Welcome to our Essex and East London Area Spring Newsletter. RSCM- EEL Chorister Awards Ceremony

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1 Welcome to our Essex and East London Area Spring Newsletter 2017 is an eventful year for us. We have a great programme of events planned for the year ahead. Thank you to all who have suggested the types of workshops and events you would enjoy and find useful. We look forward to our annual choral festival this year at Brentwood Cathedral in October. Also, we are very keen to improve our communications and our general publicity, and our new user friendly website will soon be up and running. RSCM-EEL Annual Choral Festival This year our Festival will be a very special occasion celebrating the Centenary of the Diocese of Brentwood. It will be held in the beautiful setting of Brentwood Cathedral on Saturday, 21 st October, 10 a.m. 5 p.m. with the Festival Thanksgiving Service at 4 p.m. chosen and is included in a booklet which is being printed for us by the Royal School of Church Music, and which we hope will be available shortly at a cost of 5. Put the date in your diaries now! Orders for books to and further information from shirleytimmins@btinternet.com. RSCM- EEL Chorister Awards Ceremony On Saturday 21 st January, the annual service for the presentation of awards to successful Deans and Bishops Chorister candidates was held in Chelmsford Cathedral. The Awards were presented by the Deans and Bishops of both Brentwood and Chelmsford Dioceses. The service followed the form of Choral Evensong. The successful candidates sang with the Cathedral Choir, under their Director of Music James Davy who had rehearsed the candidates in the afternoon. The music for the service included the motet Locus Iste by Bruckner, a setting of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis by Richard Shephard, and the anthem O er the hill and o er the vale arranged by James Davy. The service will be conducted by Andrew Wright, Master of Music at Brentwood Cathedral. We invite all singers to join us for a memorable and enjoyable day of singing finishing with our Thanksgiving Service and experiencing that mixture of exhilaration and awe which we all feel in singing with massed choirs in a great building. Individual singers are warmly welcomed, as are members of choirs, robed or unrobed. The music this year has been specially The Award Administrators are grateful to Chelmsford Cathedral for their help and assistance on what was a most enjoyable day. We would also like to thank the Deans and Bishops for their continued support for these awards. The awards recipients were as follows: -

2 BISHOPS CHORISTERS DEANS CHORISTERS Brentwood Cathedral Matthew Adams Alonso Gracia-Martin Henry Man Owen Romhany Luke Simpson Brentwood Cathedral Choir Antony Fashesin-Souza Thierry Racon Chelmsford Cathedral Bethany Shorden Chingford Parish Church Eddie Adams Caroline Easey Adam Miller Felix Petheu Oliver Petheu St Andrew's, Hornchurch William Beech Hayden Musham Seth Wylie St Laurence s, Upminster Hannah Allen Members of St Andrew s choir will be on hand to boost any of us who are less confident. The RSCM-EEL 2017 publication With Praise and Thanksgiving which will also be used for the Area Festival in October contains most of the music needed for Brentwood Cathedral Girls Choir Olivia Mills this service. Copies can be bought for 5 or Chingford Parish Church Samuel Hay-Campbell Femi Kotun Margaret Omosanya Isaac Summers Miriam Summers Music to include: William Byrd - Sacerdotes Domini Peter Nardone - I give to you a New Commandment Smith Preces and Responses Brewer Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in Eb St Edward the Confessor, Romford Sarah Famakinwa Breanna Herring St Nicolas, Witham Mitzi Boyle St Peter, South Weald Jessica Appleton Elizabeth Reynolds Rebecca Slaney borrowed on the day if preferred hire charge 1 Bring choir robes if you have them. Refreshments provided. Pay on the day. To book admin@rscm-eel.org.uk for registration form. Further information from Bill Brooks william.brooks2@ntlworld.com Saturday 10th June 11 am pm Short of a Tenor! You can do it! St. Margaret of Antioch, Balfour Road, Ilford IG1 4HZ directed by Philip Norman FRCO, ARCM, LTCL New events for 2017 Dates for your diaries Sunday 4th June 3pm 7.30pm service at 6.30pm Come and Sing Evensong! St Andrew s Church, Hornchurch RM12 6QP Directed by Andrew Losq A Traditional Service of Choral Evensong An opportunity to sing Choral Evensong according to the Book of Common Prayer, especially for those who do not regularly have such an opportunity. Choirs and individual singers all very welcome. If you sing with, or direct a choir with only a few members and find that much of the traditional church choir repertoire requires greater forces than you have, we hope that you will be interested in this event. In addition to other sources Philip will be using the Oxford Book of Flexible Anthems, a perfect resource for church choirs of all types and sizes, each piece being presented with flexible scoring options, enabling performances by various combinations of singers. It is perfect for small choirs, young choirs, choirs with few men, choirs just starting out and choirs with limited rehearsal time. There are more than 60 flexibly scored anthems in a wide range of styles, including many new pieces, new arrangements of favourite anthems, accessible keyboard accompaniments, suitable for organ or piano and with a comprehensive coverage of the Church year.

