St Aidan’s, Clarkston, yet again
Our third visit to St Aidan’s, Clarkston, was no less eventful than the previous two!
A Patronal Festival Evensong is pretty-well fixed in the church’s calendar, so if people are likely to be away elsewhere, then there is a problem. This happened this time with the organist, and several of the Church Choir members, and some of our members not being available on the due date.
The new Rector Rev Nicholas Taylor, had hardly time to settle in before this festival, and Helen Raeside, the assistant organist had to get to grips with the music, some of which was new. Even problems with one of the radio mics seemed to conspire against us.
However, even with all that, it was a lovely service with an excellent sermon from the Rector of a neighbouring Church. The usual eats and drinks before and after gave us a chance to socialise with many folk we had met before.
Music……..
- Introit:- ‘Except the Lord build the House’….(JHM)
- First Hymn:- ‘Saintly Aidan’
- Psalm:- 89, Chant E.J.Hopkins
- Magnificat:- Chant J.Turle
- Nunc Dimittis:- Chant H Baker
- Second Hymn:- Dear Lord and Father…to tune Repton
- Anthem:- ‘O, Lord, my heart is not proud’ …Music by Margaret Rizza
- Hymn:- Lord, enthroned in heavenly splendour!
- Vesper:- ‘May the road rise to meet you’…music by J.Jerome Williams
Lismore Church of Scotland
Go and look in your atlas, or investigate Google, or click the link at the bottom if you want to find out about this wonderful haven of tranquility in Argyll. It is close to Port Appin (10 minute foot-ferry), or by large car-ferry from Oban.
It is a small island but boasts its own Cathedral dedicated to St Moluag. It was at one time the Cathedral of the Isles but the main part was burned-down at the Reformation, and whilst the outline can still be seen, only the Choir area is now used as Lismore Parish Church of Scotland.
By the nature of its history, Lismore Parish Church is a perfect setting for an ecumenical Service. At various times Roman Catholic, then Anglican, and now Church of Scotland.
It is here that we hope to have as the venue for an ecumenical service on 13th June 2010……so even if you are not coming over to join us, it is a wonderful area!
Ballachulish Colourful Choristers
We were very lucky to have Frank Conn with us when we went to join with some local choristers at St John’ for Evensong…as he is a very good photographer! The following two were taken on a miserable wet day, but still have a sparkle about them….. or maybe it is the rainbow colours of choir robes!!
On the Communion Table behind the choir were the Communion vessels allegedly used before the battle of Culloden.
A great sound in Argyll!
On Sunday we joined St. John’s Episcopal Church in Ballachulish, in Argyll, and all the Episcopal Churches in the West Highland Mission,to hold the service of Sung Evensong. You can’t miss the Church, in its glorious setting halfway between Glencoe and the Ballachulish Bridge.It has an ancient history and we were proud to be asked along. The graveyard is of great historical interest, and they have the Communion Cup and Plate reputedly used by the Jacobites just before Culloden. The building is in much need of restoration, but the beauty conceived by the architect still evident. You can find general information about them on the Diocesan website http://www.argyllandtheisles.org.uk/ballachulish.html .
They would welcome any contributions to their fabric fund, so if you would like to make a donation, you can contact them via the Diocesan website as their current Restoration Appeal website is not operating just now.
Music Details:-
We were pleased to be supplemented by local choir members, and a total of 18 singers filled the choir stalls. This allowed us to have a rousing service of well-known hymns, the traditional sung responses, collects, Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis, and Psalm 119 (only a small part!). In addition we had an Introit and Anthem.
Introit:- ‘Collect 21′
Hymns:-
- Angel Voices, ever singing
- Saviour Again to Thy Dear Name we Raise
- The Day Thou Gavest
Psalm: 119 vv 33-40 Double Chant ‘St John’s’
Anthem:- ‘I saw a new heaven’….a first performance. Some of the words of the Revelation of St John were the inspiration of this piece, and if you want some more information on it, you will find it under ‘To compose or not to compose’.
