ST EDMUND THE KING, NORTHWOOD HILLS ARCHIVE SEP 2012-AUG 2013

The articles below are taken from my monthly columns in St Edmund's Church parish magazine ("The King"), which includes full details of my organ voluntaries for that month.


FROM THE CONSOLE - JULY/AUGUST 2013



This month I shall be featuring two composers who died exactly fifty year ago.

Francis Poulenc (top) was born in Paris on January 7th 1899. His father was a director of the chemical and pharmaceutical company Rhone-Poulenc which had been founded by Francis’ grandfather. He was a member of the influential group of composers called “Les Six”. As well as Poulenc, the group consisted of Honegger, Milhaud, Auric, Duray and Tailleferre. Their name was inspired by the similarly-named Russian group “The Five” which included Mussorsky and Rimsky-Korsakov. The music of Stravinsky was introduced to Francis at a young age and it became an important influence to him during his life. He was also influenced by the music of Debussy and Ravel. Poulenc wrote just one work for the organ – the Concerto in G Minor for Organ, Timpani and Strings. He was commissioned to write the work by Princess Edmond de Polignac. She was born Winnaretta Singer, twentieth child of Isaac Singer, founder of the Singer Sewing Machine Company. In 1893, Singer married composer Prince Edmond de Polignac. They established a salon in Paris in the music room of their Paris mansion and became important musical patrons – Ravel’s “Pavane pour une infant defunte” was dedicated to the Princess. In writing the organ concerto, Poulenc studied the works of Bach and Buxtehude, which gives the work its neo-baroque feel. The organist Maurice Durufle advised on registration and gave the work’s first performance in the Polignac’s salon in 1938. The concerto is a work I would love to perform one day. I have transcribed a short section of the work for organ solo and this is an ongoing project. Francis Poulenc died in Paris on January 30th 1963 and is buried at the Pere Lachaise Cemetery.

Paul Hindemith (bottom) was born near Frankfurt on November 16th 1895. He studied violin and viola and in his early musical career worked in orchestras and string quartets until composing began to take up more and more of his time. In 1940, Hindemith emigrated to America and became an American citizen six years later, although he moved to Zurich in 1953. Hindemith died on December 28th 1963. He wrote several works for the organ, both solo and orchestral. His three solo organ sonatas date from the late thirties. In the early twenties he wrote a series of works called “Kammermusik” (Chamber Music), each for a different small instrumental ensemble, many of them very unusual. Kammermusik No.7 is written for organ and chamber orchestra and is really an organ concerto. The year before he died Hindemith wrote a organ concerto, effectively his second.

It’s not too late to support my forthcoming organ marathon on July 15th-16th in aid of the organ restoration appeal. Sponsorship forms are available at the back of the church. For a minimum donation of £10 you can request a particular piece (although do check with me first as I may not be able to fulfil more obscure requests). You can also purchase an evening recital ticket or just come along at any other time. Full details on how to contact and follow me can be found on my blog page – organ-marathon.blogspot.co.uk

Jul 7th
10.00am Sung Eucharist – 6th Sunday after Trinity (4.1.0.0)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (St Edmund’s Vicar)
Prelude: Lent (Organ Concerto) – F.Poulenc, arr.Hammond
Setting: Peter Burton (Gloria/Credo - Merbecke)
Anthem: O rest in the Lord – F.Mendelssohn
Processional: Ye that know the Lord is gracious (Blaenwern)
OT Reading (Year C): Isaiah 66:1
Psalm (66): Cry out with joy to god all the earth (Stephen Dean)
NT Reading (Year C): Galatians 6:7
Gradual: We have a gospel to proclaim (Fulda, last v.Rosalie Bonighton)
Gospel (Year C): Luke 10:1
Offertory: Thy hand O God has guided (Thornbury)
Communion: I the Lord of sea and sky
Post-Communion: Go forth and tell,O church of God awake (Woodlands)
Postlude: Voluntary No 6 – W.Boyce

Jul 14th
10.00am Sung Eucharist – 7th Sunday after Trinity (5.1.0.0)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Tony Andrews (Former Hon.Asst.Priest)
Prelude: Vocalise – S.Rachmaninov
Setting: Oldroyd (Gloria/Credo - Merbecke)
Anthem: I give you a new commandment (Peter Aston)
Processional: For the beauty of the Earth (England’s Lane)
OT Reading (Year C): Deuteronomy 30:9
Psalm (19): The precepts of the Lord gladden the heart (Stephen Dean)
NT Reading (Year C): Colossians 1:1
Gradual: Word of the Father, source of all things living (Christe Fons Jugis)
Gospel (Year C): Luke 10:25
Offertory: Alleluia, sing to Jesus (Hyfrydol, last v.David Terry)
Communion: Make me a channel of your peace
Post-Communion: When I needed a neighbour
Postlude: Fanfare (Four Extemporisations) – P.Whitlock

Jul 21st
10.00am Sung Eucharist – 8th Sunday after Trinity (4.1.0.1)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund’s)
Prelude: Pavane pour une infant defunte – M.Ravel
Setting: Peter Heath in D (Gloria/Credo - Merbecke)
Anthem: Lead me Lord (S.S.Wesley)
Processional: Ye Holy Angels bright (Darwell’s 148th, descant Alan Gray)
OT Reading (Year C): Genesis 18:1
Psalm (15): The just will live in the presence of the Lord (Stephen Dean)
NT Reading (Year C): Colossians 1:15
Gradual: O God of earth and altar (Wolvercote)
Gospel (Year C): Luke 10:38
Offertory: Lord enthroned in Heavenly splendour (St Helen)
Communion: O Christ the same through all our story’s pages (Londonderry Air)
Post-Communion: Lord of all hopefulness (Slane, last v.Ian Hope)
Postlude: Voluntary No 7 – W.Boyce

Jul 28th
10.00am Sung Eucharist – 9th Sunday after Trinity (3.1.0.0)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund’s)
Prelude: Sonata No 2 (2nd Movement) – P.Hindemith
Setting: Arthur Rogers (Gloria/Credo - Merbecke)
Anthem: Jesu, joy of man’s desiring (J.S.Bach)
Processional: Immortal, invisible, God only wise (St Denio, last v.Betty Roe)
OT Reading (Year C): Genesis 18:20
Psalm (138): On the day I called, you answered me, O Lord (Joan McCrimmon/A.Gregory Murray)
NT Reading (Year C): Colossians 2:6
Gradual: Father hear the prayer we offer (Sussex)
Gospel (Year C): Luke 11:1
Offertory: At the name of Jesus (Evelyns, last v.David Terry)
Communion: Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire (St Botolph)
Post-Communion: He who would valiant be (Monk’s Gate)
Postlude: Voluntary No 8 – W.Boyce
The Hindemith was performed in honour of the fact that he died exactly fifty years ago this year

FROM THE CONSOLE - JUNE 2013



This year is the 100th anniversary of the birth of Benjamin Britten, a central figure in 20th Century British classical music. He is perhaps best-known for works such as the opera “Peter Grimes” and “The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra”.

He published just one work for solo organ in his lifetime, although several others have recently come to light. The Prelude and Fugue on a theme of Vittoria – which was written for St.Matthew’s Church, Northampton to be performed there on St Matthew’s Day – 21st September – in 1946, three days after its composition. There is a story that he wrote it one morning in bed before coming downstairs to breakfast. The work is based on the opening phrase of the motet “Ecce Sacerdos Magnus” by the Spanish sixteenth century composer Tomas Luis de Victoria, which is in itself based on a plainchant melody.

Two years earlier, the same church had commissioned Britten to write the festival cantata “Rejoice in the Lamb”, one of my favourite pieces, for the fiftieth anniversary of the consecration of St Matthew’s. The text, written by the eighteenth century poet Christopher Smart while he was in a mental asylum, celebrates the worship of God by such diverse characters as “my cat Jeoffry”, a mouse and flowers. In the early eighties I accompanied a performance of this work at Turner Sims Concert Hall at the University of Southampton while at sixth-form college in Winchester. The organ was built in 1977 in a baroque style by Peter Collins. At the time there were no player aids such as thumb or foot pistons to add or remove stops for crescendos and diminuendos (although these were added in 1996) so one of my fellow students was posted to literally pull out the stops! Following flooding in 2011, the instrument was removed from the concert hall and is currently in storage. There are no immediate plans to either return it there or to install it at an alternative location.

Next month’s organ marathon is looming rather large on the horizon and sponsorship and request forms and now available at the back of the church. If you would like to request a particular piece – I have received three so far - I would be grateful for as much notice as possible. I may need to source the sheet music and cannot guarantee to be able to play all requests. Tickets will be required for the Monday evening recital and there are a limited number of post-recital supper tickets. The best place to find my latest marathon information is www.organ-marathon.blogspot.co.uk.

Jun 2nd
10.00am Sung Eucharist – 1st Sundy after Trinity (4.1.1.3)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (St Edmund’s Vicar)
Prelude: Death of Ase (“Peer Gynt”) – E.Greig
Setting: Darke in F (Gloria/Credo – Merbecke)
Anthem: Lord that Descendeth, Holy Child - Gritton
Processional: How great Thou art
OT (Year C): 1 Kings 8:22
Psalm (117): Go out to the whole world, proclaim the good news (Finton O’Carroll/Joan McCrimmon)
NT (Year C): Galatians 1:1
Gradual: Thine arm O Lord in days of old (St Matthew)
GO (Year C): Luke 7:1
Offertory: O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness (Was Lebet, last v.Colin Hand)
Communion: When all thy mercies O my God (Contemplation)
Post-Communion: God save thy gracious Queen (National Anthem)
Postlude: Orb and Sceptre – W.Walton
As it was the 60th anniversary of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, there was a hastily rearranged postlude!

