At the Sacred Heart we have a very enthusiastic parish choir which, currently, numbers some 20 men and women. The choir sings on Sundays at the 11:30 Mass and also at Mass on most major feast days under the direction of our Organist and Master of Music, Stephen Groves, assisted by professional singer Jane Money.
Sunday Mass at 11:30 (Missa normativa) is celebrated in English with Latin and the music includes both Gregorian Chant and Polyphony. On major feast days you will probably hear a splendid setting of the Mass by one of the great composers while on ordinary Sundays, the Mass setting is generally plainsong (Orbis Factor; de Angelis; Cum Jubilo; Lux et Origo etc. according to the season) and the congregation is encouraged to participate in the antiphonal singing of these with the choir.
The choir also draws upon a large repertoire of motets in Latin, English and other European languages for use at Mass but there are always two or three congregational hymns, carefully chosen to suit the liturgy of the day.
Some highlights of the music at the Sacred Heart during the early part of 2009, have included, among other things, the famous Allegri Misereri on Palm Sunday; Maurice Duruflé’s Ubi Caritas on Holy Thursday; Victoria’s Popule Meus on Good Friday and, on Easter Sunday, Gounod’s superb Mass in Honour of St Cecilia together with CV Stanford’s famous setting of the Te Deum.
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The Master of Music is always delighted to hear from any singers who would like to become part of the parish choir. Reasonable sight reading skill is advantageous but not essential.
JS Bach, Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier (played by Stephen Groves)
9.30 Choirs
On most Sundays the 9:30 is supported by either an adult choir or a youth choir. The aim of the youth choir is to strengthen children’s participation in the mass and the choir is open to all school age children, preferably year 3 or above. The youth choir sings on all Sundays of the first communion programme. Children can join the choir simply by coming to church a little earlier on those Sundays and joining Fran van Berkel at the front. We try to sing music that the children like and are always pleased to see new members.
On other Sundays at the 9:30 mass we have an adult choir. The principal aim of this choir is to get everyone in church to sing and raise the roof in congregational song! So in a way everyone coming to church at 9:30 is part of this choir.
However, we would be very pleased to welcome any keen singers at the front. Please contact Fran on 01273 388127 or frances_vanberkel@hotmail.com.
Finally, if you play an instrument, be it guitar, keyboard, brass, woodwind or strings, we’d love you to join us; please come and have a chat after any of the 9:30 masses.
