St.Albans’ affiliation to Royal School of Church Music
“I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also” – 1 Corinthians.
This year, St Alban’s Church celebrates 40 years affiliated 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 we are here to assist with worship to God through the use of music as we all worship in different ways and music is one of them. Here at St. Alban’s, we use the RSCM vocal scheme ‘voice for life’ to train our choristers 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 take part in the bigger and smaller events that take place throughout the year. Last year in 2016, we took part in the Choral Celebration at York Minster where there were over 300 choristers and shortly after, sang at Sheffield Catheral for our local Choral festival. If you are interested in knowing more, please do come and speak to me where I can inform you on all aspects of the churches involvement with the RSCM.
During 2017 St. Alban’s Church Choir and Musicians will be recording music to create a new CD. This will contain church music with a range of new repertoire, including music which is used for our services, hymns, anthems and psalms, and will be released towards the end of this year – details to be announced.
Throughout 2017, there will be various events taking place to mark our 40th year of affiliation.
Sunday 5th March at 6pm – traditional Choral Evensong with a range of specially prepared music: T.Noble’s service setting for 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 “come and sing Rutter’s Requiem” day: Day workshop followed by evening performance, time to be announced. Directed by Cory Lovell, organ played by Darren Williams (Director of Music and Organist, Doncaster Minster) and instrumental accompaniment also.
May (date to be confirmed) – Flower Festival to mark our 40th year of affiliation: Will include displays and musical contributions from the choir.
In addition the choir will be singing several new items at different services throughout the year, including “Canteque de Jean Racine”, “O sing joyfully”, “The heavens are telling”, Noble Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in B minor, “In Paradisum”, “O holy night”, and “King Jesus hath a garden” (arranged by myself).
I do hope you will all be able to help us celebrate our musical life here at St. Alban’s throughout the year ahead and to help us continue a tradition of good quality and enjoyable music which assists people in their worship. I would like to leave you with a Psalm – a Psalm which talks about praising God through the use of Music. Enjoy.
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)
Cory Lovell – Director of Music
Director of Music, St. Alban’s Church, Wickersley
Musical Director, Coryllion Choir