News! St Michael’s, Mount Dinham, is a Pokestop in the #PokemonGO game. So please visit us, and if we’re open come in and have a look around. We have some interesting characters of our own.

Please make a note of the Theremin Recital on Wednesday 10 August; please check website/twitter for any updates.

St Michael’s will hope to welcome new Choral Scholars and others from the University in September. We can also offer Junior Scholarships to 16-18 year olds who want experience before applying for University or College Choral Scholarships or who just love singing church music – if you know anyone who may be interested, see http://www.stmichaelsmountdinham.org.uk/music/scholarships/ and contact Erika Borley, Music Director.

Several current and former Choir members formed part of the visiting choir, Hillwood Singers, at Winchester Cathedral for the week 25-31 July, singing Evensong every day except Wednesday and 3 Services on Sunday – exhausting but hugely enjoyable.

Thu 4 Aug at 6pm. CBS Plainsong Mass for St John Mary Vianney, Curé D’Ars (1786-1859). Celebrant is Fr Will Sweeney from St Thomas across the Exe.

Sun 7 August, Trinity XI. 10.45am. Setting: Missa Brevis, by Antonio Lotti (1667-1740). Motet: My Soul There is a Country far beyond the Stars, by Sir Hubert Parry (1848-1918), text by Henry Vaughan (1622-1695).

Sun 7 Aug, 6pm Choral Evensong and Benediction. Responses: Byrd. Psalm: 108. Office Hymn: 244. Canticles: Short Service, by Thomas Weelkes (1576-1623). Anthem: O Nata Lux de Lumine, by Thomas Tallis (c.1505-85).

Wednesday 10 August at 7.30 pm. Recital by Olesya Rostovskaya of music for the Theremin, accompanied by Nigel Brown and John Draisey. Please support what could be the first ever Theremin concert in Exeter.

Sun 14 Aug, Trinity XII. 10.45am. Setting: Mass in F, by Charles Wood (1866-1926). Motet: O Sing Joyfully, by Adrian Batten (1591-1637).

Monday 15 August, Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. 7.30pm Sung Mass. Setting: Missa Super Dixit Maria, by German composer Hans Leo Haßler (1564-1612). Motet: Ave Maria, attr. Franco-Flemish Jacob Arcadelt (1505-68).

Fulda Cathedral High Altar – Assumption of Mary
Dom zu Fulda Hochaltar – Mariä Himmelfahrt

Wed 24 Aug. 10am Low Mass. Bartholomew the Apostle, worth a mention for the street and cemetery named after him across the valley from St Michael’s.

Sun 28 Aug, Trinity XIV. 10.45am. Setting: Mass for Four Voices. Motet: Ave Verum Corpus, both by William Byrd (1543-1623).

Richard Barnes.

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While May had all the Festivals (Rogation, Ascension, Pride, Pentecost, Trinity & Corpus Christi), June still has plenty to offer, so we hope to see you at St Michael’s.

At 6pm each Tuesday and Thursday, there is Plainsong Vespers & Meditation, though on Thurs 9 June there will be a CBS Mass for St Columba of Iona.

Celebrate Corpus Christi with us on Thurs 26 May at 7.30pm. Sung Mass with Procession, witnessing to the presence of God’s Love in the world.

Likewise Friday 27 May at 7.30pm, when we were privileged to welcome Professor Nicholas Orme, to distil his extensive knowledge of Church History in a lecture in memory of Canon John Thurmer, entitled “A Brief History of England’s Cathedrals.” An excellent evening with 85 people hearing and discussing an enthralling overview of 2 millennia in 1 hour – Thank you.

Sun 29 May Trinity I, 10.45am. Mass for 3 voices, by William Byrd. Motet: Si iniquitates observaveris, by Samuel Wesley.

Sun 5 June Trinity II, 10.45am. Missa l’Hora Passa, by Viadana. Motet: Litany to the Holy Spirit, by Hurford; Sweet Spirit, comfort me, by Herrick.

June 5th is also the Feast Day of St Boniface, a true European, born c.675 in Crediton, studied in Exeter, worked as missionary and bishop in what is now northern Germany, martyred in 754 at Dokkum in the Netherlands, and buried in Fulda. In Aug 2012 St Michael’s Choir visited and sang in the splendid baroque cathedral which now covers his shrine.

