Audi, benigne conditor

Today is Ash Wednesday, traditionally marked by Christians as the first day of Lent. In the Cathedral today at Vespers, we sing the Lenten office hymn 'Audi, benigne conditor' believed to have been written by Pope Gregory the Great (540-604.)

Music at Mass includes William Byrd's exquisite setting of 'Infelix ego,' from the second part of his Cantiones Sacrae. This sort of music works particularly well in the acoustical setting of the Cathedral. Lent provides a treasure trove of choral works suitable for the liturgy, culminating with Holy Week which will this year feature some previously unheard repertoire in Leeds - more about that later!

Singing the choral services today will be the Cathedral Choral Scholars. As home to one of the finest and most comprehensive Catholic choral programs in the country, Leeds is fortunate to attract high quality applicants for these scholarships. Also offered are organ, choral conducting and composition scholarships.

Leeds Cathedral

One of the few major cities in England whose Cathedral is Catholic, Leeds Cathedral is a hidden neo-gothic gem in the centre of the city.










The Cathedral recently re-opened after major restoration work in November 2006. The Solemn Mass of Dedication of the Altar was concelebrated by the Bishops of England and Wales in the presence of the Apostolic Nuncio. Music was provided by the Cathedral Boys' and Adult choirs alongside the Bradford Boys' Choir. Music included works by Juan García de Salazar (1639-1710) Ludovico da Viadana (1560-1627) and Colin Mawby, former Master of the Music at Westminster Cathedral. In the restored Cathedral, the choirstalls are placed at the East end of the Cathedral, behind the high Altar and Cathedra.

As part of the re-opening celebrations, the Cathedral commissioned two Magnificats from Colin Mawby. Magnificat primi toni is scored for four part choir with divisi, whilst the Magnificat octavi toni is written for two part treble voices. The four part setting received it's premiere at the First Vespers of Dedication in the presence of the composer.

Since the re-opening, choral music can be heard five days a week in the Cathedral. On Monday through Thursday Vespers and Mass are sung, whilst on Sundays both the 9.30am Mass and the 11am Solemn Mass are sung. The Cathedral boys' and girls' choirs each sing an equal number of services each week alongside the Cathedral adult choir. The wide ranging repertoire includes Gregorian chant, 16/17th Century polyphony alongside masterpieces of the twentieth century including Rachmaninov and Vaughan Williams. The choirs regularly broadcast on BBC radio, including some high profile occasions such as Midnight Mass (2005) and Vespers for the Election of Pope Benedict XVI.

If you get the opportunity, it is well worth paying the Cathedral a visit.

Bradford Boys' Choir

Today the BYC Boys' Choir sang Mass for the 7th Sunday in OT at St. Joseph's Church in Keighley.

The Boys' choir began life in February 2005 when over 600 boys were auditioned for a place! The 22 successful boys, aged 8-14 then began weekly rehearsals at St. Bede's Grammar School (the Boys Catholic Grammar in Bradford.)




Since then they have fulfilled a busy program of events, firstly under the direction of BYC director Christopher McElroy, and now under new Assistant Director, Christopher Johns. They have sung at liturgies in many churches in Bradford and Keighley, and performed at concerts in many of West Yorkshire's most prestigious venues including St. George's Hall, Bradford and Leeds and Huddersfield Town Halls.

Upcoming engagements include singing Carl Orff's 'Carmina Burana' in Leeds Town Hall on 16th June, in Leeds Town Hall with the Leeds Philharmonic Chorus, Leeds Cathedral and Leeds Parish Church Boys' choirs accompanied by the Airedale Symphony Orchestra under the direction of John Anderson.

Music for today's Mass included the Missa Brevis by Haydn (commonly known as the 'little organ mass') alongside motets from the Llibre Vermel.

Children don't like plainsong and polyphony?

In today's Catholic Herald, an interesting article about a successful parish music program in the Midlands. Here, children enjoy singing Missa Orbis Factor alongside motets by Victoria, Tallis and Elgar.


As one who has experienced the same with the children in our choirs, it is interesting to note how children are able to instinctively judge what is good quality music (both old & new) and what is not!

Welcome

Welcome to this new blog about the happenings of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Leeds Music Department.

With 6 auditioned choirs and over 20 school choirs and singing groups there is rarely a dull moment!

Leeds Cathedral has 4 choirs who between them sing 9 services a week. Vespers and Mass are sung on a daily basis with much of the repertoire being Gregorian Chant and 16th Century Polyphony.

In Bradford, there are 2 auditioned choirs - the Bradford Boys' and Girls'. These choirs sing both liturgical and concert music. In addition, the Diocesan music department is responsible for choirs in the 4 Catholic high Schools and all the Catholic primary schools in the city.

Future posts will provide an introduction to each of the choirs and members of staff. I do hope you find it interesting and informative!