Jun 9th
10.00am Sung Eucharist – 2nd Sunday after Trinity (5.1.00)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (St Edmund’s Vicar)
Prelude: Solveig’s Song (“Peer Gynt”) – E.Greig
Setting: Peter Heath in D (Metrical Gloria to “Evelyns”, last v.David Terry)
Anthem: I give you a new commandment – Peter Aston
Processional: Praise my soul the King of Heaven (Praise my soul)
Reading: Deuteronomy 7:6
Gradual: See ye first the kingdom of God
Gospel: Luke 15:1
Offertory: Shine Jesus Shine
Communion: Be still for the presence of the Lord
Post-Communion: Blessed Assurance
Postlude: Prelude and Fugue on a theme of Vittoria – B.Britten
Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Benjamin Britten on the opening weekend of the Aldeburgh Festival

Jun 16th
10.00am Sung Eucharist – 3rd Sunday after Trinity (4.1.0.0)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (St Edmund’s Vicar)
Prelude: Ave Maria – G.Caccini (attr.)
Setting: Peter Burton (Gloria/Credo - Merbecke)
Anthem: The Call – R.Vaughan Williams
Processional: Longing for light, we wait in darkness
OT Reading (Year C): 2 Samuel 11:26
Psalm (31): Forgive Lord, forgive Lord, the guilt of my sin (Stephen Dean)
NT Reading (Year C): Galatians 2:15
Gradual: Rock of ages cleft for me (Petra, last v.David Terry)
Gospel (Year C): Luke 7:36
Offertory: Jesu lover of my soul (Aberystwyth, last v.Andrew Fletcher)
Communion: Lead us Heavenly Father lead us (Mannheim, last v.Andrew Wright)
Post-Communion: Lord for the years
Postlude: Voluntary No 4 – W.Boyce

Jun 23rd
10.00am Sung Eucharist – 4th Sunday after Trinity (4.1.0.1)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (St Edmund’s Vicar)
Prelude: Pavane – G.Faure
Setting: George Oldroyd (Gloria/Credo - Merbecke)
Anthem: Father in Heaven – John Barnard
Processional: Dear Lord and Father of mankind (Repton)
OT Reading (Year C): Isaiah 65:1
Psalm (63): For you my soul is thristing, O God, my God (Anthony Sharpe/A.Gregory Murray)
NT Reading (Year C): Galatians 3:23
Gradual: Word of the Father, source of all things living (Christe Fons Jugis)
Gospel (Year C): Luke 8:26
Offertory: For the beauty of the earth (England’s Lane)
Communion: Jesus good above all other (Quem Pastores)
Post-Communion: Forth in my name O Lord I go (Song 34, last v.Andrew Fletcher)
Postlude: Voluntary No 5 – W.Boyce

Jun 30th
10.00am Sung Eucharist – 5th Sunday after Trinity (5.0.0.1)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (St Edmund’s Vicar)
Prelude: Suite from Henry V (March-Passacaglia-Touch her soft lips and part-March) – W.Walton
Setting: Arthur Rogers (Gloria/Credo - Merbecke)
Anthem: God is living – J.S.Bach
Processional: All my hope on God is founded (Michael, last v.Descant English Praise)
OT Reading (Year C): 1 Kings 19:15
Psalm (16): O Lord, it is you who are my portion (Finton O’Carroll/A.Gregory Murray)
NT Reading (Year C): Galatians 5:1
Gradual: O thou who camest from above (Hereford, last v.Mark Hammond)
Gospel (Year C): Luke 9:51
Offertory: O Jesus I have promised (Wolvercote)
Communion: Jesu the very thought of thee (St Botolph)
Post-Communion: Now thank we all our God (Nun Danket, last v.Rosalie Bonighton)
Postlude: Chorale Prelude on “Nun Danket” – S.Karg-Elert

FROM THE CONSOLE - MAY 2013



2013 sees the 200th anniversary of the birth of two of the greatest operatic composers.

Giuseppe Verdi was born in a small village near Parma on October 10th 1813 and was receiving musical instruction by the age of four. He was substituting as organist at the local church at the age of seven and took the post permanently two years later. At the age of twenty he went to study privately in Milan and attended many operatic performances there. It was in Milan that Verdi decided to persue a career as a theatre composer. The first of his twenty five operas, “Oberto”, was well-received at its first performance at La Scala in 1839. “Aida” was written was written in 1871 and first performed in Cairo on Christmas Eve of that year. It tells the tragic story of Aida, an Ethiopian Princess who is captured and brought into slavery in Egypt. A military commander, Radames, struggles to choose between his love for Aida and his loyalty to the Pharoah. The Grand March accompanies Radames as he leads the Egyptian army on its triumphant return following their victory over the Ethiopians. Verdi wrote no original organ music but among his sacred choral music is the epic Requiem, written in memory of novelist and poet Alessandro Manzoni and first performed in Milan Cathedral in 1874.

Richard Wagner was born in Leipzig some five months before Verdi. He developed a love of the theatre from an early age and was impressed by the operas of Weber and the orchestral works of Beethoven. Wagner wrote several incomplete early operas and the first to be successfully staged – “Rienzi” – dates from 1842. Unlike most composers, Wagner wrote his own libretti and developed a style known as Music Drama in which all musical, poetic and dramatic elements were fused together. “Lohengrin” was first performed in Weimar in 1850 under the direction of his close friend (and later to be Father-in-law) Franz Liszt. Wagner was not present as he had fled to Switzerland following his involvement in the Dresden uprising, a warrant having been issued for his arrest. The opera tells of treachery and rivalry in 10th Century Antwerp not to mention men being turned into swans. The knight Lohengrin marries Elsa on condition that she never asks his name origin. On their wedding night anxiety and uncertainty compels the bride to ask the groom who he is. Lohengrin explains that his home is the temple of the Holy Grail and he must return without Elsa. At the end of the opera, Elsa calls for her lost husband and falls lifeless to the ground.

Preparations are well-advanced for my 24 Hour Marathon which starts at noon on Monday July 15th. You can find up-to-date information on my marathon blog – organ-marathon.blogspot.co.uk. Sponsorship and request forms will be available at the back of the church. Tickets will also be on sale for the Monday evening recital, with the option of a light supper afterwards. If you have any questions or comments do get in touch – my email address is hammond@cantab.net or just drop by the console on a Sunday morning!

May 5th
10.00am Sung Eucharist – 6th Sunday of Easter (4.1.0.3)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (St Edmund’s Vicar)
Prelude: Psalm Prelude, Set 1, No 1 – H.Howells
Setting: Darke in F (Gloria/Credo - Merbecke)
Anthem: Ave Verum – W.Mozart
Processional: All hail the power of Jesu’s name (Miles Lane, last v.Andrew Moore)
1st Reading (Year C): Acts 16:9
Psalm (67): Let the peoples praise You O God; let all the peoples praise you (Ian Forrester/Anne Ward)
2nd Reading (Year C): Revelation 21:10
Gradual: Alleluia, Alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord
GO (Year C): John 14:23
Offertory: Hail Redeemer, King Divine (King Divine)
Communion: There is a Redeemer
Post-Communion: The Kingdom is upon You (Wolvercote)
Postlude: Voluntary No 1 – W.Boyce

Thu May 9th
7.00pm Sung Eucharist – Ascension Day (3.1.1.1)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (St Edmund’s Vicar)
Prelude: Christ Triumphant – John Marsh
Setting: Arthur Rogers (Gloria/Credo - Merbecke)
Anthem: Cantate Domino - Pitoni
Processional: Alleluia, sing to Jesus (Hyfrydol, last v.David Terry)
1st Reading (Year C): Acts 1:1
Psalm (47): God goes up with shouts of joy; the Lord goes up with trumpet blast (Stephen Dean)
2nd Reading (Year C): Ephesians 1:15
Gradual: Celtic Alleluia (Christopher Walker/Finton O’Carroll)
GO (Year C): Luke 24:44
Offertory: Hail the day that sees Him rise (Llanfair, last v.Martin Setchell)
Communion: Eternal Monarch, King most high (Gonfalon Royal)
Post-Communion: Rejoice the Lord is King (Gopsal, last v.John Marsh)
Postlude: Heut’ Triumphiret Gottes Sohn – J.S.Bach

May 12th
10.00am Sung Eucharist – Sunday after Ascension/7th Sunday of Easter (4.1.0.0)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (St Edmund’s Vicar)
Prelude: Chanson de Matin – E.Elgar
Setting: Missa de Sancto Albano – Healey Willan (Gloria/Credo - Merbecke)
Anthem: O come ye servants of the Lord – C.Tye
Processional: All hail the power of Jesu’s name (Miles Lane, last v.Andrew Moore)
1st Reading (Year C): Acts 16:16
Psalm (97): The Lord is King, most high above all the earth (A.Gregory Murray)
2nd Reading (Year C): Revelation 22:12
Gradual: Hail the day that sees Him rise (Llanfair, last v.Martin Setchell)
GO (Year C): John 17:20
Offertory: Crown Him with many crowns (Diademata, last v.Drew Tulloch)
Communion: The head that once was crowned with thorns (St Magnus, last v.Norman Warren)
Post-Communion: At the name of Jesus (Evelyns, last v.David Terry)
Postlude: Voluntary No 2 – W.Boyce

May 19th
10.00am Sung Eucharist – Pentecost (5.1.0.1)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (St Edmund’s Vicar)
Prelude: “Lohengrin” Prelude (Act 1) – R.Wagner
Setting: Ireland in C (Credo – Merbecke, Metrical Gloria to Evelyns, last v.David Terry)
Anthem: Come Holy Ghost – T.Attwood
Processional: Hail thee, festival day (Salve Festa Dies)
Pentecost Reading: Acts 2:1
During sprinkling of Holy water: Spirit of the living God
Reading (Year C): Romans 8:14
Gradual: Celtic Alleluia (Christopher Walker/Finton O’Carroll)
GO (Year C): John 14:8
Offertory: Come down O love divine (Down Ampney)
Communion: Be still for the presence of the Lord
Post-Communion: The Spirit lives to set us free
Postlude: Grand March (“Aida”) – G.Verdi

May 26th
10.00am Sung Eucharist – Trinity Sunday (3.1.0.2)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (St Edmund’s Vicar)
Prelude: Morning (“Peer Gynt”) – E.Greig
Setting: Nicholson (Gloria/Credo – Merbecke)
Anthem: Hymn to the Trinity – P.Tchaikovsky
Processional: Thou whose almighty word (Moscow, last v.Stanley Vann)
OT (Year C): Proverbs 8:1
Psalm (8): How great is your name, O Lord our God, through all the Earth (Anthony Sharpe/A.Gregory Murray)
NT (Year C): Romans 5:1
Gradual: Father of Heaven whose love profound (Rievaulx)
GO (Year C): John 16:12
Offertory: Angel voices ever singing (Angel Voices, last v.Betty Roe)
Communion: Be thou my vision (Slane, last v.Ian Hope)
Post-Communion: Holy, Holy, Holy (Nicea, last v.Norman Warren)
Postlude: Voluntary No 3 – W.Boyce

Thu May 30th
8.00pm Sung Eucharist and procession of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction – Corpus Christi (3.1.0.1)
Prelude:Picardy – Alec Rowley
Setting: Peter Heath in D (Gloria/Credo – Merbecke)
Anthem: Panis Angelicus – C.Franck
Processional: Alleluia, sing to Jesus (Hyfrydol, last v.David Terry)
OT Reading (Year C): Genesis 14:18
Psalm (110): You are a priest for ever, a priest like Melchizedek of old (Stephen Dean/A.Gregory Murray)
NT Reading (Year C): 1 Corinthians 11:23
Gradual: Celtic Alleluia (Christopher Walker/Finton O’Carroll)
GO (Year C): John 6:51
Offertory: We pray Thee, Heavenly Father (Offertorium)
THE PROCESSION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
O saving victim, opening wide (Verbum Supernum)
Lord, enthroned in Heavenly splendour (St Helen)
Sweet sacrament divine (Divine Mysteries)
BENEDICTIONOF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
Therefore we before him bending (Pange Lingua)
Postlude: Finale on “Hyfrydol” – Henry Coleman

FROM THE CONSOLE - APRIL 2013



On Sunday April 21st – the 87th birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II – I shall be giving a St George’s concert for organ and piano at St Edmund’s celebrating the music of England.

