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To celebrate HM The Queen’s 90th  birthday, Sir William Walton’s splendid March, Crown Imperial will be the voluntary this coming Sunday at St Mary’s, Apsley (2 manual Hill) [morning] and at St Mary-at-Finchley (2 manual Father Willis)[evening].  The music of Charles Wood, whose 150th anniversary of birth we celebrate, will feature at Evensong, with his canticles in D and the famous anthem, O Thou, the central orb.  St Mary’s wonderful choir will be supplemented with additional singers from St Jude’s, Hampstead, conducted by Alison Fisher, the church’s Director of Music.  Service at 6pm.

I have a number of weddings to play for over the next three months.  Best wishes to all the couples as they cement their relationship.  Enhanced by the music (of course!).

Off to Apsley tomorrow for Harriet’s wedding complete with an octet of singers and the Widor at the end.

[Update] Not just an octet but Tenebrae. They were pretty good, as you would expect!

Just finished six week’s playing at St Albans Cathedral, culminating in Choral Eucharist and Benediction for Corpus Christi.  Good, hearty singing from the Cathedral Lay Clerks conducted by the Organ Scholar, Nicholas Freestone.

Playing in St Albans Cathedral for the 9.30am Service tomorrow (22nd May). Looking forward to hearing the Dean preach on the Holy Trinity.  Whitlock’s Fanfare is the voluntary.

Back again on Thursday at 8pm to play for Corpus Christi Choral Eucharist with the Cathedral Lay Clerks.

We had a wonderful Area Choirs Festival in St Albans Cathedral.  250 choristers assembled to sing music drawn across the centuries, accompanied with great aplomb by Tom Winpenny at the cathedral organ.

It was a pleasure to receive so many compliments after the service and receive the very warm support for parish music-making from both the Bishop and Dean of St Albans who were both in attendance and presented their awards.

A local area RSCM event coming up with details on the website soon.

Meet, Eat and Sing September 2016 with Rosemary Field (RSCM Deputy Director)  and a chance to meet your local RSCM Committee on Tuesday 20th September at The Abbey School, St Albans.  Fish and Chips and Parry.

Regional Evensong for The Feast of Christ the King in St Mary’s Church, Goldington, Bedford – Sunday 20th December at 6pm.

Conducted by Christopher Muhley with Roger Carter at the organ.

The Order of Service for the Choirs Festival on Saturday 16th April can be downloaded here.

RSCM ACF 2016 Final

I’m covering for Linden Innes-Hopkins on Sunday morning at St John’s, Boxmoor, Hemel Hempstead.  The choir is on a well-earned holiday, but I know there will be some hearty congregational singing.  Then, in the afternoon, on to the RSCM Area Chamber Choir rehearsal in St John’s, Harpenden.  This time Baptist rather than Evangelist.

[Update] An excellent sing this afternoon.  The Chamber Choir will give a strong and supportive lead to the other choirs next Saturday.

We rehearse this Sunday at St John’s Church, Harpenden.  Rehearsal begins at 2.30pm – and  all over in two hours.

Please remember your music: Green book, Stanford Sanctus, Victoria Agnus Dei, Bell Gloria and Stanford Benedictus. And a pencil.

On Saturday 16th April, in the Cathedral,  please be ready by 2pm.  Keep calm and…..

This PDF of the Great Amen and Dismissal should be downloaded and printed, too.

I’m accompanying Priory Voices this weekend in St Albans Cathedral with their Director, David Johnson at the helm. Lots of Wood, Stanford, Sumsion and Brahms. Colourful and supportive accompaniments set up on the piston system this evening with a further rehearsal booked for tomorrow. Percy Whitlock’s Fanfare will feature after Evensong on Sunday with Bach’s Dorian Fugue on Saturday. And, of course, some splendid Eastertide hymns!

[Update] Alas David was ill and unable to be with us.  However, Neil Dennis very capably filled the role.  Well done to all for some splendid singing.  And thank you for the bottle!