Music
Jonathan Dods, Director of Music at St Michael & All Angels, writes:
Music is a central part of our spiritual life at St Michael’s. Music sets the tone for our worship when we come into Church from the busy world; it helps us to express our love of God and to articulate things we are unable to express. Music is also a key part of how we bring people into our Church.
St Michael’s is very fortunate to have a team of talented musicians who sing and play at services:
Kate Averre, Andrew and Helena Bickley, Amanda Bradley, Vicky Brooke, Rob Davenport, Fenella Dormoy, Helen Doyle, Patrick and Louise Grattan, Lucy Grubb, Matthew Hickley, Gavin Johnston, Marjolein van Kampen-Brooks, John Leeds, Louise Maher, Tim Miall, Cathy Millin, Miriam Morris, Anne Mower, and John Scott, form the Senior Choir (some of whom are pictured above) , with many others joining us on occasion.
I am grateful to Fr Kevin and to Oliver West for their support and to all our singers and instrumentalists for making St Michael’s such a great place to make music.
The Choir continues to grow both in numbers and in ability with an ever broadening repertoire. We have added more than 40 new pieces in recent times, including Vaughan Williams Mass in G minor, Walton Missa Brevis, Arvo Pärt Beatitudes, a lovely arrangement of 'Es ist ein Ros’ by Sandström, and works by Tallis, Victoria and Morales conducted by the choir’s own Rob Davenport. We have admitted 8 new regular members in the past two years, with many ‘extras’ joining us. This has more than made up for the fecundity of the sopranos; five pregnancies in the past year! We are also a very happy group, and new members confirm that we are very welcoming. Being in a Choir is a big commitment; attending practices and learning music. Sometimes the Director’s choice of music is a test of faith, but spiritually and socially the Choir is very rewarding.
The choir also makes an annual weekend singing visit each summer.
In recent years they have visited Winchester, Lodi in italy, and Truro. In 2010 they visited St David's Cathedral in Pembrokeshire (right) where they performed at services on 17th and 18th July. Their programme included music by Tallis, Stanford, Bairstow and Vaughan Williams
Not everyone can jump straight into singing in an accomplished choir. An innovation in 2009/10 has been our beginners singing group. The group is for people who would like to learn more about singing, whether that is feeling more confident singing hymns on Sunday, or joining the choir. Already this is beginning to bear fruit, and I am always happy to welcome new people. If you would like to know more please contact me via the Parish Office .
St Michael’s is fortunate to have many accomplished instrumentalists play for our Services. From strings to accompany the Fauré Requiem to a brass quintet to support our singing at the Nine Lessons and Carols, Choral Services are always colourful and exciting, making music and worship come alive. The highlight of our Services with instruments is the Festival Mass, performed in late June at the end of the Bedford Park Festival , which in 2010 was Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle. The Festival Choir, which begins rehearsing after Easter, is great for people who are less confident, because the pace is more relaxed and we begin afresh each year working on choral and vocal technique. It is a way for people who can’t commit to the Choir regularly to be involved in music at the Church. We are grateful to all the singers and instrumentalists who join to perform these works in their appropriate context.
The Junior Choir have also been expanding their horizons. As well as singing for the Family Service each month, they have sung for the Bach Cantata series and in a concert at Christmas for David Juritz’s charity, ‘Musequality’. The Choir is in a period of change at the moment – we hope that it will become like a good church or cathedral choir, singing exciting music to a high standard in services and learning advanced musical skills. To this end it is always great to have new people come and join us.
The most exciting development in the music of the Church is the prospect of a new organ alongside the provision of two meeting rooms within the vestry and sacristy. This is a huge project in terms of the time it will take to make detailed plans and carry them out, as well as how much it will cost. This might seem a brave decision, given the current climate, even a selfish one with so many people in need, but we are convinced that as something must be done, it should be done well, and that we should create something of value for us and future generations, in the same way that the founders of our Church did for us. Worship, in which music plays a central role, is at the heart of who we are; it challenges us and guides all our activities.
We have come a long way since I outlined the problems of the present organ last year; its failing condition, its poor quality and its constrained site. Four organ builders of international stature have visited the Church and made detailed proposals. Dr John Rowntree, our adviser, the PCC and I agreed that one builder stood out for their inspired design and the quality of their instruments; St Martin of Switzerland. Detailed architectural plans have been prepared (see detail, right) and are being submitted to the DAC and the Victorian Society. We hope that the work will begin in 2011 and be completed by the end of 2012. We believe that this great project will transform St Michael’s, its music, its worship, its whole life and help all of our activities to flourish.
If you would like to join the Choir, Junior Choir, Festival Chorus, or would like any information about music at St Michael’s, please contact me, Jonathan Dods at jondods@yahoo.com or via the Parish Office
Jonathan Dods - Director of Music
Jonathan read music at Christ Church, Oxford, where he was a choral scholar. He returned to London after a year as assistant organist at Lodi Cathedral in Italy. Jonathan is a freelance singer, organist and teacher.