40 Years Affiliation
“I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also” – 1 Corinthians.
In 2017, St Alban’s Church celebrated 40 years of affiliation to the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM). The RSCM holds a key role in my life as a church musician and in the lives of those who are involved in the music of an affiliated church. Music is not used in our services for entertainment and the choir/Domino/organist don’t just play/sing to perform or for the fun of it…. music is a ministry and our musicians are here to assist with worship to God through the use of music as we all worship in different ways – music is one of them. Here at St. Alban’s, we use the RSCM voice training scheme ‘Voice for Life’ to train our choristers, both children and adults, and help them in developing their voices and also in learning all about the churches’ year and the running of the church. Being affiliated to the RSCM also enables us as a church to be apart of bigger and smaller events that take place throughout the year in various places of the country. In 2016, we took part in the biggest event we have ever attended, a Choral Celebration at York Minster, where there were over 300 choristers. We also sing annually at our own diocesan cathedral, Sheffield Cathedral, for our local Choral festivals.
If you are interested in knowing more about our involvement with the RSCM, please do speak to a member of our choir or the Director of Music.
During 2017, St. Alban’s Church Choir and Musicians made a number of recordings to produce a new CD. This contained church music with a range of new and old repertoire, including music which is used in our services. The recordings contain hymns, psalms, canticles and anthems.
Throughout 2017, various events took place to mark our 40th year of affiliation.
- Sunday 5th March at 6pm – Festal Choral Evensong with a range of specially prepared music: T.Noble’s setting of the canticles (Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis), Psalm 24 from the Lincoln Psalter, Anthems: “O sing joyfully” by Batten, and “O worship the King” by Maunder.
- Saturday 11th March – RSCM Event “Come and Sing Rutter’s Requiem” day: A day workshop followed by evening performance. This was directed by Cory Lovell and the organ was played by Darren Williams (Director of Music and Organist, Doncaster Minster).
- During the month of May, we held a Flower Festival to mark our 40th year of affiliation. The festival lasted an entire weekend and included floral displays and musical contributions from the choir and organist.
All of our celebration events and services were attended and support by our congregations. We look forward to another 40 years of music making to the glory of God.
Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.
(Psalm 150)