Sun 5 June 6pm Evensong & Benediction – Sumsion Responses, Brewer in D Canticles; both Organists of Gloucester Cathedral. Psalm 44. Evening Hymn by Balfour Gardiner.

Thurs 9 June 6pm, CBS Mass for St Columba of Iona. All welcome.

Thurs 9 June at 7.30pm in Exeter Cathedral. If you missed Bp Sarah Mullally’s St Michael’s Lecture “Should the Church be involved in the Health of our Communities?”, you can hear her address the same subject.

Sat 11 June, kicking off at 7pm, UPLOAD at Exeter Cathedral, for young people 11-21 (revised down) who don’t do church – live bands, skate park, big screen gaming, sumo wrestling, giant inflatables and prayer!

Sun 12 June Trinity III, Music Sunday 10.45am. Introit: Cantate Domino, by Pitoni. Setting: Missa Sancti Nicolai, Mass in G major by F J Haydn. Motet: 8-part Jubilate Deo (Psalm 100) by Giovanni Gabrieli.

12th – 14th June is also my best guess for when the 2 young Peregrine chicks should be fledging from the nestbox. Once they are competent flyers they will likely continue to roost in the box for a couple of weeks further.

Thurs 16th – St Richard of Chichester, 1253, famous for the Prayer – “Thanks be to Thee, my Lord Jesus Christ, For all the benefits Thou hast given me, For all the pains and insults Thou hast borne for me. O most merciful Redeemer, friend and brother, May I know Thee more clearly, Love Thee more dearly, Follow Thee more nearly” – better known in the 1970s as the song “Day by day” from the Stephen Schwartz musical Godspell.

Sun 19 June Trinity IV, 10.45am. Missa Aeterna Christi Munera. Motet: Sicut Cervus, both by Palestrina.

Sun 19 June at 4pm, Afternoon Tea and Concert with The Exeter Chorale. Please join us for a generous helping of mainly Victorian vocal and organ music, served with home-made cakes, tea or coffee. All for £8 (£5 for Mount Dinham residents and students, children free). The programme will feature a Te Deum composed by HRH Prince Albert, Ave Maria by Mendelssohn, The Lost Chord, and much more!

Wed 22 June 7.30pm St Michael’s Lectures are delighted to welcome back Dr Karen O’Donnell, former research student here, now Research Fellow at Durham University working in Digital Theology and ministry training, to talk on the topic “Help for Heroes: PTSD, Warrior Recovery and the Church.”

Sun 26 June Trinity V, 10.45am. Mass in C&F. Motet: Beati Quorum Via, both by C V Stanford.

CANCELLED Apologies, this Concert has now been CANCELLED; Mon 27 June 7.30pm at St Michael’s, The Fisher Consort.

Mon 27 Jun is the 152nd anniversary of the death of John Dinham, tea merchant, philanthropist and developer of Mt Dinham.

Wed 29 June is the 2nd anniversary of the death of Revd Dr John Hughes, much-loved former Curate of this Parish. Matins at 9.30 and Low Mass at 10am will be said on this the Feast of Saints Peter & Paul. Blogs related to tragically early death of John Hughes may be found via Fr John Hughes RIP

Sunday 3 July, 10.45am Mass, plus at 6pm we will have our normal 1st Sunday Evensong & Benediction with a cappella music by Thomas Tallis and William Mundy.

Richard Barnes.

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Please try to support the John Thurmer Memorial Lecture on Friday 27th May at 7.30pm at St Michael’s. It will be a privilege and a joy to welcome Professor Nicholas Orme who was a colleague and friend of Canon John Thurmer for many years. Professor Orme has a distinguished career studying Church History and medieval society & childhood, especially in the West country.

Reminder: Wed 27 April at 7.30pm, St Michael’s Lectures welcome Rt Revd Dame Sarah Mullally, Bishop of Crediton, to talk on the topic “Should the Church be involved in the Health of our Communities?” continuing our theme of religious reflection on current social concerns.

With an abundance of Feasts this month, the Choir has a wealth of beautiful music to share with you.

Rogation Sunday, 1st May, 10.45am Sung Mass and Procession around Mount Dinham. Missa “Entre vous filles” by Lassus, and “Thou visitest the Earth and blessest it” by Greene.

