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Music and the Liturgy at St. Peter Apostle
Background
Music forms a very important role in the Liturgy of the Mass and in the Parish life at St. Peter's. Successive Parish Priests have supported the existence of a strong 4 part mixed Choir to compliment the Liturgy at Mass. The organ accompanies hymns for the other Masses. Every year the Church Choir together with invited choral singers, perform a popular Christmas concert to support Princethorpe Retreat Centre and other local charities.
The Church Choir
The Choir has been in existence since the 1940's, under a number of musical directors. The Liturgy has always been sung at the late morning Mass on Sundays and on major feast days. At the present time the Choir is twenty-five in number and has a commitment to the 11.00am Sunday sung Mass and also to weekday evenings Masses on feast days. It is also available to sing by arrangement, at weddings, for both ordinary services and nuptial masses, and for funerals, if members are available (there is a small fee for the use of the choir at these services). The current repertoire incorporates a variety of settings (from the 17th century up to the present) of the Ordinary of the Mass in both English and Latin and a wide range of motets, again both traditional and modern. The repertoire is continuously being increased, as new music appears and rehearsal time allows. We also sing the psalms at all sung Masses. At the major feasts, such as Christmas, an extensive range of music is incorporated and we welcome extra singers at these times. Rehearsals are currently on Tuesday evenings between 7.45 and 9.45 in the choir loft of the Church. We are always looking for new enthusiastic people to join the choir. The only requirements are a love of singing, a willingness to learn new music and the ability to sing in tune. We are a welcoming and friendly choir, led currently by James Brash a young and enthusiastic musical director and accompanied by our dedicated organist Christine O'Grady.
Other Music at St Peter's
At the other Sunday Masses, music is also provided to accompany the Hymns and simple Mass settings played by other musicians, either on the Church organ, keyboard or guitar. In addition, a small musical group, consisting of several instrumentalists, accompanies the hymns and simple Mass settings of the 20th century at the Sunday evening Mass on a monthly basis. One of the organists accompanies the services for weddings and funerals as and when required. For events such as First Holy Communion and Confirmation services, the schools involved usually provide the music, accompanied by either instruments or a keyboard. On occasion the Choir will be asked sing at these services.
Music for the Deanery
St. Peter's Choir forms the basis of the Deanery Choir and invites other choirs from the Deanery to join them to support the annual Mass of Our Lady of Palestine for the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Mass for Vocations.
Concerts
The acoustics of the building are so good that visiting Choirs make requests to perform concerts in the Church on a regular basis.
For more information on becoming a member of the choir please contact:
Musical Director:
| James Brash | t: 07961 927929 | e: brashjd@hotmail.com |
Resident Organist:
| Christine O'Grady | t: 01926 745939 | e: ogrady-family@ntlworld.com |