Framing the concert are WILLIAM WALTON’S great coronation marches. Crown Imperial was originally written for the coronation of Edward VIII but following his abdication was first performed at George VI’s in 1937. The rather more chromatic and daring Orb and Sceptre was written for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. Both works were greatly influenced structurally by Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance marches.

RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS and HERBERT HOWELLS were both born in Gloucestershire, albeit twenty years apart. Vaughan Williams’ gentle Prelude on Rhosymedre was written in 1920, the tune often being sung to John Wesley’s Author of Life Divine. Howells’ Psalm Prelude, Set 1, No 1, was written four years earlier and is based on Psalm 34, verse 6: “Lo, the poor crieth and the Lord heareth him; yea saveth him out of all his troubles”.

FREDERICK DELIUS wrote the orchestral tone poem On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring in 1912 and it was first performed a year later in Leipzig. As well as an exchange of cuckoo calls, the work quotes the Norwegian folk song “In Ola Valley”, also used by Grieg in his Norwegian Folksongs for Piano. Delius is buried in the same Surrey graveyard as Sir Thomas Beecham, who had supported and promoted Delius’ music.

GEORGE FREDERICK HANDEL’s Water Music was written for a concert on the River Thames on July 17th 1717 in honour of King George II and was performed by 50 musicians on a barge close to that of the royal party. The King was said to have liked the work so much that he made the exhausted musicians perform it three times over the course of the outing. The work is divided into three suites, the Hornpipe being the second movement of the Second Suite in D Major.

EDWARD ELGAR’s Salut d’Amour, originally called Liebesgruss, was written in 1888 as an engagement present for his fiancé, Caroline Alice Roberts, in return for a poem she had written for him. His Chanson de Matin, originally for violin and piano, was written a decade later as a companion piece to his earlier Chanson de Nuit.

I shall also be playing piano arrangements of orchestral pieces by three of the best-known composers of English light music. RONALD BINGE worked as an arranger for Mantovani and his Orchestra. His most famous composition is arguably Elizabethan Serenade, while The Watermill was used in the BBC television series The Secret Garden. ERIC COATES is perhaps best-known for his Dambusters march although he wrote a number of pieces which were used as radio themes. One such is By the sleepy lagoon, used for over seventy years as the theme tune to Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs. JOHNNY PEARSON has founded a number of light orchestras and written many television themes, including Sleepy Shores (Owen MD) and All Creatures Great and Small.

It is not too early to let me have your requests for my forthcoming organ marathon in July. I may need to source the sheet music and practise it. For a minimum donation, you will be able to choose the time you wish to hear the piece performed and have a dedication written in the brochure.

April 7th
10.00am Sung Eucharist – 2nd Sunday of Easter
Setting: Nicholson
Psalm (118): Give thanks to the Lord for He is good (John Jordan/A.Gregory Murray)
Anthem: From the rising of the sun - Ouseley
Hymns: Jesus lives, thy terrors now (St Albinus), The strife is o’er (Victory), Alleluia, Alleluia (Lux Eoi), This joyful Eastertide (This joyful Eastertide), Let all the world in every corner sing (Luckington)

April 14th
10.00am Sung Eucharist – 3rd Sunday of Easter (3.1.1.0)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (St Edmund’s Vicar)
Prelude: Prelude on “Rhosymedre” – R.Vaughan Williams
Setting: Missa de Sancto Albano – H.Willan (Gloria/Credo - Merbecke)
Anthem: A Clare Benediction – J.Rutter
Processional: Ye choirs of new Jerusalem (St.Fulbert, last v.Robert Jones)
1st Reading (Year C): Acts 9:1
Psalm (30): I will praise you Lord, you have rescued me (Finton O’Carroll/Stephen Dean)
2nd Reading (Year C): Revelation 5:11
Gradual: Good Christian men rejoice and sing (Vulpius, last v.Andrew Wright)
GO (Year C): John 21:1
Offertory: Come ye faithful raise the strain (St John Damascene)
Communion: If Christ had not been raised from death (Kingsfold)
Post-Communion: Love’s redeeming work is done (Savannah, last v.Robert Jones)
Postlude: Hornpipe (“Water Music”) – G.F.Handel

April 21st
10.00am Sung Eucharist – 4th Sunday of Easter (4.2.1.1)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (St Edmund’s Vicar)
Prelude: On hearing the first cuckoo in spring – F.Delius, arr.E.Fenby
Setting: Darke in A Minor (Gloria/Credo - Merbecke)
Anthem: O Christ, O Blessed Lord – R.Wagner
Processional: Praise my soul the King of Heaven (Praise My Soul)
1st Reading (Year C): Acts 9:36
Psalm (100): We are his people, the sheep of his flock (Stephen Dean/A.Gregory Murray)
2nd Reading (Year C): Revelation 7:9
Gradual: Alleluia, Alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord
GO (Year C): John 10:22
Offertory: Sing ye faithful, sing with gladness (Regent Square, last v.Colin Hand)
Communion: There is a Redeemer
Post-Communion: Glorious things of Thee are spoken (Austria, last v.Robert Jones)
Postlude: Crown Imperial – W.Walton

April 28th
10.00am Sung Eucharist – 5th Sunday of Easter (5.1.1.2)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (St Edmund’s Vicar)
Prelude: Salut d’Amour – E.Elgar
Setting: Ireland in C (Gloria/Credo - Merbecke)
Anthem: Cantate Domino – G.Pitoni
Processional: Praise the Lord, ye Heavens adore him (Austria, last v.Robert Jones)
1st Reading (Year C): Acts 11:1
Psalm (145): I will bless your name forever, O God my King (A.Gregory Murray)
2nd Reading (Year C): Revelation 21:1
Gradual: Sing Alleluia forth ye Saints on high (Martins)
GO (Year C): John 13:31
Offertory: Lord enthroned in Heavenly splendour (St Helen)
Communion: This is my body broken for you
Post-Communion: Go forth and tell, O church of God awake (Woodlands)
Postlude: Chaconne in D Minor – J.Pachelbel

FROM THE CONSOLE - MARCH 2013



On the evening of March 17th at 6.30pm, the choir will lead “Crux Fidelis”, a sequence of music and reading for Passiontide (the internet addresses are links to You Tube clips of the four works).

Born in Huddersfield in 1874, Edward Bairstow studied at Oxford and Durham and held posts at parish churches in London, Wigan and Leeds before being appointed organist at York Minster in 1913, a post he held for almost thirty five years until his death in 1946. He was also a notable composer, particularly of organ and choral works. His Lamentations of Jeremiah, with words selected by Eric Milner-White, Dean of York Minster, alternate verses of three Anglican chants with the refrain “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, return unto the Lord thy God” which appears three times, the first two loud and the final one soft.

Son of an Austrian schoolmaster, Anton Bruckner was sent to St Florian’s Priory in Linz at the age of eleven to become a choirboy and was later to become organist. He was a devoutly religious man and composed numerous sacred works, including over thirty motets. The unaccompanied Locus Iste (This place was made by God) was written in 1869 for the dedication of the votive chapel in Linz Cathedral. The motet is in a ternary ABA structure. Particularly beautiful is the central descending chromatic, suddenly quiet three-part upper voices section to the words “irreprehensibilis est” (it is beyond reproach).

Samuel Sebastian Wesley was the Grandson of Charles Wesley. He was famous in his lifetime as one of the country’s leading organists, holding posts at Hereford (at the age of just 22), Exeter, Winchester , Gloucester and, like Bairstow, Leeds Parish Church. His most famous anthem is arguably “Lead me Lord”, heard regularly at St Edmund’s. His anthem Wash me throughly”, with words from Psalm 51, was written around 1840 while he was organist at Exeter Cathedral. The first section, heralded by a solo soprano, has some sumptuously chromatic harmony. The central section has each voice entering one at a time, beginning with the basses. The final section combines these two ideas.

Gabriel Faure wrote his Cantique de Jean Racine at the age of just nineteen and won first prize when the composer graduated from Paris’ Ecole Niedermeyer, although it was not published for a further eleven years. The words were taken from Jean Racine’s 1688 “Hymnes traduites du Breviaire romain” and is a paraphrase of the Tuesday matins hymn “Consors paterni luminis” attributed to St Ambrose. The English translation begins, “Word, equal to the Most High, our only hope, Eternal day of the earth and the heavens, we break the silence of the peaceful night, Divine Saviour, cast your eyes upon us”.

Mar 3rd
10.00am Sung Eucharist – Third Sunday of Lent (4.1.2.2)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund’s)
Prelude: Christe du Lamm Gottes – J.S.Bach
Setting: Adrian Batten (Credo – Merbecke)
Anthem: Lead me Lord – S.S.Wesley
Processional: Dear Lord and Father of mankind (Repton)
OT Reading (Year C): Isaiah 55:1
Psalm (103): The Lord is compassion and love (A.Gregory Murray)
NT Reading (Year C): 1 Corinthians 10:1
Gradual: Christ is out cornerstone (Harewood, last v.June Nixon)
Gospel (Year C): Luke 13:1
Offertory: God is love, let Heaven adore him (Blaenwern)
Communion: As the deer pants for the water
Post-Communion: Great is thy faithfulness
Postlude: Prelude and Fugue No 8 – J.S.Bach (Attr.)

