Perfect timing!
This morning was celebrated in the Episcopal tradition as Christ the King, and of course as usual the Introit would be Zadok the Priest, by G.F.Handel, which is a traditional Coronation anthem.
We fully expected the Choir to process in the normal manner, to their seats, have the introduction, and then sing…..but no…..with the courage born from experience, the organist went straight from his prelude into the long repetitive introduction of the Handelian piece as the choir processed silently up the aisle from the West Door, with no music folders, took their places, and with microsecond timing, the choral part burst into life without the slightest break.
I venture to think there was a little bravado mixed in there, and I may even have seen a slight smirk on Provost Kelvin’s face along with the Musical Director and a few of the choir as to how well it had worked-out!
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!
George Frederic Handel
Born in the same year of 1685 and from the same North-German background, Handel and J.S.Bach were reared in the same Protestant environment, but that is where the similarity ended. You have only to listen to much of his music to see how Handel had a ‘breadth’ of musical experience, (in comparison to Bach who was much more intense and narrow in his life), and this is shown in how he lived his life. Maybe it was because he was a bachelor that he had the freedom to move outwards and upwards in the musical world.
He was born in Halle in 1685, went against the wishes of his parents to become a violinist in Hamburg Opera Orchestra, and was organist at the Protestant Cathedral at 18. He then headed for Italy in his early twenties and gained a reputation on the keyboard, and he produced his first operas there.
On returning to Germany he became Director of Music to the Elector of Hanover, but soon left for England (he fairly got about, didn’t he!). He set-to and produced operas, and at first made some money, but then financial failure occurred, and he went into writing oratorios…..which were to be his greatest memorial.
Failing health and sight left him completely blind in his late sixties. He died, aged 74, and was buried with national honours in Westminster Abbey. He has always been remembered because of Messiah, which was composed within a month, and was first performed in Dublin.
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