Sun 1 May we also have our 6pm First Sunday Choral Evensong & Benediction. To mark Rogation Sunday, the Anthem will be “The Heavens are telling the Glory of God” by Franz Joseph Haydn from his Oratorio, The Creation. Come & see why Choral Evensong is the fastest growing service in the C of E.

Thurs 5 May, 40 days after Easter, we celebrate the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ into Heaven. Ascension Day Matins is sung at 7.30am from the West Gallery, followed by breakfast.

Thurs 5 May at 7.30pm, Sung Mass for Ascension Day. Music is Spatzenmesse (Sparrow Mass) by W A Mozart and “Ascendit Deus” by Peter Philips. This is a joint Parish service and CBS Mass for May. The Sermon preached by Fr Christopher can be read here.

Sat 7 May – Exeter Pride. We welcome any who want to show solidarity with Exeter’s LGBTQ+ communities to join us for Sung Matins at 9.30am at St Michael’s, and/or to join the Christian group in the Pride Procession from the St Sidwell’s Centre at 12noon.

Sat 7 May at 4.30pm Choral Evensong following a Diocesan Safeguarding Training Day – all welcome.

Sun 8 May, 10.45am. Sung Mass. Our Archbishops are asking all Christians to pray especially this week for better Witness and Evangelism to our secular society. St Michael’s continues to offer diversity and welcome to all – traditional Church for today! Mass Setting is Sumsion in F, and the Motet “O God the King of Glory” by Purcell.

We are much saddened to report the death of Fr Roger Shambrook SSC on Friday 6th May; his visits to St Michael’s to celebrate Mass and preach over the past year or so were always appreciated. Fr Roger had ministered with great devotion over many years to the people of Torquay. We offer our prayers and sympathy to all who knew him. May he rest in peace and rise in glory. The Requiem Funeral Mass for Fr Shambrook will take place at 2pm on Friday 13 May at St Mary Steps Church, EX1 1BB.

Photograph by Jamie Bowen

Sat 14th May at 3pm. Christian Aid tea party at 95 Howell Rd hosted by the Vicar. Bring a cake or buy a cake!

Sun 15 May, Whitsunday/Pentecost, 10.45am. We welcome Ven David Gunn-Johnson. Sung Mass with Mass in F, by Josef Rheinberger, and Motet “If ye love me” by Philip Stopford. Revel in the rich romanticism of Rheinberger and the lush harmonies of Stopford.

Sun 15 May, at 7pm in Exeter Cathedral, “The Kingdom Come”, a Diocese of Exeter service in response to the Archbishops’ call to prayer. A pilgrimage of worship around the Cathedral to pray reflectively using prayer spaces especially created. Music with University of Exeter’s Chapel Choir and ending with night prayer.

Sun 22 May, Trinity, 10.45am. Sung Mass with Haydn’s “Little Organ Mass” and the Motet “Duo Seraphim” by Guerrero.

Thurs 26 May, we celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi with Vespers at 6pm and Sung Mass at 7.30pm. We process the Blessed Sacrament around Mount Dinham (weather permitting) accompanied by Hymns. Our Music this year features the 16th century Spanish composer Francisco Guerrero with “Missa Inter Vestibulum” and Motet “O Sacrum Convivium”.

Please do put Friday 27 May at 7.30pm in your Diaries, when we are privileged to welcome University of Exeter Department of History Professor Emeritus Nicholas Orme, who will distil his extensive knowledge of Church History to give a lecture in memory of Canon John Thurmer, entitled “A Brief History of England’s Cathedrals.” Entry free, all welcome; we look forward to seeing you.

Sun 29 May, Trinity II, 10.45am. Sung Mass. Music t.b.c.

And finally, don’t forget our nest box camera can be viewed on the “Peregrine Falcons” website page; donations welcome. The eggs laid at Easter are due to hatch as April turns into May.

Richard Barnes.

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There’s a touch of “Wolf Hall” musically for the first few weeks of Lent with the Plainsong of the Sarum Rite and Missa de Angelis, and indeed Martin Shaw’s strangely named Anglican Folk Mass, an Edwardian take on Merbecke’s 1550 work for Cranmer’s Prayer Book, giving way to motets and canticles mainly in English by Farrant, Tallis and eventually Purcell. For more information about Cranmer’s First Liturgy in English, explore from this link.

