muhley.com

I’m delighted to be invited to play the organ in St Albans Cathedral for The Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School Carol Service this coming Monday afternoon. Having retired as Director of Music in the summer, it is a great privilege to be welcomed back in a supporting role.  And also an opportunity to meet up with former colleagues over a pint in the Lower Red Lion afterwards!

I’m accompanying three students for their Trinity singing exams on Sunday afternoon.  Good luck to all of them!

I’m with Hertford Choral Society this coming Saturday, accompanying on organ and piano a wide-variety of seasonal songs and carols.  Derek Harrison is their Musical Director with baritone solos from James Gower and with choral contributions from St Joseph’s in the Park School Choir.  The programme is introduced by the inimitable Roger Mullis.  7.30pm kick-off. Merry Christmas here we come….

Delighted to hear that The Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School, where I was Director of Music for 19 years before retiring in the summer, has become The Sunday Times Independent Secondary School of the Year 2016-2017.

This on top of the Prep School being The Sunday Times No. 1 Independent Junior School.

Off to St John’s, Boxmoor on Tuesday to play for a Confirmation Service taken  by Assistant Bishop Stephen Venner.  Come, Holy Ghost by Harris is the choir’s anthem along with a multitude of inspiring hymns.  A fine, recently installed organ by Nicholson, complete with an ear-splitting Solo Trumpet will sustain the singing admirably.  Incidentally, there is a vacancy for a new Director of Music in the New Year.

I’m conducting Evensong at St Mary the Virgin, Goldington, Bedford on the Feast of Christ the King, Sunday 20th November.  Most of the musical resources are drawn from the RSCM’s latest Festival Service Book With Saintly Shout and Solemn Jubilee. We used this book for our recent RSCM Area Choirs’ Festival in St Albans Cathedral in April and are now taking the opportunity to explore other items.  The Reverend James Reveley, Vicar of St Andrew’s, Bedford, who is a member of our RSCM Area Committee will preach the sermon and committee member, Roger Carter, Director of Music at St John the Baptist Church, Harpenden, will play the organ.  Stanford’s Te Deum in B flat is the triumphant anthem.  The Service begins at 6pm.  65 Singers signed up and ready to go: Do come and enjoy!

The Bishop of Hertford, The Right Reverend Michael Beasley,  will dedicate the new church extension at St Lawrence’s Church, Abbots Langley this coming Sunday, 30th October at 6.30pm.  I will be at the organ. To be known as The Breakspear Room this will be a major addition to the parish’s resources.  Amongst other music, Rutter’s A Clare Benediction, will be sung by the choir.

 For a number of years I have played for evening services at the Grade 1 Listed Church of St Peter’s, London Docks, in the East End’s, Wapping Lane.  Higher than Rome, with a retired “flying bishop” as Curate and with incense to rival the smog, the liturgy is supremely well done.  All Saints’ Mass on 1st November will be followed by Mass for All Souls on 2nd.  Both start at 7.30pm.  I shall cycle to the church on my Brompton from City Thameslink!

The Priory Voices are singing the services on 5th/6th November in Wells Cathedral and I am accompanying on the organ.  Evensong on the Saturday (Stanford in B flat and Wesley’s Wash me throughly) will be followed by three Sunday services: Choral Eucharist (Mass for St Mark by Judith Ward with Sicut servus by Palestrina); Matins (Canticles: Ireland in F with anthem Pater Peccavi by Lobo) and Evensong (Murrill in E and I saw a new heaven by Bainton).  Rose Responses and hymns and psalms in addition, too, plus voluntaries by JS Bach BWV 547 and BWV 573, CS Lang Prelude and Fugue in G minor and Whitlock Fanfare.  You’ll have to come to Wells to identify the pre-service music!