Mar 10th
10.00am Sung Eucharist – Fourth Sunday of Lent – Mothering Sunday (5.2.2.1)
“Welcome Home”
Celebrant: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund’s)
Prelude: O Lamm Gottes, Unschuldig – J.S.Bach
Setting: Nicholson
Anthem: For the beauty of the earth – J.Rutter
Processional: Tell out my soul the greatness of the Lord (Woodlands)
Presentation of symbols of the life of the home at the altar
NT Reading (Year C): Colossians 3:12
Gradual: Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning
Gospel (Year C): Luke 15:11
Drama on the Prodigal Son – “Mum’s the word!”
Offertory: All things bright and beautiful (All things bright and beautiful)
Communion: Jesus good above all other (Quem Pastores)
Post-Communion: Now thank we all our God (Nun Danket, last v.Rosalie Bonighton)
Postlude: Now thank we all our God – S.Karg-Elert

Mar 17th
10.00am Sung Eucharist – Fifth Sunday of Lent – Passion Sunday (4.1.0.2)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund’s)
Speaker: Wes Wroe from the Amos Trust talking about the Street Child World Cup, who St Edmund’s are supporting as part of their Lent giving
Prelude: Da Jesus An Dem Kreuze Stund – J.S.Bach
Setting: Adrian Batten (Credo – Merbecke)
Anthem: Teach me O Lord – T.Attwood
Processional: O praise ye the Lord (Laudate Dominum)
OT Reading (Year C): Isaiah 43:16
Psalm (126): What marvels the Lord worked for us! Indeed we were glad (Finton O’Carroll/Ian Forrester)
NT Reading (Year C): Philippians 3:4b
Gradual: Thou art the way, by thee alone (St James)
Gospel (Year C): John 12:1
Offertory: All my hope on God is founded (Michael, last v.English Praise)
Communion: Soul of my saviour, sanctify my breast (Anima Christi)
Post-Communion: Take up the cross, the saviour said (Breslau)
Postlude: O Mensch, Bewein Dein Sunde Gross – J.S.Bach

6.30pm “Crux Fidelis” – A sequence of music and readings for Passiontide (5.2.2.2)
Prelude – Herzlich Tut Mich Verlangen BWV737 – J.S.Bach
I The Entry into Jerusalem
Hymn – All glory laud and honour (Valet Will Ich Die Geben)
II The Upper Room
Reading – Luke 22:7
Anthem – Locus Iste – Bruckner
Reading – from a hymn on the crucifixion – Ephrem of Syria
Hymn – An upper room did our Lord prepare (O Waly Waly)
III Gethsemane
Reading – Luke 22:39
Anthem – Wash me thoroughly from my wickedness – S.S.Wesley
Reading – The Agony – G.Herbert
Hymn – My song is love unknown (Love Unknown, last v.Mark Hammond)
IV The Trial
Reading – Luke 22:54
Anthem – Cantique de Jean Racine – G.Faure
Reading – Christ on trial – Rowan Williams
Hymn – When I survey the wondrous cross (Rockingham, last v.Betty Roe)
V Calvary
Reading – Luke 23:33
Anthem – The Lamentations of Jeremiah – Edward Bairstow
Reading – A Quiet Roar – Veronica Zundel
Hymn – O sacred head, sore wounded (Passion Chorale, 2nd verse Bach St Matthew Passion harmonisation)
Postlude: O Mensch, Bewein Dein Sunde Gross – J.S.Bach

Mar 24th
10.00am Sung Eucharist - Palm Sunday (5.1.2.1)
Setting: Adrian Batten (Credo – Merbecke)
Anthem: The people of the Hebrews - Palestrina
Introduction and Blessing of Palms in Church Hall
Palm Gospel: Luke 19:28
Procession from Hall to Church: All Glory laud and honour (St Theodolph)
Introit: Ride on, ride on in majesty (Winchester New, last v.Andrew Moore)
OT (Year C): Isaiah 50:4
Psalm (22): My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (A.Gregory Murray)
NT (Year C): Philippians 2:5
Gradual: Were you there when they crucified my Lord? (Were you there?)
GO (Year C): Luke 22:39 (Dramatised Version of the Passion)
Offertory: My song is love unknown (Love Unknown, last v.Mark Hammond)
Communion: O dearest Lord, thy sacred head (Belmont)
Post-Communion: Lift high the cross (Crucifer)
Postlude: Orb and Sceptre – W.Walton
With flurries of snow and temperatures below freezing, it was decided, for the first time since I’ve been at St Ed’s, to forego the outdoor part of the procession and to move straight from hall into church.

Mar 28th
8.00pm The Mass of the Lord's Supper - Maundy Thursday (5.1.1.1)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (St Edmund’s Vicar)
Prelude: Ubi Caritas - Colin Mawby
Setting: Nicholson (Gloria – Merbecke)
Anthem: Panis Angelicus – C.Franck
Introit: Praise to the holiest in the height (Gerontius, last v.Colin Hand)
OT: Exodus 12:1
Psalm (116): The blessing cup that we bless is a communion with the blood of Christ (A.Gregory Murray)
NT: 1 Corinthians 11:23
Gradual: Come risen Lord and deign to be our guest (Farley Castle)
GO: John 13:1
During the washing of the feet – God is love (Ubi Caritas) & Meekness and majesty
Offertory: Love is his word
Communion: This is my body
Transfer of the blessed sacrament to the altar of repose – Of the glorious body telling (Pange Lingua)
Psalm 22 is read during the stripping of the sanctuary
The watch continues in the altar of repose until the Good Friday liturgy

Mar 29th - Good Friday
11.00am Children’s activities in the Hall

12.00pm Children’s Good Friday Worship
Hymn – There is a green hill far away (Horsley)

1.00pm A Meditation for Good Friday
Gethsemane – The Trial – The Crucifixion
Hymn – We sing the praise of Him who died (Breslau)
Hymn – Drop, drop, slow tears (Song 46)
Hymn – It is a thing most wonderful (Herongate)
Recordings – O Vos Omnes (Casals), Crucifixus (Lotti)
Readings – Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Luke 22:39, St Teresa of Avila, Isaiah 50:4, Martin Luther, Psalm 71, Hebrews 9:11, St Thomas Aquinas, St Augustine of Hippo.

2.00pm The Liturgy of Good Friday (5.1.1.1)
1st Reading: Isaiah 52:13
Psalm (31) – Father, into your hands I commend my spirit (A Gregory Murray)
2nd Reading: Hebrews 10:16
Hymn – There is a green hill far away (Horsley)
The Passion of our Lord according to John – Vittoria
Reproaches during the veneration – Vittoria
Hymn – When I survey the wondrous cross (Rockingham, last v.Betty Roe)
Hymn – Glory be to Jesus (Caswall, last v.June Nixon)

Mar 30th
8.00pm Easter Vigil and Eucharist of the Resurrection - Easter Saturday (5.1.1.1)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (St Edmund’s Vicar)
Setting - Arthur Rogers
THE SERVICE OF LIGHT
The Exultet
THE VIGIL OF READINGS
1st Reading: Genesis 1:1 (The Creation)
Psalm (33) – Send forth your spirit, O Lord (A Gregory Murray)
2nd Reading: Exodus 14:15 (Israel’s deliverance at the Red Sea)
Canticle (Exodus 15) – I will sing to the Lord (A Gregory Murray)
3rd Reading: Ezekiel 37:1 (The Valley of the Dry Bones)
Psalm (30) – I will praise you, Lord (Finton O’Carroll/Ian Forrester)
Fanfare – Francis Jackson; Gloria - Merbecke
NT Reading: Romans 6:3
Gradual – Celtic Alleluia (Christopher Walker/ Finton O’Carroll)
GO: Luke 24:1
RENEWAL OF BAPTISMAL PROMISES
Processional - Thou flowing water pure and clear (Laast Uns Erfreuen, last v.Quentin Thomas)
Offertory – At the Lamb’s high feast we sing (Salzburg)
Anthem – Up, up, my heart with gladness – J.S.Bach
Communion – Love’s redeeming work is done (Savannah, last v.Robert Jones)
Post-Communion – Jesus Christ is risen today (Easter Hymn, last v.Colin Mawby)
Postlude – Toccata - Widor

Mar 31st
10.00am Sung Eucharist - Easter Sunday (5.1.2.2)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (St Edmund’s Vicar)
Prelude: Toccata in D minor – J.S.Bach
Setting: John Ireland (Gloria – Metrical setting to “Evelyns”, last v.David Terry)
Anthem: This Joyful Eastertide – arr.John Barnard
Processional: Hail thee festival day (Salve Festa Dies)
1st Reading: Acts 10:34
Psalm (118): This day was made by the Lord (A Gregory Murray)
2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:1
Gradual: Jesus Christ is risen today (Easter Hymn, last v.Colin Mawby)
GO: John 20:1, followed by Fanfare - Francis Jackson
Offertory: The day of resurrection (Ellacombe, last v.Betty Roe)
Communion: Christ the Lord is risen again (Wurtemburg, last v.David Terry)
Post-Communion: Thine be the Glory (Maccabeus, last v.Norman Warren)
Postlude: Fugue in D minor – J.S.Bach

FROM THE CONSOLE - FEBRUARY 2013



One of the most interesting of the many Provencal Christmas customs is “The Thirteen Desserts” (“Les Treize Desserts”). The great supper (“Le Gros Souper”) of the réveillon (Christmas Eve) is steeped in tradition and symbolism. The table should have three white tablecloths – representing the trinity - with three candlesticks. The thirteen desserts represent Jesus and the twelve apostles and would traditionally have been eaten after Midnight Mass and remain on the table for three days. While they always number thirteen, the exact items vary between regions and families. The first four are known as “The Four Beggars” (“Les Quatre Mendiantes”) which represent the four mendicant monastic orders – walnuts or hazelnuts (Augustines), dried figs (Franciscans), almonds (Carmonites) and raisins (Dominicans). Other dried fruit include prunes and dates, the latter representing the food of the land where Christ lived and died. La pompe à l’huile is a flat loaf (fougasse) made with olive oil and orange flower water. Two types of nougat – white and black – are used to symbolise good and evil. Other types of sweets include the diamond-shaped calissons d’Aix, which are made of almond and marzipan. There are fresh and jellied fruit and the desserts are accompanied by the drinking of wine, representing Jesus himself.

Last month I wrote about this summer’s organ marathon. I would like to draw your attention to several other forthcoming musical events at St Edmund’s. On Sunday March 17th the choir and myself will be performing music for Passion Sunday. On Saturday April 13th I shall be performing Stainer’s “Crucifixion” and Pergolesi’s “Stabat Mater” with the Eastcote Choral Society. On Sunday April 21st I shall be giving an organ recital as part of the Classic Concerts series. More details to follow.