It was wonderful to see a goodly number in the pews who had come from as far as Fort William and Oban. It was evident that many knew the Office and the hymns off by heart and they had little need of the Order of Service.
We would like to thank all those involved in the arrangements, especially the Friends of St John’s, the Rev Donald Davidson, of Kinlochleven, who led the service, Elsa the Organist who had a lot of new, and difficult, music to practise and play on what proved a slightly-temperamental organ. Last but not least, the choristers who helped us raise the roof in this lovely old building!
To compose or not to compose?
With our up-coming visit to Ballachulish, we felt it would be nice to make something special out of our Service of Sung Evensong at St John’s. The building, the beautiful rural setting, the local history (gory as it is) …they all tell of a long-standing place of worship in this somewhat isolated (and perhaps a bit sad), community, close to the Vale of Weeping, Glencoe.
The choice of music for such a location and occasion must be determined by the wish of people to join in music they know, and the fact that evening hymns must be there. The Chants may or may not be known, the Responses should be known by a least some.
But to make it somewhat special, perhaps an anthem would be in order. So what should we do ?….pick an old favourite, do something extrovert with modern harmonies etc, or write and learn something original.
Scottish music has some rather unique features….the drone of the bagpipes, the scotch ’snap’, the almost-plainchant simplicity of the melodic line of local music, and the obvious ’sadness’ in much of the music, stemming from the nation’s history.
The name, St John’s, led me to thinking of some verses from Revelation about the ‘new heaven and earth’ replacing the ‘old heaven and earth’.
I used a mysterious organ introduction (with simulated bagpipe-drone) leading to a simple tune by the men, and a response from the ladies. A harmony of thirds gives the plainchant ‘feel’, small triplet figures simulate waves on the adjacent loch, and the climb to the high notes and descent indicate the soaring peaks of the area. Two part harmony only appears two thirds of the way through. A reprise of the early mysterious notes sweeps to the final phrases…’He shall wipe away each tear’, by the ladies, and then two- and four-part harmony take us to the final words of …’the former things have now passed away’. Instead of a gloriously-loud ending, the organ gives us a simple rendition of the original melody line……..
So there we have the dissection of this new piece. When it sees the light of day, I hope that it achieves the effects I wanted from it, but that has to be left to the listeners to decide. Let’s hope the Good Lord is forgiving of the paucity of the content, and the presence of all my errors!
Dancing in the Cathedral?….Surely not!
NO, Strictly Come Dancing has not come to St Mary’s Cathedral!
Sunday was a very busy day! Morning Service, celebrating Christ the King (and a baptism) was followed by the swiftly-handled AGM. Then, home for a quick bite of lunch and snooze, before going out again for Choral Evensong.
This was a special Service for Bishop Idris and which was introduced by Handel’s ‘Zadok the Priest’ (no doubt to celebrate the his 40 year anniversary of being priested, and 10 year anniversary of taking up the mitre). The Cathedral was completely full, including the old Choir Stalls being full of clergy.
The Versicles and Responses were by Rose, and the Choir and Provost did them proud. The Mag and Nunc were Stanford in E Flat, and the Charles Wood Anthem ‘O Thou, the Central Orb’, Both of these pieces are not easy to do, so require a lot of practice. The work-load on the Cathedral Choir is very heavy, so this may have explained the occasional lapses. However this was made up for by the wonderful Hymns, and the young organist who belied his years with his understanding of the registration of the organ.
The solemnity and gentleness of Evensong was followed by a very jolly time when we joined in a ceilidh with the Jiggers Band. Cake, biscuits, drinks, ice-cream all were in appearance and it was actually quite fun watching Bishops dancing the light fantastic, where the Altar would normally be…….shades of David in the temple?….perhaps not!
So, music filled this great space for a whole day…..now, if only the old stones could speak!
At St Mary’s Aberfoyle, again
October 5 2008….Sung Evensong
Aberfoyle is often rightly called the Gateway to the Highlands and is visited by probably tens of thousands of people every year. Unfortunately many simply go to the shops and the ubiquitous Edinburgh Woolen Mill (whose Head Office is in the Borders!). Many others go to the David Marshall Lodge for the stunning views.
