The Choir has now been singing at our services regularly for some nine months. We have thirteen regular members, most of whom have been with us since the inception of the Choir, last September. We have tried, in close collaboration with the Vicar, to introduce some new and interesting music into our worship, including some more modern hymns, anthems, chants, litanies, psalms, Taizé music, Eucharistic acclamations, a new Mass setting, and more. We realize that not everyone will like everything, but hope that there will be sufficient variety for all to find something of value. As with all music, church music has to move with the times, so we are happy to embrace something of the modern, alongside the more traditional repertoire. The Choir has had a busy time, learning so much new music, but there has been great enthusiasm and commitment from the members, who are prepared to devote an hour and a quarter on Friday evenings for regular practice, and who have attended regularly and faithfully, not only at the Sunday Sung Mass, but also for many extra services, including the carol services, Holy Week, confirmation, Jubilee, and many more. On 25 May, most of us went to Ely Cathedral for a Diocesan Choral Festival, organized by the Ely RSCM Committee. This was a wonderful occasion, enabling us to join with over 400 singers, to perform music that would not easily be manageable within the parish church context, including excerpts from Handel’s Messiah and anthems in honour of Our Lady. We hope to be able to sing some of the music we learnt at Advent and Christmas, as appropriate. The Choir is soon to be robed in new albs, as is possibly more fitting for our Eucharistic worship, paid for in large measure by generous donations. We are looking ahead to singing in the next Diocesan Choral Festival in September, in King’s College Chapel, Cambridge. Choir members value the fellowship provided by the Choir, as well as the singing, so we are to have a barbecue in June, as a time for socializing. We already have a Choir web page, where you can find details of music and activities (http://www.ely.anglican.org/parishes/stives/music/), including a calendar of forthcoming events. We are very grateful to Fr James for his enthusiastic support and encouragement of the Choir and were delighted that he was able to come to Ely to share in our Festival. Finally, we should be very pleased to welcome new members to the Choir, particularly sopranos or altos. We hope that some of our younger congregation will soon be joining us. Singing is definitely fun, and very rewarding. You don’t need to be able to read music, just to sing in tune!
DNY
03/06/02