Feb 3rd
10.00am Sung Eucharist – The Presentation of Christ in the Temple (Candlemas) (4.1.2.1)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund’s)
Prelude: Bailero - Canteloube
Setting: Arthur Rogers (Gloria – Metrical setting to “Evelyns”, last v.David Terry/Credo – Merbecke)
Anthem: Thou visitest the earth – M.Greene
Processional: Longing for light we wait in darkness
OT Reading (Year C): Malachi 3:1
Psalm (24): Who is the King of Glory, it is the Lord (John Rombaut/A.Gregory Murray)
NT Reading (Year C): Hebrews 2:14
Gradual: Sing how the age-long promise of a saviour (Christe Fons Jugis)
Gospel (Year C): Luke 2:22
Offertory: Hail to the Lord who comes (Old 120th, last v.Andrew Moore)
Communion: Christ whose glory fills the skies (Ratisbon, last v.Rosalie Bonighton)
Post-Communion: The Spirit lives to set us free
Postlude: Little Prelude and Fugue No 4 – J.S.Bach (Attr.)

Feb 10th
10.00am Sung Eucharist – Sunday next before Lent (4.2.2.2)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Tony Andrews (Former Hon. Asst. Priest)
Prelude: Promenade Sentimentale – V.Cosma
Setting: Darke in F (Gloria/Credo – Merbecke)
Anthem: I give you a new commandment – P.Aston
Processional: Ye watchers and ye holy ones (Laast Uns Erfreuen, last v.Quentin Thomas)
OT Reading (Year C): Exodus 34:29
Psalm (138): Before the angels I will bless you O Lord (Martin Hall/Anne Ward)
NT Reading (Year C): 2 Corinthians 3:12
Gradual: Celtic Alleluia (Christopher Walker/Finton O’Carroll)
Gospel (Year C): Luke 9:28
Offertory: How shall I sing that majesty (Coe Fen)
Communion: Lord of all hopefulness (Slane, last v.Ian Hope)
Post-Communion: Seek ye first the kingdom of God
Postlude: Little Prelude and Fugue No 5 – J.S.Bach (Attr.)

Wed Feb 13th
8.00pm Sung Eucharist – Ash Wednesday (4.2.0.1)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund’s)
Prelude: Improvisation on “Saffron Walden”
Setting: Merbecke
Anthem: O most merciful – C.Wood
Processional: Just as I am without one plea (Saffron Walden, last v.Martin Setchell)
OT Reading (Year C): Joel 2:12
Psalm (51): Have mercy on us Lord for we have sinned (A.Gregory Murray)
NT Reading (Year C): 2 Corinthians 5:20b
Gradual: Be thou my guardian and my guide (Abridge, last v.Colin Hand)
Gospel (Year C): Matthew 6:1
The Litany of Penitence – The Imposition of Ashes
Offertory: Jesu lover of my soul (Aberystwyth, last v.Andrew Fletcher)
Post-Communion: Lord Jesus think on me (Southwell)
Postlude: Chorale Prelude on “Aus Der Tiefe Rufe Ich – J.S.Bach (Attr.)

Feb 17th
10.00am Sung Eucharist – First Sunday of Lent (4.1.2.2)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund’s)
Prelude: Bist Du Bei Mir – J.S.Bach
Setting: Batten (Credo – Merbecke)
Anthem: Adoramus Te - Palestrina
Processional: Forty days and forty nights (Aus Der Tiefe, last v.Stanley Vann)
OT Reading (Year C): Deuteronomy 26:1
Psalm (91): Be with me Lord in my distress (A.Gregory Murray)
NT Reading (Year C): Romans 10:8b
Gradual: Be thou my guardian and my guide (Abridge, last v.Colin Hand)
Gospel (Year C): Luke 4:1
Offertory: O love how deep, how broad, how high (Eisenach, last v.Andrew Moore)
Communion: Lead us heavenly Father lead us (Mannheim, last v.Andrew Wright)
Post-Communion: Guide me O thou great Redeemer (Cwm Rhondda)
Postlude: Prelude and Fugue No 6 – J.S.Bach (Attr.)

Feb 24th
10.00am Sung Eucharist – Second Sunday of Lent (4.2.1.0)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund’s)
Prelude: Ave Maria – F.Schubert
Setting: Healey Willan Missa de Sancto Albano (Credo – Merbecke)
Anthem: God so loved the world (“The Crucifixion”) – J.Stainer
Processional: Immortal, invisible, God only wise (St Denio, last v.Betty Roe)
OT Reading (Year C): Genesis 15:1
Psalm (27): The Lord is my light and my help (A.Gregory Murray)
NT Reading (Year C): Philippians 3:17
Gradual: Christ whose glory fills the skies (Ratisbon, last v.Rosalie Bonighton)
Gospel (Year C): Luke 13:31
Offertory: Who is this so weak and helpless (Ebenezer)
Communion: O love that will not let me go
Post-Communion: To God be the glory
Postlude: Prelude and Fugue No 7 – J.S.Bach (Attr.)

FROM THE CONSOLE - JANUARY 2013



Marathon II is coming to St Edmund’s this summer! It will have been five years since my first 24-hour marathon - which raised over £5000 for church funds. The format will be similar to Marathon I and will start at noon on Monday July 15th. It will incorporate a recital “From Advent to Trinity” on the Monday evening, followed by a buffet supper. The overall theme of the event is “A Musical Alphabet”, with each hour devoted to a different letter, which may be composers, titles, nationalities etc. I’ll let you know more in the coming months but in the meantime put the date in your diary. It isn’t too early to let me have your requests – for a price I will play anything (within reason!) but I may need time to source the music and then learn it. A small army of volunteers will also be needed on the day (and particularly the night) to keep the building secure and ply me with food and drink! For details, photos and video of my 2008 marathon click here - from where I am hoping to have a live webcam running during the event. You will also be able to tweet me directly on the console!

On Jan 6th I shall be playing two arrangements of the Epiphany chorale “Wie Schon Leuchtet der Morgenstern” (“How Brightly shines the morning star”). Peter Cornelius was a German composer who became friends with both Richard Wagner and Franz Liszt. His most famous work is “The Three Kings”, the third in a set of six Christmas Songs dating from 1856. Originally for voice and piano, it is now best-known in the choral arrangement with bass solo. The choir sing the original chorale while the soloist sings a counter-melody.

2013 sees the anniversary of births or deaths of several prominent composers. Probably the most notable are the 100th anniversary of the birth of Benjamin Britten and the 200th anniversary of the birth of Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner. Francis Poulenc and Paul Hindemith both died fifty years ago. I shall write about all of these composers over the course of the year.

Jan 6th
10.00am Sung Eucharist – The Epiphany of the Lord (5.1.2.1)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund’s)
Prelude: The Three Kings – Peter Cornelius, arr.Hammond
Setting: Peter Heath (Metrical version of Gloria – Evelyns, last v.David Terry, Credo - Merbecke)
Anthem: The Shepherds’ Farewell – H.Berlioz
Processional: The First Nowell (last v.David Willcocks)
OT Reading (Year C): Isaiah 60:1
Psalm (72): All nations shall fall prostrate before you, O Lord (Stephen Dean)
NT Reading (Year C): Ephesians 3:1
Gradual: Brightest and best of the sons of the morning (Epiphany)
Gospel (Year C): Matthew 2:1
Offertory: As with gladness, men of old (Dix, last v.Andrew Fletcher)
Communion: O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness (Was Lebet, last v.Colin Hand)
Post-Communion: We three Kings of orient are
Postlude: Wie Schoen Leuchtet der Morgenstern (BWV 764) – J.S.Bach
Good to be back after a nine-day post-Christmas break in the South of France. “The Three Kings” works well as an organ solo, with the melody line using the swell oboe but played on the pedals while the choir chorale is played on great flutes

Jan 13th
10.00am Sung Eucharist – The Festival of the Baptism of Christ (5.1.2.1)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund’s)
Prelude: Chorale Prelude on Dix – Malcolm Archer
Setting: Arthur Rogers (Metrical version of Gloria – Evelyns, last v.David Terry)
Anthem: Lead me Lord – S.S.Wesley
Processional: Glorious things of Thee are spoken (Austria, last v.Robert Jones)
OT Reading (Year C): Isaiah 43:1
Psalm (104): Bless the Lord, my soul! Lord God how great You are (Ian Forrester)
NT Reading (Year C): Acts 8:14
Gradual: The sinless one to Jordan came (Gonfalon Royal)
Gospel (Year C): Luke 3:15
Thanksgiving for Holy Baptism
Come flowing waters, pure and clear (Laast uns Erfreuen, last v.Quentin Thomas)
Offertory: Crown Him with many crowns (Diademata, last v.Rosalie Bonighton)
Communion: O thou who camest from above (Hereford, last v.Mark Hammond)
Post-Communion: Love dvine, all love’s excelling (Blaenwern)
Dismissal Gospel: John 1:32
Postlude: Little Prelude and Fugue No 1 – J.S.Bach (Attr.)

Jan 20th
10.00am Sung Eucharist – 3rd Sunday of Epiphany (4.1.2.0)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund’s)
Prelude: Prelude on “Stuttgart” – Flor Peeters
Setting: Nicholson (Gloria/Credo – Merbecke)
Anthem: A Clare Benediction – J.Rutter
Processional: The church of God a kingdom is (University)
OT Reading (Year C): Isaiah 62:1
Psalm (96): Proclaim the wonders of the Lord among all the people (Francis Duffy/Stephen Dean)
NT Reading (Year C): 1 Corinthians 12:1
Gradual: Alleluia, Alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord
Gospel (Year C): John 2:1
Offertory: Songs of thankfulness and praise (St Edmund, last v.Martin Setchell)
Communion: Your gentleness O God of grace (Herongate)
Post-Communion: The Kingdom is upon you (Wolvercote)
Postlude: Little Prelude and Fugue No 2 – J.S.Bach (Attr.)

