Carols for Peace 2011
December 29, 2011
Piper Willie welcomes the congregation
Last year, musicians and congregation had to fight their way through the snow to attend the Annual Carols for Peace service organised by Glasgow Churches Together and hosted by Glasgow City Council. This year the weather was much more accommodating and the City Chambers Banqueting Hall was full for the service, with extra chairs having to be brought in. Read more
St. Andrew’s Day Ecumenical Evening Prayer 2011
December 9, 2011
Despite the weather, the strikes and the traffic problems, Glasgow Churches Together celebrated St. Andrew’s Day with an evening service in St. Andrews’s Cathedral. The congregation, including representatives from the member churches of GCT and the Leader of Glasgow City Council Gordon Matheson,was welcomed by piper Jacqueline Riley outside the Cathedral and instrumentalists John Allen, Carissa Bovill and Clare O’Neill inside.
Before the service, the St. Mungo Singers sang the lovely Iona setting of Psalm 62 before leading the congregation in singing the simple evening hymn, “Creator of the Stars of Night” as Archbishop Conti led church representatives to the sanctuary, and the altar candles were lit.
After the Invocation and Doxology, Des McLean and members of the St. Andrews Brass Emsemble provided the music for the rousing Vaughan Williams setting of “All People that on Earth”, a warm and uniting sound for a cold night. The Psalms for the Evening Prayer were then proclaimed in song: Psalms 115 and 125. The Canticle was the Fitzpatrick setting of Stephen Smyth’s Canticle from Philippians 2.
The reflection was given by the Moderator of Glasgow Presbytery, Rev. Sandra Black. She said that we don’t know much about St. Andrew. He doesn’t get much mention in the Gospels but he is shown as someone who brings people to Jesus – no small or bad thing! She then asked “who has been Andrew for you in your life? Who has made him more real or more accessible for you?” and invited those present to give thanks for such people and be blessed by their existence.
Instrumentalists Carissa, John, Claire and Jane
As the congregation meditated on her words, the instrumentalists played quietly. The choir then sang the responsory before leading the singing of the Magnificat in the hymn version “Tell out My Soul”. The Intercessions for the country and its citizens followed. The congregation then joined in singing the Lord’s Prayer.
Before the prayer and blessing for St. Andrew’s Day, the St. Mungo Singers sang the Casciolini motet “Istorum est enim”, a piece suited for the feastday of an Apostle who was also a martyr. The service finished with the well-loved hymn “When Christ our Lord to Andrew Cried”.
The Cathedral community provided hospitality afterwards in the porch of the Cathedral, giving the congregation the opportunity to chat before going out into the night.
Council Leader Gordon Matheson with some of the congregation after the service
St. Andrew looks on benignly on the celebration
Archbishop Mario in discussion
St. Agnes’ Annual November Mass of Remembrance 2011
November 10, 2011
St. Agnes Parish, Lambhill holds an annual Mass of Remembrance for all whose final committal has taken place in the cemeteries located in the parish and at Glasgow Crematorium. It is an opportunity for families to remember their deceased relatives. This year it took place on 6th November.
The St. Mungo Singers led a full congregation in the music of the Mass, celebrated by Parish Priest, Fr. Noel Barry. As Fr. Barry processed to the altar, the choir led the congregation in singing “Grace to You and Peace” with its very appropriate reminder that the Lord came to give us life and hope. As the altar was incensed, the plainsong Introit “Requiem Aeternam” was sung.
The Mass is however not a sad occasion but one of hope and the Gloria was sung to remind us of this. The readings were those of the Sunday, including Ps 62, in the setting by Mgr Fitzpatrick.
In the homily, Fr. Barry referred to the Gospel reading (the Wise and Foolish Virgins), a parable which he said could mystify and frighten us as it suggests exclusion for those whose only fault was being foolish, not wicked. Scholars interpret the parable as pointing to the need to be prepared but can we ever be prepared? Sometimes we see God like the bridegroom in the parable, taking action which we don’t understand in taking away members of our family or our friends. We ask why and sometimes are tempted to question God and existence. Some walk away from him, but God’s timetable is not ours and it involves waiting for him. The parable also highlights that there are some things we can’t borrow including a personal relationship with God. We need to take responsibility for this ourselves. But the parable also invites us to focus on the good things God gives and promises us – the wedding feast – and we should not wander off in the dark but accept the light and support each other.