Monday 16th February, 7.30pm, starting at the City Gate Hotel, sees a pre-Lent Pub Crawl, with moustaches and optional fancy-dress, arranged by St Michael’s Social Committee.

Shrove Tuesday, 17th February, 6pm Vespers & Meditation, 7pm Choir Practice, 8.30pm Pancakes in church.

Ash Wednesday, 18th February, is marked with Matins at 9.30am and Low Mass with Ashes at 10am, and in the evening at 7.30pm by Sung Mass with Imposition of Ashes.
Setting: Mass for Four Voices by William Byrd and Anthem: Versa est in luctum by Alonso Lobo, My harp is tuned for lamentation, and my flute to the voice of weeping. Spare me, O Lord, for my days are as nothing.

Sunday 22nd February, Lent 1, 10.45am. Mass features Cranmer’s Litany of 1544 sung in procession, Plainsong Sarum Mass and Farrant’s Hide not thou thy face from me O Lord.

Tuesday 24th February at 6pm, in place of Vespers, Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament, Mass for St Matthias’ Day sung with Plainsong Propers and Hymns. All welcome, as we are able to use the St Clement Chapel for worship again following a big tidy-up now that the Organ build is finished.

A reminder that Stations of the Cross are prayed on Wednesdays in Lent at 6pm (except 25 Mar, Annunciation), and Vespers continue to be sung on other Tuesdays & Thursdays at 6pm.

Wednesday 25th Feb at 7.30pm, the St Michael’s Lectures welcome Dr Clare Bryden (Honorary Research Fellow in the Department of Theology and Religion at the University of Exeter) to talk about Particulart: Or the art of knitting, chemistry, meditation and gentle protest.

Sunday 1st March, Lent 2, 10.45am. Mass. The full Anglican Folk Mass by Martin Shaw and O Nata Lux by Thomas Tallis.

Sunday 1st March, 6pm. Evensong and Benediction will be more penitential, with Tallis Responses & Canticles, Allegri’s sublime Miserere and Plainsong Benediction Hymns.

The nest box camera should also be back online on the Peregrine Falcons page of the website at the beginning of March, hoping for egg laying around the Spring equinox.

Sunday 8th March, Lent 3, 10.45am. Plainsong Missa de Angelis and Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts, by Henry Purcell.

Friday 13th March at 7.30pm, the Recital@StMichael’s is a Schools’ Recital. A programme of chamber music performed by young musicians from Exeter School and the Maynard School. Tickets: £5/£3.50, please support.

Sunday 15th March, Lent 4 is Laetare or Mothering Sunday using the Rose Vestments, 10.45am. Missa “O quam gloriosum” by Victoria and Ave Maria by Parsons.

Tuesday 17th March at 6pm, in place of Vespers, Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament, Mass for St Patrick’s Day sung with Plainsong Propers and Hymns. All Welcome.

Wednesday 18th March at 7.30pm. St Michael’s Lecture by Dr Morwenna Ludlow (Senior Lecturer in Theology and Religion at the University of Exeter). On Theological Writing as Art & Craft; Is Writing a Theology Book a bit like Making a Pot?

Sunday 22nd March, Passion Sunday when the Crosses and Statues are covered. 10.45am. Mass in A minor, by Casciolini and the Anthem, Crucifixus etiam pro nobis, by Lotti.

Annunciation Window – St Michael’s Mount Dinham

Wednesday 25th March please try and come to the Feast of the Annunciation. Sung Mass at 7.30pm. Missa “Dixit Maria” by Hans Leo Hassler. Anthem: Hymn to the Virgin, by Benjamin Britten.

Thursday 26th March Concert at St David’s Church in aid of their Transformation Fund, given by Exeter Police and Community Choir at 7.30pm, with refreshments. Tickets £5 on the door.

Sunday 29th March, Palm Sunday, 10.30am (N.B. earlier start and the clocks will have gone forward an hour overnight!) Sung Mass with Blessing and Procession of Palms. Sung Passion Gospel. Mass in D by Leighton. Anthem: Pueri Hebraeorum, by Victoria.

As Canon John Thurmer often said, homo sapiens is primarily a story-telling species, so it is always good for us to re-tell and re-enact the story of salvation in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. Mirrored here may our lives tell your story, one might say.