3 After an early career in education, Philip Norman became Kantor of Orkdal in Norway. Like Bach (who was Cantor of Leipzig) Philip conducted municipal choirs, ensembles and the orchestra, and composed and arranged as required. He returned to London in 1991 and has since been the conductor of a number of choirs and ensembles. His Festival Choir has sung in many European countries and he occasionally tours abroad as an accompanist. He is a specialist in the field of small choirs and has his own website dedicated to this work pnms.co.uk/smallchoirs. Working with him, this should be a highly useful session as well as giving the chance to make music together in a relaxed environment. Cost 7.50 Further information from and bookings to John Rippin jayyarr@btinternet.com Tuesday 4 th July 7pm 9pm Hey! Look at me St Nicolas, Chipping Hill, Witham, CM8 2JS Conducting workshop with John Rippin A practical workshop to give instruction, help and tips for those called on to conduct choirs, especially those who are new to this. There will be a small group of singers in attendance, prepared to sing a few hymns and some simple and straightforward anthems, responses and so on. Details of those will be provided when to register Full details including including location and transport are on the circular and registration form obtainable from admin@rscm-eel.org.uk Tea and coffee will be available during the evening Cost: Adults 5 School pupils (under 18) 3 Saturday 30 th September 2.30pm 5pm Alan Bullard showcases the Oxford Book of and Easy Flexible Anthems St Barnabus, Browning Road, Manor Park, E12 6PB A great opportunity for leaders and members of choirs and music groups of all sizes and denominations to add to their versatility and resources. Following the success of The Oxford Book of Flexible Anthems, Alan Bullard has now edited The Oxford Book of Easy Flexible Anthems a vital resource for all churches. This collection caters for church choirs of all types and sizes, enabling them to have at their fingertips, easy music for every occasion. The collection presents flexibility in a constructive and realistic way, with particular provision for unison or two-part singing, whilst not forgetting SATB choirs. With complete coverage of the Church s year, a fabulous range of accessible, quality material and a focus too on ease of learning and performance. Alan Bullard was born in London, and studied with Herbert Howells at the Royal College of Music and at Nottingham University. He enjoyed a successful career in music education and most recently as Head of Composition at Colchester Institute. He now devotes most of his time to composing, editing and arranging. His music unfailingly appeals to both performers and audiences and he has written for all kinds of choirs, with instrumental works for a variety of ensembles and orchestras. Alan is also a respecter writer of music for examination syllabuses and educational albums. As well as the inspirational Oxford Book of Flexible Anthems and Oxford Book of Flexible Carols, his major publications include Alan Bullard Carols, Alan Bullard Anthems and the three cantatas Wondrous Cross, O Come Emmanuel and A light in the Stable. He and his wife Janet also write the Pianoworks series for the older beginner. Cost 10. Further information from and bookings to: Duncan Paterson d.paterson@skhs.net For further information or any queries, please contact John Rippin, jayyarr@btinternet.com

4 Saturday 7 th October morning Composers event Chelmsford Cathedral Education Centre led by James Davy Do you compose music for your church? Saturday 21 st October RSCM-EEL Annual Choral Festival Brentwood Cathedral, directed by Andrew Wright The morning will look at writing hymn tunes, responsorial psalms, Anglican chant, descants and other liturgical items; people can bring items for review and feedback if they wish. Further information from James Davy james.davy@chelmsfordcathedral.org.uk Saturday 7 th October 2pm -5pm Developing Aural & Sightreading Skills St Nicolas, Chipping Hill, Witham, CM8 2JS See page 1 Full details and registration form to follow via and on our website. Wednesday 1 st November Compline for All Saints Holy Cross and All Saints Church, Warley Workshop directed by James Davy to include:- Voice for Life (levels white light and dark blue and bronze) Teaching and practicing the set requirements for choristers to master aural & sight singing skills, and a session on John Rutter s For the Beauty of the Earth Please bring your own copy of this anthem. Group discussion: how are we progressing with Voice for Life since the first introductory discussion and workshop at Saint Luke s, Tiptree This event is free and open to choir trainers, choristers and other interested parties. Further information from and bookings contact Emmelia van der Walt emvdwalt543@gmail.com or phone text Details to be announced. Further information Antony Timmins antony.timmins@hotmail.com Saturday 4 th November Organ Workshop St Mary s Church Shenfield CM15 9AL led by Richard Brazier Details to be announced. Further information John Rippin jayyarr@btinternet.com Full details will be available on our website and will be mailed out shortly