Jan 27th
10.00am Sung Eucharist – 4th Sunday of Epiphany (5.1.2.0)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund’s)
Prelude: Vocalise – S.Rachmaninov
Setting: Darke in F (Gloria/Credo - Merbecke)
Anthem: From the rising of the sun – F.Ouseley
Processional: Ye servants of God, your master proclaim (Paderborn, last v.Stanley Vann)
OT Reading (Year C): Nehemiah 8:1
Psalm (19): Your words are spirit Lord and they are life (Helen Penny/A.Gregory Murray)
NT Reading (Year C): 1 Corinthians 12:12
Gradual: Seek ye first the kingdom of God
Gospel (Year C): Luke 4:14
Offertory: Hail to the Lord’s anointed (Cruger, last v.Michael Higgins)
Communion: Sweet sacrament divine (Divine Mysteries)
Post-Communion: Blessed assurance Jesus is mine
Postlude: Little Prelude and Fugue No 3 – J.S.Bach (Attr.)

FROM THE CONSOLE - DECEMBER 2012



2012 is the 150th anniversary of the birth of the French organist and composer Leon Boellmann. He is best-known for his four-movement “Suite Gothique”, although he wrote over 160 pieces in his short life. Boellmann was born in Alsace near the German border on September 25th 1862. At the age of nine he entered the Niedermeyer music school in Paris and graduated ten years later with six first prizes. In 1881 he became sub-organist at the church of St Vincent de Paul and six years later became organist, a post he held for ten years until his early death on October 11th 1897 from tuberculosis at the age of just 35. Tragically his wife Louise died the following year. She was the daughter of Gustave Lefevre, director of the Niedermeyer music school, and was also niece by marriage of the organist and composer Eugene Gigout. After her death Gigout adopted their three orphan children, one of whom, Marie-Louise Boellmann-Gigout, became a noted organ teacher in her own right.

Boellmann wrote two organ suites – the “Suite Gothique” of 1895 and the lesser-known “Second Suite” written the following year – and I shall be featuring movements from both works during December and January. The “Toccata” from the “Suite Gothique” reminds one particular member of St Edmund’s choir of “The Adams Family” while the rather jazzy Final from the “Second Suite” has more than a hint of “Tea for Two” - judge for yourselves this month! Boellmann’s two-volume “Les Heures Mystiques” (The Mystic Hours), written in the same year as the “Second Suite”, features over one hundred short pieces for use at various points during mass.

Boellmann’s church of St Vincent de Paul is twinned with St Pancras Old Church, the two being located next to Eurostar’s Paris and London termini stations. The St Pancras Team Rector is currently Father Philip North - a former colleague of our Father Philip at Walsingham and preacher and guest of honour at last year’s St Edmund’s Day service and supper - although he has recently been appointed Bishop of Whitby and will take up the post in the new year.

May I take this opportunity to wish you all a merry Christmas and a happy new year.

Dec 2nd
10.00am Sung Eucharist – First Sunday of Advent (5.1.2.2)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund’s)
Prelude: O Come O Come Emmanuel – C.Hand
Setting: Batten (Credo – Merbecke)
Anthem: Sleepers wake, a voice is calling (St Paul) – F.Mendelssohn
Processional: The advent of our King (St Thomas)
OT Reading (Year C) –Jeremiah 33:14
Psalm (25): To you O Lord, I lift up my soul (A.Gregory Murray)
NT Reading (Year C) – 1 Thessalonians 3:9
Gradual: Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates (Gonfalon Royal)
Gospel (Year C) – Luke 21:25
Offertory: Lo he comes with clouds descending (Helmsley, last v.Martin Setchell)
Communion: Be still for the presence of the Lord
Post-Communion: How lovely on the mountains (Our God Reigns)
Postlude: Wachet Auf, Ruft Uns Die Stimme – J.S.Bach

6.30pm From Darkness to Light – A sequence of music and readings for Advent with excerpts from Haydn’s Creation (5.2.3.5)
Organ – Introduction – The Representation of Chaos (Creation)
I The Creation of light
Reading 1: Genesis 1:1
Choir – Creator of the stars of night (Conditor Alme)
Hymn – Of the Father’s heart begotten (arr.Willcocks)
Bidding Prayer
Choir – Recit: In the beginning; Chorus: And the spirit; Recit: And God saw the light; Aria: Now vanish; Chorus: Despairing cursing (Creation)
II The Prophetic Message
Reading 2: Isaiah 45:5
Choir – Recit: And God said; Recit: In splendour bright; Chorus: The Heavens are telling (Creation)
Reading 3: O Light Invisible (Thomas a Kempis)
Hymn – O Come O Come Emmanuel (arr.Willcocks)
III The Light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
Reading 4: John 3:16
Choir – Recit: And God saw everything; Chorus: Achieved is the glorious work; Trio: On thee each living soul awaits; Chorus: Achieved is the glorious work (Creation)
IV The Light of the Heavenly City
Reading 5: Revelation 21-22
Hymn - Lo he comes with clouds descending (Helmsley, last v.Martin Setchell)
Blessing
Organ - Wachet Auf, Ruft Uns Die Stimme – J.S.Bach
A good day – enjoyed this evening’s “Creation” although it was disappointing that only about twenty came to listen. Now enjoying this afternoon’s broadcast of St John’s College Cambridge and their Advent service on the internet.

Dec 9th
10.00am Sung Eucharist – Second Sunday of Advent (3.1.2.1)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund’s)
Prelude: Priere a Notre Dame (Suite Gothique) – L.Boellmann
Setting: Arthur Rogers (Credo – Merbecke)
Anthem: O Strength and Stay - Bourgeois
Processional: Hills of the north rejoice (Little Cornard)
OT Reading (Year C) –Baruch 5:1
Psalm (126): What marvels the Lord worked for us! Indeed we were glad (Finton O’Carroll/A.Gregory Murray)
NT Reading (Year C) – Philippians 1:3
Gradual: Hark a herald voice is calling (Merton, last v.Colin Mawby)
Gospel (Year C) – Luke 3:1
Offertory: Let all mortal flesh keep silence (Picardy)
Communion: Your gentleness O God of grace (Herongate)
Post-Communion: Come thou long expected Jesus (Cross of Jesus, last v.Robert Jones)
Postlude: Toccata – E.Gigout

Dec 16th
10.00am Sung Eucharist – Third Sunday of Advent – Gaudete Sunday (5.1.2.2)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund’s)
Prelude: Introduction-Choral & Minuet (Suite Gothique) – L.Boellmann
Setting: Adrian Batten (Credo – Merbecke)
Anthem: Lord that descendeth, Holy Child - Gritton
Processional: On Jordan’s bank the Baptist cry (Winchester New, last v.Andrew Moore)
OT Reading (Year C) – Zephaniah 3:14
Psalm (Isaiah 12): Sing and shout for joy, for great in your midst is the Holy one of Israel (A.Gregory Murray)
NT Reading (Year C) – Philippians 4:4
Gradual: Lift up your heads ye mighty gates (Gonfalon Royal)
Gospel (Year C) – Luke 3:7
Offertory: Wake O wake with tidings thrilling (Wachet Auf, last v.Rosalie Bonighton)
Communion: Thou didst leave thy throne and thy Kingly crown (Margaret)
Post-Communion: Christ whose glory fills the sky (Ratisbon, last v.Rosalie Bonighton)
Postlude: Nun Komm Der Heiden Heiland – J.S.Bach

Dec 23rd
10.00am Sung Eucharist with children’s nativity play – Fourth Sunday of Advent (2.1.2.1)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund’s)
Prelude: The Nativity – Berceuse (Peterhouse Chapel Windows Suite) – B.Ferguson
Setting: Peter Heath (Credo – Merbecke)
Anthem: Teach me O Lord – T.Attwood
Processional: Long ago prophets knew (Personet Hodie)
OT Reading (Year C): Micah 5:2
Gradual: For Mary mother of our Lord (St Botolph)
Gospel (Year C): Luke 1:39
Offertory: O come O come Emmanuel (Veni Emmanuel)
Communion: Lord Jesus Christ (Living Lord)
Hymns during the nativity play: O Little Town of Bethlehem (Forest Green), Little Donkey, Rocking, While Shepherds Watched (Winchester Old), We Three Kings
Post-Communion: Hark the glad sound the Saviour comes (Bristol)
Postlude: Finale-Marche (2nd Suite) – L.Boellmann

6.30 Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols (5.2.2.4)
Prelude: Six interludes on Christmas Carols – W.Lloyd-Webber
Introit (in Lady Chapel): Stille Nacht – F.Gruber, arr.D.Cashmore
Hymn: Once in Royal David’s City (Irby, v.1 solo, v.6 descant D.Willcocks)
Bidding Prayer
Carol: O Little Town of Bethlehem – P.Heath
Lesson 1 (Genesis 3:18): Member of the Junior Choir
Carol : Jesus Christ the Apple Tree – E.Poston
Hymn: See amid the winter’s snow
Lesson 2 (Genesis 22:15): Member of the Youth Club
Carol: Angel Tidings – Trad Moravian, arr.J.Rutter
Lesson 3 (Isaiah 9:2): Member of Spectrum on Sunday (Sunday School)
Carol : God is in Bethlehem – J.Barnard
Lesson 4 (Isaiah 11:1): Member of the Women’s Guild
Hymn: It came upon the midnight clear (Noel)
Lesson 5 (Luke 1:26): A member of the Arrow Players (church drama group)
Carol: Angelus ad Virginum – 14th Century, arr.Willcocks
Lesson 6 (Luke 2:1): A member of the PCC
Carol : Star Carol – J.Rutter
Hymn: Unto us is born a son (Puer Nobis)
Lesson 7 (Luke 2:8): An altar server
Carol: The Shepherds’ Farewell – H.Berlioz
Hymn: In the bleak midwinter (Cranham)
Lesson 8 (Matthew 2:1): A churchwarden
Carol : The Boar’s Head Carol – Trad, arr.M.Sargent
Lesson 9 (John 1:1): The Vicar
Hymn: O Come all ye faithful (Adeste Fideles, v.3 descant D.Willcocks)
Collect & Blessing
Hymn: Hark the Herald Angels Sing (Mendelssohn, v.3 descant D.Willcocks)
Postludes: In Dulci Jubilo – J.S.Bach & Toccata (Suite Gothique) – L.Boellmann

Mon Dec 24th
11.30pm Midnight Mass of the Nativity (4.1.1.1)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund’s)
Prelude: Desseins Eternels – O.Messiaen
Setting: John Ireland in C (Metrical version of Gloria – Evelyns, last v.David Terry, Credo - Merbecke)
Anthems: Love came down at Christmas – M.Archer & A Christmas Lullaby – J.Rutter
Introit (in Lady Chapel): Stille Nacht (V1 only) – F.Gruber, arr.D.Cashmore
Processional : Once in Royal David’s City (Irby, v.1 solo, v.6 descant D.Willcocks)
OT Reading (Year C): Isaiah 9:2
Psalm (96): Today a saviour has been born to us, He is Christ the Lord (Finton O’Carroll)
NT Reading (Year C): Titus 2:11
Gradual: While shepherds watched their flocks by night (Winchester Old)
Gospel (Year C): Luke 2:1
Offertory: It came upon the midnight clear (Noel)
Communion: In the bleak midwinter (Cranham)
Post-Communion: O Come all ye faithful (Adeste Fideles, v.3 descant D.Willcocks)
Postludes: In Dulci Jubilo – J.S.Bach & Carillon-Sortie – H.Mulet