The website also has details of services for Holy Week and Easter at the start of April.
RB

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Sunday 5th October; new singers especially welcome. Music for Mass at 10.45am (practice at 10am) is 2 old favourites from our a cappella repertoire, Missa Aeterna Christi Munera (the eternal gifts of Christ) by Palestrina and Locus Iste (this place is made by God) by Bruckner.

The Come&Sing Choral Evensong at 6pm (practice at 4.45pm) on Sun 5th will be our Curate Fr Andy’s final Evensong at St Michael’s before he moves to Milton Abbot. We will sing many musical styles; plainsong, Anglican chant, 16th century Polyphony, Restoration Baroque and some Victorian Stanford romanticism. Check the new music list to work out which is which.

Sunday 12th October is Vision Day at St Michael’s. Bring some Lunch to share after Mass, or return at 1.30pm. Fr David writes, “This is an opportunity for the whole congregation of St Michael’s to come together, reflect and create an action plan for the church’s future.” The afternoon’s discussions will be facilitated by Sabrina Groeschel, experienced friend of St Michael’s.

Wednesday 15th October at 7.30pm. Ed Pawson, Head of Religion, Philosophy and Ethics at the King’s School, Ottery St Mary, asks in our St Michael’s Lecture, “What is the rationale for the teaching of RE in our schools today? Why does it continue to be a relevant subject within the school curriculum? What challenges do teachers of RE face in twenty-first century?” Please advertise this widely.

Owing perhaps to the height of Mount Dinham, Harvest comes a whole 4 weeks later at St Michael’s than at St David’s! Sunday 19th October sees our Harvest Thanksgiving Mass at 10.45am. Gifts suitable for the Food Bank collection would be especially welcome.

At 7.30pm on Wednesday 22nd October, Recitals @ St Michael’s continue with mezzo Margaret Thomson accompanied by John Draisey in a programme of Victorian & Edwardian Songs. Please support this. Tickets £5 (£3 concessions).

Good contemporary music also features at St Mike’s, as well as the best from the past. On Sunday 26th, Grayston Ives’ version of “O for a closer walk with God” is the Motet.

This month’s CBS Mass takes place on Tuesday 28th Ocober at 6pm, the Feast of Saints Simon & Jude Apostles.

Saturday 1st November from 10am onwards, sees our Coffee Morning and Sale in St Stephen’s Church on the High Street, in aid of St Michael’s. Visit St Stephens for a browse and a break, coffee & cake; open till 1.30pm.

Looking forward to Sunday 2nd November, the Calendar this year means we mark both All Saints at 10.45am and All Souls at 6pm. In place of Evensong we will give a full liturgical performance of the Requiem by Gabriel Faure. Any singers who would like to join us for this are invited to rehearse with us beforehand at 4.30pm, and if possible at the preceding choir practice on Tuesday 28 October.

Finally, October is also a month to remember William Barnes (22 Feb 1801 – 7 Oct 1886) the Dorset poet, priest and philologist. His Autumnal lines:-
“When leaves that leately wer a-springen
Now do feade ‘ithin the copse,
An’ painted birds do hush ther zingen
Up upon the timber’s tops;
An’ brown-leav’d fruit’s a-turnen red,
In cloudless zunsheen, auver head,
Wi’ fruit vor me the apple tree
Do lean down low in Linden Lea.”
made famous in the song Linden Lea by Ralph Vaughan Williams.

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I particularly liked our Sunday morning motet “O Lord increase our faith” by Henry Loosemore (brother of John Loosemore, builder of the 1665 post-Restoration Exeter Organ), a youthful little piece written in 1627 when he was about 25.

St Michael’s Choir at St Martin’s Exeter

Our singing of the Gibbons Short Service Canticles at Evensong was “cheeky”, as requested by Alex. The congregation joined in the unaccompanied hymns strongly, and passing tourists were attracted in too. Thanks to Revd Sheila Swarbrick for the music-themed Readings and moving Sermon and Prayers. Evensong – over 450 years old and going strong.

Now that the new Website is launched, and this Blog within it, the old WordPress blog at http://stmichaelsmountdinham.wordpress.com/ is a bit superfluous going forward. We will try to keep the 2 in step for a few weeks, but thereafter the old blog will remain as an archive of our HLF Project activities since February 2013.