And yet one of the things which draws me back, is the lovely little St Mary’s Church sitting proudly on the shoulder of the village just as you enter it……a haven of tranquility. Although it bears the same name as our Cathedral in Glasgow it is totally different, and is ideal for the service of Sung Evensong. (If you don’t know much about this Service, click on the link ‘Evensong….the story’ under Categories.)
This is the second time we have been involved in Evensong here….last time we had a retired Bishop preaching, this time the local Church of Scotland Minister, Rev Linda Stewart took the Pulpit, with a contemplative sermon on the Marriage at Cana.
It boasts a wonderful Willis organ, played by Jean……who is a very self-effacing but most competent and sympathetic accompanist. The Church is about to have major structural work carried-out, so we were pleased to be able to come on a beautiful star-lit evening to join with the faithful in the delightful words we have heard so many times before, but which still have so much meaning.
Introit:- ’A Touching Place’ to the tune ‘Dream Angus’ (see the end of this post, for the original words of Dream Angus (a Scottish Lullaby)
Angus is here wi’ dreams to sell o
Hush my wee bairnie an’ sleep wi’ oot fear
Dream Angus has brought you a dream my dear.
A’ the wee bairns are sleepin’
Birdies are nestling, an’ nestling’ the gither
But my bonnie bairn is waken yet
Angus is here wi’ dreams to sell o
Hush my wee bairnie an’ sleep wi’ oot fear
Dream Angus has brought you a dream my dear
An’ the echoes dyin’ o
Even the birdies are cuddled up sleepin
But my bonnie bairn is weepin’ greetin’
Angus is here wi’ dreams to sell o
Hush my wee bairnie an’ sleep wi’ oot fear
Dream Angus has brought you a dream my dear
Welcoming the coming dawn
Lambies coorie doon the gither
Wi’ the yowies in the heathe
Angus is here wi’ dreams to sell o
Hush my wee bairnie an’ sleep wi’ oot fear
Dream Angus has brought you a dream my dear.
Aberfoyle..the Church on the Hill
Sept….2007
St Mary’s, Aberfoyle……………Sung Evensong
Vesper Hymn…..God that Madest
The view of the Church from the road
Jean at the marvellous Willis organ
Lochgilphead….Christ Church
Oct 7th….2007
Christ Church, Lochgilphead…….Sung Evensong
We are very lucky, in that, in two hours on Sunday we were able to travel through some of the most wonderful Argyll countryside (just as the leaves are changing to that lovely russet, the true indicator of Autumn), to spend time in Lochgilphead. We then sang Choral Evensong with the members of, not only Christ Church, but members from other churches. What a great example of ecuminism!
Just now, the Church celebrates the life and work of Francis of Assisi, probably one of the best-known Saints, because of his association with nature. This was reflected in the presence of a number of (stuffed) animals, the organ music (Carnival of the Animals) and the hymns. By the way, Jack the organist was wonderful and, at 80+, plays like a young virtuoso!
It was a wonderful day all through, and as usual, the hospitality was more than we deseved.
Special note has to be made of one of our members who flew back from Dusseldorf on Sunday morning, managed to get from Prestwick to Paisley, sat the whole way to Lochgilphead by car, practised, sang lustily, and then sat the whole way back to Glasgow (actually she did snooze a little!)…without complaining!
Now, how do we beat that?
Anthem:- ‘Through the Day’…words by T Kelly (1769-1854) and music by Thomas Morley (1557-1602)
Vesper:- ‘Go now in love, go now in peace’ (words and music by Patrick M Liebergen)
Angelus with Rector and organist on a lovely autumn evening
St Cyprian’s, Lenzie
Feb 18th…2007
St. Cyprian’s ………….Lenzie…….Sung Evensong
Our earliest Evensongs were held here, when we realised that this service was disappearing. Sometimes it was only the Choir with one acting as cantor who attended, but at least it did maintain the tradition a little while longer
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