Some of the choir and congregation at the end of the Mass
The Mass continued with a motet, “Misericordias Domini” by Henryk Jan Botor, whose joyful sound reminded those present that this was a Mass of Remembrance in thanks for the lives of those we remembered. The Eucharistic Prayer was sung by Fr. Barry, and the congregation responded with the singing of the Sanctus and Consecration Acclamation and the Great Amen.
At Communion, the Antiphon – “Come to me …and I will give you rest, says the Lord” -reminded the congregation of the promises of the Lord. After Communion, the choir led everyone in singing the Commendation “Receive their Souls” before the Mass ended with the joyful “Thine be the Glory ” which again reminded us that “death hath lost its sting”.
The Parish community offered its usual warm hospitality to those attending the service, with tea, sausage rolls etc in the parish hall.
St. Mungo Singers 40th Anniversary Mass
November 9, 2011
The St. Mungo Singers 40th Anniversary celebrations to date have reflected the various aspects of the choir’s life and activities, starting with the Anniversary Dinner in June, followed by its pilgrimage to Rome and Orvieto in October, and on 4th November the Thanksgiving Mass which celebrated the core of its life – the liturgy.
Archbishop Conti and some of the concelebrating priests
The Mass was presided over by Archbishop Conti, accompanied by priests from the Archdiocese and elsewhere who have been involved with the St. Mungo Singers over the years. Choir members, present and past, were also joined by relatives, friends and some of the instrumentalists who have worked with them, as well as members of the Sacred Threads embroiderers who celebrate their 29th anniversary this year. Representatives of the City Council and of Glasgow Churches Together were also present.
The music of the celebration reflected both the range and the history of the choir’s repertoire. Before the Mass began, the instrumentalists played and the choir sang Catherine Walker’s “Great God, Be Near Me” and Bob Chilcott’s “Irish Blessing”. As the Archbishop and priests entered, the singers then led the congregation in singing the Harris/Smyth arrangement of the St. Patrick’s Breastplate.
After Archbishop Conti’s welcome, the Penitential Rite followed with the plainsong Kyrie,. The Gloria was Mgr. Fitzpatrick’s new St. Andrew setting of the Gloria to the new Missal text. The Psalm was Martin Morran’s setting of Ps117 (which was published in Psalms for Parishes in 1975), while the Gospel Verse was that used at the Papal Mass in Bellahouston in 2010. The Gospel itself was sung by Deacon Kevin Kelly who proclaimed it beautifully.
Archbishop Conti during his homily
The intercessions included prayers for present choir members and others involved in the music ministry of the church, the Archbishops and clergy who had supported and encouraged the choir in its service, and the Sacred Threads who enriched the liturgy with their art. Before the prayers, the choir sang the Taizé “O Lord, Hear my Prayer”, and at the conclusion, Noel Donnelly’s “May the Souls of the Faithful Departed” was sung for all the choir’s deceased members, families and friends.
For the preparation of the gifts, the motet was the Tallis “If Ye Love Me”. As befitted the occasion, the Preface Dialogue and Preface were sung, leading into the new St. Andrew setting of the Sanctus. The Agnus Dei was Noel Donnelly new Dalreoch setting. For the Communion, the music included Dr. Donnelly’s “One Body, One Faith” Palestrina’s “Jesu, Rex Admirabilis” and, for the thanksgiving Dr. Donnelly’s setting of the Newman prayer “May the Lord Protect Us”. Before the Blessing, John Bell’s “God to enfold you” was sung by the choir, and the Recessional hymn was Stephen Smyth Canticle from Colossians.
Archbishop Conti said in his homily that it probably felt unbelievable for members that it was four decades since the choir had been formed to promote and support liturgical music in the Archdiocese. The choir had been given its name by Archbishop Scanlan. It had been used by Cardinal Winning for the major services in the Archdiocese, and Archbishop Conti himself had appreciated them since his first service in the Archdiocese in February 2002. Their commitment, dedication and reliability had never failed and they had sung for two Popes, 3 Archbishops of Glasgow and numerous Provost, clergy and congregations.