St Martin’s, Exeter – C17 Monument

We now look forward to September’s Music List, and hopefully to some new voices and faces joining us, in the choir or in the congregation, in enjoyment of the great church music which enlivens our worship. A reminder also that Tuesday and Thursday Plainsong Vespers at 6pm resume on the 2nd and 4th.

Sunday, 7 September Trinity XII, 10.45am Mass
Hymns: 390: 449: 366, Setting: Mass in F, Sumsion, Motet: Cantate Domino, Pitoni

Sunday, 7 September, 6pm Evensong and Benediction
Responses: Reading, Psalm: 105 1-15, Office Hymn: 248ii
Canticles: Noble in B minor, Anthem: O Lorde the maker of al thing, Joubert, Tantum Ergo & O Salutaris: Liszt

Sunday, 14 September Holy Cross Day, 10.45am Mass
Hymns: 338: 439: 79, Setting: Missa “L’hora passa” Viadana, Motet: Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen, Brahms (How lovely are Thy dwellings, from Ein deutsches Requiem)

Sunday, 21 September St Matthew Apostle & Evangelist, 10.45am Mass
Hymns: 224t178: 189: 374, Setting: Missa “Lauda Sion” Palestrina, Motet: Almighty and everlasting God, Gibbons

Sunday, 28 September Trinity XV, 10.45am Mass
Hymns: 335: 74: 443, Setting: Wood in F, Motet: O thou the central orb, Wood

Monday, 29 September St Michael & All Angels, 7:30pm Mass followed by a Bring&Share Party.
Hymns: 205: 296: 206, Setting: Missa “O quam gloriosum” Victoria, Motet: And I saw another angel, Stanford.

Question: Where would you find the above depiction of St Michael? Answer next post.

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The Preacher will be Fr John Henton, who was John’s training priest for his curacy at St David’s & St Michael’s here in Exeter. The Service will include the Requiem by Gabriel Fauré sung in its liturgical context.

There will be drinks and time for conversation afterwards.

St Michael’s other Services and Music for August are listed below.
N.B. No Tuesday or Thursday Vespers during August, but Wednesday Morning Prayer & Said Mass continue.

Last Sunday, there was strong congregational singing, while the holiday-depleted choir of 9, with Alex doubling as conductor and organist, enjoyed singing William Byrd’s sublime 4-part Mass from 1592, and William Sterndale Bennett’s best known anthem, God is a Spirit, from his 1867 Cantata, The Woman of Samaria.

Sunday 3rd August, Trinity VII, 10.45am Mass. NEH:436:295:368
Setting: Anglican Folk Mass, Shaw. Motet: O taste and see, Vaughan-Williams.

Sunday 3rd August. NO Evensong.

Wednesday 6th August, 7.30pm, Requiem Mass in memory of Fr John Hughes. Music will include the Requiem by Gabriel Fauré and the Preacher will be Fr John Henton.

Sunday 10th August, Trinity VIII, 10.45am Mass. NEH:338:353:464
Setting: Mass in the Dorian mode, Tallis. Motet: How beauteous are their feet, Stanford.

Fulda Cathedral – Assumption of Mary
Dom zu Fulda – Mariä Himmelfahrt

Friday 15th August, Feast of the Assumption, 7:30pm Mass. NEH:188ii:161t385:185
Setting: Missa “Dixit Maria”, Hassler. Motet: Ave Maria, Arcadelt.

Sunday 17th August, Trinity IX, 10.45am Mass. NEH:332:324:480
Setting: Mass in F, Sumsion. Motet: O Lord, increase our faith, Loosemore.

Also Sunday 17th August, 6.30pm Evensong at St Martin’s in the Cathedral Close, EX1 1EZ.
Responses: Smith. Psalm 90. Canticles: Gibbons Short Service. Anthem: Ave Maria, by Arcadelt.

Sunday 24th August, St Bartholomew the Apostle, 10.45am Mass. NEH:333:216t433:179t357
Setting: Sarum Mass, Plainsong. Motet: (Give us the wings of faith, Bullock.) Late change: Holy is the true light, Harris.

Sunday 31st August, Trinity XI, 10.45am Mass. NEH:452:408:449
Setting: Mass in A minor, Casciolini. Motet: Christus factus est, Bruckner.

