already ‗Friends‘ to join up. The subscription is a donation of your choice (usually £10 - £15).
Running a choir of the high standard that we have at St. Oswald‘s takes much time and effort. It also costs a considerable amount of money. We have to provide, not only music and robes, but the training that produces what is instantly recognisable as the traditional Choral sound and sets our choir apart from all others in the town. This training involves buying materials for use at home but the bulk of the cost is in sending choristers on training courses. The main one being the one-week summer school held in Bath every August.
I would like to give the Friends a much more active role in the future but this requires more time than I have. If there is anyone who would be willing to get involved or perhaps become Chair of the Friends do please get in touch.
Finally
On behalf of the Choir, I would like to thank everyone for the support that we have had throughout the year and wish you a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
On behalf of the Choir, I would like to thank everyone for the support that we have had throughout the year and wish you a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Mike Donkin
Director of Music