Tues Dec 25th
10.00am – The Eucharist of Christmas Morning (No Choir)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund’s)
Prelude: In Dulci Jubilo – D.Buxtehude
Hymn: Away in a manger (Cradle Song)
Gloria: Angels from the realms of glory
Reading (Year C): Hebrews 1:1
Gradual: God rest ye merry gentlemen
Gospel (Year C): John 1:1
Offertory: O little town of Bethlehem (Forest Green)
Communion: Joseph est bien Marie - A.Raison & Une Vierge Pucelle - N.le Begue
Post-Communion: Hark the herald angels sing (Mendelssohn)
Postlude: Sleigh Ride – L.Anderson, arr.T.Trotter

Dec 30th
10.00am – First Sunday after Christmas
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund’s)
Setting: Healey Willan. Anthem: In the bleak midwinter – H.Darke
Psalm (84): They are happy who dwell in your house O Lord (Stephen Dean)
Hymns: O come all ye faithful (Adeste Fideles), Unto us a boy is born (Puer Nobis), Of the Father’s heart begotten (Divinum Mysterium), What Child is this (Greensleeves), God rest ye merry gentlemen

FROM THE CONSOLE - NOVEMBER 2012



Fos sur Mer is Aline’s home town and is located on the French Mediterranean coast some 30 miles West of Marseille. It was an important port in Roman times, linked to nearby Arles by the Fosse Marienne canal system – named after the Roman General Marius who was stationed in the region - from where the town gets its name. Until the 1960s it was a small village where people mainly made their living from fishing, farming and salt production. Since then the town has changed a great deal. A huge port complex has been constructed – the largest in France - and a major industrial area has developed around the area. There are numerous factories and refineries with the resultant pollution and at any one time up to a dozen oil tankers can be seen on the horizon. The original village still exists and stands on a 32 metre high promontory – known as the Hauture - overlooking the new town. Entry to Fos is via a magnificent avenue lined with ancient Aleppo pines. Dominating the skyline is the impressive church of Saint-Sauveur, parts of which date from the 11th Century. From a distance it resembles the bow of a ship marooned in midair. It was here that Alex was baptised and Aline and I had our marriage blessed in January 1999. My brother joined me for performances of Maria Theresia von Paradis’ “Sicilienne” (not actually written by her at all) and Sebastian Temple’s 1967 setting of the prayer of St Francis of Assisi, “Make me a channel of your peace”. The organ I played was a small electric instrument although when I went back to have a look in the summer the building was locked.

Fos sur Mer is also home to FC Istres. The club’s finest moment was in 2004 when they were promoted to the First Division, although they only lasted a season there. During that season the impressive 17,000-seater Stade Parsemain was inaugurated. The record attendance is just 7,000 although this season’s average attendance is less than 2,000, the worst in the league. At the time of writing they are in 3rd position in Division Two.

Nov 4th
10.00am Sung Eucharist – All Saints’ Sunday (3.1.1.2)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund’s)
Prelude: Chorale Prelude – “Es Ist Ein’ Ros’ Entsprungen” – J.Brahms
Setting: Nicholson (Gloria/Credo – Merbecke)
Anthem: These are they that follow the Lamb – J.Goss
Processional: Ye watchers and ye holy ones (Laast Uns Erfreuen, last v.Quentin Thomas)
OT Reading (Year B) – Isaiah 25:6
Psalm (24): Blessed are those who seek your face, O Lord (Stephen Dean/A.Gregory Murray)
NT Reading (Year B): Revelation 21:1
Gradual: Let Saints on earth in concert sing (Dundee)
Gospel (Year B) – John 11:32
Offertory: Jerusalem the golden (Ewing, last v.Norman Warren)
Communion: Come risen Lord and deign to be our guest (Song 4)
Post-Communion: For all the Saints who from their labours rest (Sine Nomine)
Postlude: Praise the Lord, O my soul – S.Karg-Elert

Nov 11th
10.00am Sung Eucharist – Remembrance Sunday (5.2.3.2)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund’s)
Prelude: Nimrod – E.Elgar
Setting: Adrian Batten
Anthem: Russian Contakion of the Departed (Kiev Melody)
Processional: Lord for the Years
Remembering the Past – Poem “We shall keep the faith”
Reading – Wisdom 3:1
Gradual: God is our strength and refuge (Dambusters March)
Gospel - John 12:23
Offertory: Great is thy faithfulness
Communion: Make me a channel of your peace
Act of Remembrance – Two minutes’ silence – Last Post
Post-Communion: God save our gracious Queen (National Anthem)
Postlude: Fame and Glory – A.Matt

3.30pm Service of Commemoration for the faithful departed (4.0.0.0)
Prelude – Pavane – G.Faure
Hymn – Lord of all hopefulness (Slane, last v.Ian Hope)
Reading – Romans 8:31
Hymn – The Lord’s my Shepherd (Crimond)
Gospel – John 1:1
Sermon & Prayers of Intercession
Hymn – Be still, my soul (Finlandia)
Music during The Commemoration and lighting of candles – God be in my Head – Walford Davis
Hymn – Love divine, all love’s excelling (Blaenwern)
Postlude – Sicilienne – M.T.von Paradis (attr.)

Nov 18th
10.00am – Sung Eucharist with Confirmation - 2nd Sunday before Advent (5.2.3.2)
Conducted by the Rt. Rev. Peter Broadbent – Bishop of Willesden
Prelude: Air on a G String – J.S.Bach
Setting: Darke in F (Metrical version of Gloria - Evelyns, last v.David Terry)
Anthem: Come Holy Ghost – T.Attwood
Processional: Praise to the Lord, the almighty (Lobe Den Herren, last v.Quentin Thomas)
OT Reading – Isaiah 63:7
Psalm (104): Send forth your Spirit O Lord, and renew the face of the earth (A.Gregory Murray)
NT Reading – 1 Corinthians 2:7
Gradual: Celtic Alleluia (Christopher Walker/Finton O’Carroll)
Gospel – Mark 1:4
Procession to font: Holy Spirit, come, confirm us (All for Jesus)
Offertory: O Jesus I have promised (Wolvercote)
Communion: As the deer pants for the water
Post-Communion: Shine Jesus Shine
Postlude: Sortie in E Flat – Lefebure-Wely

Nov 20th
7.00pm - Patronal Sung Eucharist for St Edmund, King and Martyr (5.2.1.1)
Celebrant/Preacher: Robert Ladds (former Bishop of Whitby)
Prelude: Psalm Prelude, Set 1, No 1 – H.Howells
Setting: Missa de Sancto Albano – H.Willan (Gloria – Metrical setting to “Evelyns”, last v.David Terry/Credo – Merbecke)
Anthem: These are they – J.Goss
Processional: God of saints, we praise and bless Thee (St Edmund’s Hymn/Abbot’s Leigh)
OT Proverbs 20:28
Psalm (126): What marvels the Lord worked for us! Indeed we were glad (Finton O’Carroll/Ian Forrester)
NT Romans 8:35
Gradual: Celtic Alleluia (Finton O’Carroll/Christopher Walker)
GO John 12:20
Offertory: God whose city’s sure foundation (Westminster Abbey, last v.Colin Mawby)
Communion: In our day of thanksgiving (St Catherine’s Court)
Post-Communion: For all the Saints (Sine Nomine)
Postlude: Toccata (Symphonie V) – C.Widor

Nov 25th
10.00am Sung Eucharist –Sunday next before Advent (Christ the King) (5.2.2.2)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund’s)
Prelude: Chorale Prelude “Herlich thut mich verlangen” – J.Brahms
Setting: Ireland in C (Gloria/Credo – Merbecke)
Anthem: O Christ, O Blessed Lord – R.Wagner
Processional: Hail redeemer, King divine (King Divine)
OT Reading (Year B) – Daniel 7:9
Psalm (93): The Lord is King with majesty enrobed (Joan McCrimmon/A.Gregory Murray)
NT Reading (Year B) – Revelation 1:4b
Gradual: Christ is the King, O friends rejoice (Vulpius, last v.Andrew Wright)
Gospel (Year B) – John 18:33
Offertory: How shall I sing that majesty (Coe Fen)
Communion: Your gentleness O God of grace (Herongate)
Post-Communion: Christ triumphant, ever reigning (Guiting Power)
Postlude: Crown Imperial – W.Walton

FROM THE CONSOLE - OCTOBER 2012



When we are in France, we generally divide our time between the Ardeche and Provence regions.

The town of Thueyts is located in the valley of the River Ardeche, a tributary of the Rhone, France’s second longest river - about an hour’s drive from Montelimar and roughly equidistant from Marseille and Lyon. The town has a population of around 1,200 which is boosted during the holiday season by visitors who are attracted to the beautiful countryside and to activities such as walking, cycling, canoeing and rock climbing. It is certainly a very quiet and peaceful place to spend some time.

The present church of St John the Baptist was built in the nineteenth century although the tower, housing three bells, is over one hundred years older. The building replaced the original one which was built in the tenth century. The interior is rather dark and austere as is often the case with French churches although there are some stunning contemporary stained glass windows above the west door created by a local artist. The one manual organ was built by Henri Saby in the sixties and has seven stops and 450 pipes although unfortunately it was locked when I visited during the summer.

Each August, Thueyts celebrates “La Bouirado”, where costumed figures revive the old traditions and trades of the region, while the crowds partake of a traditional “repas Ardechois” and listen to traditional folk music. The evening culminates in a midnight fireworks display in front of the castle.

During the summer we also spent nine days in the Netherlands, getting together with a number of Aline’s relatives. In Amsterdam we visited the church of Our Lord in the Attic, a fascinating seventeenth century canal house with a secret. In the attic of this, and the two neighbouring houses, was built a clandestine catholic church. In protestant Amsterdam, catholics were forbidden from practising their religion and so this hidden gem was used for worship for several hundred years. The building is currently being renovated and unfortunately when we visited, the organ - built in 1794 by Hendrick Meyer - had been removed from its case.