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The main result of the YOC on Monday 14th July was a feast of music making on our new pipe organ from the 9 talented competitors for some 70 people gathered in St Michael’s. Thank you all.

Young Organists

In the Open category, Eleanor Little, Joseph Gooddy, Josh Hughes, Katherine Whitcher, Laurie Kirkcaldy and Nick Tall, each played 10 minute programmes. They showed the full range of dynamics and tonal colours our new instrument can produce, both in what I as an amateur would term the classical German repertoire and a variety of more recent pieces, and each organist produced many moments of musical delight for us.

I particularly enjoyed the works by Rinck, Seeger, S S Wesley, Franck, Mathias and Boellmann. The judges were looking for choice of programme, as well as technique and musicality.

It was good to welcome the Chairman of Budleigh Music Festival, one of the sponsors of the YOC along with Exeter School and Exeter Festival Chorus. In a short interval, members of St Michael’s church choir sang familiar motets by Tallis, Pitoni and Parsons. New choir members are always welcome.

In the Advanced category, Jack Oades, Ralf Ayling-Millar and Rory Moules, each played a substantial Bach work and contrasting pieces by Langlais & Fletcher, Jeanne Demessieux and Edward Elgar respectively. All gave the organ a thorough work-out and the judges a very difficult task.

Alex and the Judges

While we enjoyed refreshments (thanks Sophie and team), our guest judges, Andrew Daldorph,
Simon Honeyball and Jonathan Watts, deliberated at length. They rightly commended all the competitors, reminded us that each had had only one hour’s practice on this particular instrument, and highlighted several excellent individual performances.

Young Organists & Judges

In the Open category they declared Eleanor Little as winner, with Nick Tall as runner-up, while in the Advanced category they judged Ralf Ayling-Millar as winner, but could not split Jack Oades and Rory Moules.

Young Organists and Judges

Congratulations to these, and many thanks to all the competitors, their parents and supporters for travelling to St Michael’s, to the judges for their work and feedback, and especially to Alex West, our assistant conductor and organist, for all his hard work in setting up the event and making it so successful.

On the evidence of Monday evening, the future of organ playing, and hopefully its place in the musical life of our churches, is in good hands.

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Many took the opportunity to observe the Peregrines before attending Nick Dixon’s talk. A cameraman from the BBC’s One Show has been on hand too, so we hope there will be a feature on St Michael’s Peregrines in due course.

However, on Thursday 12th, the young male was found down, with some damage to his primary feathers; he has been taken to an RSPCA unit for treatment and rehabilitation, and we are still hopeful for a good recovery.

Heritage & Music Festival 2014

David Briggs – International Organ Virtuoso

Meanwhile on Sunday 15th June, again at 7.30pm, we can learn more about the fascinating history of the part of Exeter we now call Mount Dinham, from Roman Camp and virtuous Victorians to melodious musicians and eloquent educators, from archaeologist and historian, Richard Parker.

Church and Episcopal School

Organ Rebuilt

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Peregrine parent – Sat 7 June 2014

HeCtor fledged – Sat 7 Jun 2014

and testing his wings – Sat 7 Jun 2014

Sunday 8th June, 7.30pm Heritage Lecture. Nick Dixon (Raptor expert) on 20 years with Exeter’s Peregrine Falcons.

The Mount Dinham Festival continues this coming week with 2 Concerts by local choirs and the interesting and surprising history of Mount Dinham itself from our resident historian. We also hope to see you on the 16th to be entertained by one of the world’s foremost organists playing our new pipe organ.

Wednesday 11th June, 7.30pm Charity Concert. Exeter Rotary presents Torbay Police Male Voice Choir in a programme of Gilbert & Sullivan and popular songs. (Admission £6.50 on the door.)

Friday 13th June, 7.30pm St Michael’s Recital. Exeter Chorale, conducted by Dr Nigel Browne and accompanied by Dr Paul Evans & Alex West (piano duet), return with a summer programme of Madrigals, Partsongs & Glees. (Admission £7.50/£4 on the door, children free.)

Sunday 15th June, 7.30pm Heritage Lecture. Richard W Parker (our own Architectural Historian) on the long History of Mount Dinham and St Michael’s.

David Briggs – International Organ Virtuoso

Organ Console

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