5 Sunday 10 th December West Gallery Workshop & Georgian Evensong Workshop 3 p.m. Evensong 6 p.m. St Mary s Church Wanstead E11 2LP directed by Dr. Francis Roads A seasonal workshop for musicians and singers, culminating with Georgian Evensong led by the Reverend Dr.Gordon Giles M.Litt., B.A. Mulled wine and mince pies! All in one of the finest Georgian Churches in England. century. St. Mary s Church, Wanstead was built to designs by the architect Thomas Hardwick and completed in 1790 and has not been substantially altered since it was originally built. It is now listed Grade I and is regarded as one of the three or four finest Georgian churches in London and indeed in the Country. It has recently been restored and is looking even more splendid. In the 18th century, very few country churches had an organ, and for music they depended on the vocal efforts of the parish clerk and congregation, who sang psalms in the metrical paraphrases of the Old Version (1562) or New Version (1696). From about 1670 on, companies of singers were formed, and the first music specially composed for such country choirs appeared about Read all about the history and tradition of West Gallery Music see below. For bookings ( 6) and further information contact: Shirley Timmins, 156 Warley Hill, Brentwood CM14 5HF shirleytimmins@btinternet.com, or (answerphone) A NEW VENTURE - WEST GALLERY MUSIC WORKSHOP On Sunday, 10 th December, 2017 we are holding a West Gallery Workshop for musicians and singers, followed by a Georgian Evensong and mulled wine and mince pies at the lovely Church of St. Mary s, Wanstead. The workshop will be led by Dr. Francis Roads and our Minister for Evensong will be the Reverend Dr. Gordon Giles, who will be familiar to you from his contributions to Church Music Quarterly. West Gallery music, also known as Georgian Psalmody is the music (metrical psalms, with a few hymns and anthems) sung and played in English churches and non-conformist chapels from around The term derives from the wooden galleries which were constructed at the west end of churches during the 18 th century upon which the choir would perform. Victorians disapproved of these Georgian galleries and most were removed during restorations in the 19 th Village singers learnt to sing by note in harmony, and adopted a vigorous style of singing, often varying the point at which the voices entered, known as fuguing. Most early west gallery groups sang unaccompanied, but later they were augmented by instruments such as the serpent (and yes we will have one of these on 10 th December!), violin, cello, clarinet, flute and bassoon. As the primary purpose of the accompanying instruments was to maintain the pitch of the singers, they tended to double the vocal parts. Use of West Gallery music in the Church dwindled when the organ became popular. The old church bands were often difficult for a vicar to control, while influence over an organist was a much easier task. Such ousting

6 of the band by an organist is given fictional treatment in Thomas Hardy s early novel Under the Greenwood Tree. In the end, as Hardy observed, changes of various kinds in church and village life and practice led to the demise of the singers as an independent force in English country churches: the galleries and singing seats were destroyed, the instruments were disposed of, and the manuscript music books lost. The music was disapproved of because it was considered not solemn enough for worship by members of the Oxford Movement. The churches came to be dominated by a harmonium or an organ, and the people sang in regimented fashion from Hymns Ancient & Modern. In the 1980s West Gallery Music experienced a revival and is now sung by several West Gallery Quires. Dr. Francis Roads who studied music at Pembroke College, Oxford and the Royal College of Music, London is now the Musical Director of the London Gallery Quire. He took early retirement from a 30 year teaching career in Since then he has devoted himself to researching and editing West Gallery church music. His doctoral thesis included the first modern edition of some West Gallery manuscripts from the Isle of Man. He is an active member of the West Gallery Music Association. He is particularly keen to promote the use of West Gallery music in modern church services and to this end he has led workshops, often followed by an evensong in many places, Goring-on-Thames (Oxon), Stow-cum- Quy (Cambs), Tisbury (Wilts), Leytonstone (Essex), Norwich (evensong televised by Anglia TV), Hadleigh (Suffolk), Hastings (Sussex) and Douglas (Isle of Man) as well as in the USA. The Rev d Dr Gordon Giles studied music and aesthetics at Lancaster University. A M.Litt in Philosophy at Cambridge University followed and then he worked as Chaplain for the Missions to Seafarers in the North-east of England. After studying theology at Ridley Hall Cambridge, he was ordained in Ely Cathedral and served a curacy in a parish in urban Cambridge. In 1998 he became Succentor of St Paul s Cathedral in London, where he sang choral services and worked on large scale events such as the service after the 9/11 bombings; Millennium and Jubilee services. In 2003 he became Vicar of St Mary Magdalene's Church in Enfield, North London,. He has written several books on church music, hymnody and liturgy and writes a regular hymn meditation in the RSCM's Church Music Quarterly and as well as being one of the editors of the newly published Ancient and Modern hymnbook, he is also a Director of the English Hymnal Company. In 2012 was awarded a PhD by Middlesex University for his work on hymnody, liturgy and musicology. We do hope you will be able to join us on 10 th December. Further information from and bookings ( 6) to Shirley Timmins, 156 Warley Hill, Brentwood CM14 5HF. shirleytimmins@btinternet.com or (answerphone). RSCM-EEL Chorister Awards Interested in taking part? Full Details of the RSCM-EEL Chorister Awards are available on our website, plus syllabus and further information. Deans Chorister Awards. John Cox johncarmelcox@hotmail.com Bishops Chorister Award. Bill Brooks williambrooks2.@ntlworld.com Like to keep in touch? us at admin@rscm.org.uk to be mailed with our RSCM-EEL coming events and workshops, or visit our website