Oct 7th
10.00am Sung Eucharist – 18th Sunday after Trinity (6.1.2.1)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund’s)
Prelude: Sonata No 2 (2nd Movement) – P.Hindemith
Setting: Darke in E (Gloria/Credo – Merbecke)
Anthem: As water to the thirsty – John Barnard
Processional: Praise my soul, the King of Heaven (Praise my soul)
OT Reading (Year B) – Genesis 2:18
Psalm (128): May the Lord bless us all the days of our life (A.Gregory Murray)
NT Reading (Year B) – Hebrews 1:1
Gradual: Lead us heavenly Father, lead us (Mannheim, last v.Andrew Wright)
Gospel (Year B) – Mark 10:2
Offertory: All creatures of our God and King (Lasst uns erfreuen, last v.Quentin Thomas)
Communion: O Christ the same through all our story’s pages (Londonderry)
Post-Communion: Love divine, all loves excelling (Love divine, last v.Michael Higgins)
Postlude: Prelude No.4 in D – F.Schmidt

Oct 14th
10.00am Sung Eucharist – 19th Sunday after Trinity (5.1.1.0)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund’s)
Prelude: Adagio – S.Barber
Setting: Arthur Rogers (Gloria/Credo – Merbecke)
Anthem: God be in my head – John Rutter
Processional: All my hope on God is founded (Michael, last v.descant English Praise)
OT Reading (Year B) – Amos 5:6
Psalm (90): Fill us with your love that we may rejoice (Eric Welch/A.Gregory Murray)
NT Reading (Year B) – Hebrews 4:12
Gradual: King of Glory, King of Peace (Gwalchmai, last v.Colin Mawby)
Gospel (Year B) – Mark 10:17
Offertory: And can it be
Communion: From Heaven you came, helpless Babe (The Servant King)
Post-Communion: Amazing Grace
Postlude: Carillon Sortie – H.Mulet

Oct 21st
10.00am Sung Eucharist – 20th Sunday after Trinity (6.2.1.1)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund’s)
Prelude: Minuets 1 & 2 in G Minor (“Water Music”) – G.F.Handel
Setting: Darke in A Minor (Gloria/Credo – Merbecke)
Anthem: Teach me O Lord – T.Attwood
Processional: Christ is the King, O men rejoice (Vulpius, last v.Andrew Wright)
OT Reading (Year B) – Isaiah 53:4
Psalm (33): May your love be upon us O Lord, as we place all our hope in You (Anne Ward)
NT Reading (Year B) – Hebrews 5:1
Gradual: Victim divine, thy grace we claim (Melita)
Gospel (Year B) – Mark 10:35
Offertory: O worship the King, all glorious above (Hanover, descant Alan Gray)
Communion: Faithful shepherd, feed me (Pastor Pastorum)
Post-Communion: Christ triumphant, ever reigning (Guiting Power)
Postlude: Hornpipe (“Water Music”) – G.F.Handel

Oct 28th
10.00am Sung Eucharist – Last Sunday after Trinity (5.2.2.1)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund’s)
Prelude: Bist Du Bei Mir – J.S.Bach
Setting: Healy Willan Missa de Sancto Albano (Gloria/Credo – Merbecke)
Anthem: Lord that descendeth, Holy Child - Gritton
Processional: Longing for light, we wait in darkness
OT Reading (Year B) – Jeremiah 13:7
Psalm (126): What marvels the Lord worked for us! Indeed we were glad (Finton O’Carroll/Ian Forrester)
NT Reading (Year B) – Hebrews 7:23
Gradual: Immortal love for ever full (Bishopthorpe, last v.Norman Warren)
Gospel (Year B) – Mark 10:46
Offertory: O love how deep, how broad, how high (Eisenach)
Communion: Be still for the presence of the Lord
Post-Communion: The kingdom is upon you (Wolvercote)
Postlude: Prelude in B Minor – J.S.Bach

FROM THE CONSOLE - SEPTEMBER 2012



While passing through Paris during the summer we visited Montparnasse cemetery in the south of the city, resting place of many of France’s intellectual and artistic elite, including singer Serge Gainsbourg and philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre. In the bustle of the capital city it was a peaceful place to spend an afternoon.

It is also home to a number of organist musicians. The most famous of these is arguably Camille Saint-Saens. Born in Paris in 1835, he was a child prodigy and gave his debut public recital at the age of ten with a Mozart Piano Concerto. It was also said that he could play all of Beethoven’s thirty-two piano sonatas from memory. Saint-Saens played the organ at various Parisian churches, most notably at La Madeleine, where he succeeded Lefebure-Wely. In 1866, Franz Liszt described Saint-Saens as the greatest organist in the world and his improvisations in particular stunned the Parisian public. He also taught piano at the famous music school, Ecole Niedermeyer. One of his pupils, Gabriel Faure, became his closest friend. In 1871 he lived in London for several months due to an uprising in Paris following France’s defeat in the Franco-Prussian War. In 1875 he married Marie Truffot, over twenty years his junior. They had two sons, both of who tragically died in infancy within six weeks of each other and who are both buried with their father. Saint-Saens blamed his wife for the death of his second son – who fell from a window – and during a holiday in 1881 simply disappeared. A separation order was enacted but the two never divorced. His most famous work is undoubtedly “The Carnival of the Animals”, written in 1886. In the same year he wrote his third “Organ Symphony” which was first performed in London by the Royal Philharmonic Society and was dedicated to his friend Franz Liszt who also died that year. The main theme of the fourth movement was used in the 1977 pop song “If I Had Words” and has also been used in several films including “Babe”. Saint-Saens travelled extensively in his later years and died of pneumonia in Algiers in 1921.

Other organist musicians buried at Montparnasse include builder Aristide Cavaille-Coll and composers Louis Vierne, Alexandre Guilmant and Cesar Franck.

Sep 2nd
10.00am Sung Eucharist – 13th Sunday after Trinity (4.1.2.1)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund’s)
Prelude: Pavane – G.Faure
Setting: Ireland in C (Gloria/Credo – Merbecke)
Anthem: A Clare benediction – J.Rutter
Processional: For the beauty of the earth (England’s Lane)
OT Reading (Year B) – Deuteronomy 4:1
Psalm (15): The just will live in the presence of the Lord (A.Gregory Murray)
NT Reading (Year B) – James 1:17
Gradual: Blest are the pure in heart (Franconia)
Gospel (Year B) – Mark 7:1
Offertory: Dear Lord and Father of mankind (Repton)
Communion: Teach me my God and King (Sandys)
Post-Communion: To God be the Glory
Postlude: Sortie in E Flat – Lefebure-Wely

Sep 9th
10.00am Sung Eucharist – 14th Sunday after Trinity (6.2.1.1)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund’s)
Prelude: Adagio (Organ Symphony) – C.Saint-Saens
Setting: Jackson in G (Gloria/Credo – Merbecke)
Anthem: Ave Verum Corpus – E.Elgar
Processional: O for a thousand tongues to sing (Oxford New)
OT Reading (Year B) – Isaiah 35:4
Psalm (146): My soul give praise to the Lord (John Jordan/A.Gregory Murray)
NT Reading (Year B) – James 2:1
Gradual: I heard the voice of Jesus say (Kingsfold)
Gospel (Year B) – Mark 7:24
Offertory: Hail to the Lord’s anointed (Cruger, last v.Michael Higgins)
Communion: Just as I am, without one plea (Saffron Walden, last v.Martin Setchell)
Post-Communion: Lead us heavenly Father lead us (Mannheim, last v.Andrew Wright)
Postlude: Grand Choeur in D – A.Guilmant

Sep 16th
10.00am Sung Eucharist – 15th Sunday after Trinity (4.1.1.3)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund’s)
Prelude: Legende – L.Vierne
Setting: Darke in F (Gloria/Credo – Merbecke)
Anthem: Lord I trust in thee – G.F.Handel
Processional: We love the place O God (Quam Dilecta)
OT Reading (Year B) – Isaiah 50:4
Psalm (116): I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living (Stephen Dean)
NT Reading (Year B) – James 3:1
Gradual: Take up thy cross, the Saviour said (Breslau)
Gospel (Year B) – Mark 8:27
Offertory: O Jesus I have promised (Wolvercote)
Communion: This is my body, broken for you
Post-Communion: He who would valiant be (Monk’s Gate)
Postlude: Carillon – L.Vierne

Sep 23rd
10.00am Sung Eucharist – 16th Sunday after Trinity (5.1.2.1)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund’s)
Prelude: Lyric Melody – Armstrong Gibbs
Setting: Healey Willan Missa de Sancto Albano (Gloria/Credo – Merbecke)
Anthem: The Call – R.Vaughan Willams
Processional: Rejoice the Lord is King (Gopsal, last v.John Marsh)
OT Reading (Year B) – Jeremiah 11:18
Psalm (54): The Lord upholds my life (Stephen Dean)
NT Reading (Year B) – James 3:13
Gradual: A man there lived in Galilee (Tyrol)
Gospel (Year B) – Mark 9:30
Offertory: Praise to the holiest in the height (Gerontius, last v.Colin Hand)
Communion: From Heaven you came, helpless babe (The Servant King)
Post-Communion: Ye servants of God, your master proclaim (Paderborn, last v.Stanley Vann)
Postlude: Jubilate Deo – Armstrong Gibbs

Sep 30th
11.00am A Eucharist for Harvest Thanksgiving – 17th Sunday after Trinity (6.1.1.3)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund’s)
Prelude: Prelude (The Dream of Gerontius) – E.Elgar
Setting: Nicholson (Metrical version of Gloria – Evelyns, last v.David Terry)
Anthem: Look at the world – J.Rutter
Processional: We plough the fields and scatter (Wir Pflugen, last v.Betty Roe)
Bringing forward the symbols of Harvest
The Offering of the soil, the fruits of the earth, seeds, water
Reading – 2 Corinthians
Gradual: Seek ye first the kingdom of God
Gospel - Matthew 13:1 (parable of the sower told by the children)
Poem by the children – Give me today my daily bread
Offertory: Come ye thankful people come (St George’s Windsor, last v.Michael Higgins)
Instrumental during communion (piano & organ) – All Good Gifts (Godspell)
Communion: Praise and thanksgiving, Father we offer (Bunessen)
Post-Communion: How great thou art
Postlude: Cantabile – E.Elgar
There was a sizable congregation for our harvest service, which was followed by a parish lunch in the hall. Profits from the lunch, as well as items brought by the congregation, are to go to the homeless shelter in nearby Watford.

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