Fr. Noel Colford
Music, the Archbishop said, is one of God’s most precious gifts. As St. Augustine said, referring to the love of God, “Song belongs to one who loves”. The presence of the choir was a great blessing and no church service was complete without them. He suggested that if life begins at forty, the choir had a great deal still ahead of it, and he invited the singers to flourish by the praising of God’s name and the preaching of his word.
At the end of the Mass, Fr. Noel Colford, who described himself as the choir’s oldest fan, thanked Archbishop Conti and Mgr. McElroy and all who had participated in the Mass on behalf of the choir. Describing the St. Mungo Singers as a great family, he said that music was immensely important and precious in making the Mass a beautiful and joyful celebration and thanked the choir for promoting the liturgical life of the Archdiocese.
After the Mass, the Archdiocese rounded off the celebrations with a lovely finger buffet in the Eyre Hall which gave the opportunity for everyone to exchange reminiscences of the events of the last forty years!
The choir and friends
40th Anniversary Celebration Mass for the St Mungo Singers
September 12, 2011
St Andrew’s Cathedral will host the 40th anniversary Mass for the St Mungo Singers on Friday Novenber 4th.
(c) Netta Ewing
Archbishop Conti will be principal concelebrant and, as you might expect, much of the Mass will be sung using settings of the new texts by Gerry and Noel.
Before summer, the choir learned the dialogue responses for the new Missal so that they could be put on romanmissalscotland.org.uk
to help interested people hear how they sound, so many of these will be in use on the day.
Last Sunday 11th September we also rehearsed the ‘Dismissal and Blessing’ responses so even the end of the Mass will be special.
Before then, of course, the choir will have visited Orvieto and Rome so there’s a lot of work to be done for that too.
The St Mungo Singers: Mass for Knights Investiture September 17th
September 12, 2011
The St Mungo Singers will lead the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre in the music of their Mass on Saturday 17th September
at 11.00 in St Andrew’s Cathedral. The Mass will be celebrated by Archbishop Conti.
Music will range through a variety of styles, from Harp music provided by Noel Donnelly, to the Canticle from the Book of Wisdom and the Canticle from the Letter to the Colossians arranged by Brother Stephen E Smyth (of the Marist Brothers) to the long loved tunes of ‘Sweet Sacrament Divine’ and ‘Alleluia Sing to Jesus’, to parts of the Mass settings for the New Missal by Gerry Fitzpatrick and Noel S Donnelly, to the medieval Veni Creator Spiritus and Salve Regina. The Preparation of the Gifts will be accompanied by Noel’s setting of the Canticle from the Letter to the Philippians ‘Formed in God’ and we won’t be neglecting the motet world of Palestrina and Wesley. The Communion rite will be accompanied by Behold the Lamb of God, by the Taize ‘Eat this Bread’ and after Communion we will sing Sacris Solemniis - one of the five beautiful hymns St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) composed expressing the Eucharistic Presence of Christ at the specific request of Pope Urban IV (1261-1264) when the Pope first established the Feast of Corpus Christi in 1264.
Music for Masses on occasions such as this presents the challenge of combining full active participation in singing by a congregation gathered from here there and everywhere with the presence and added musical richness of a choir - so it makes sense to sing well known tunes as in the Entry and Recessional hymns (to biblical Canticles), and to include some responsorial styles music as in the Kyrie, the Gloria, the Psalm and the Alleluia, and in the Taize Communion Song. The Veni Creator and the Salve Regina will allow those who retain the memory of these remnants from the pre-conciliar liturgy to indulge in some effective nostalgic musical prayer! The choir will also add a lot of harmony throughout the Mass underpinning the Mass parts as well as singing the motets.
Ordination of Rev. Gerry Walsh in Glasgow
July 8, 2011
The joy of the occasion is obvious
The renovated St. Andrew’s Cathedral was the location for the ordination of Gerry Walsh by Archbishop Conti on 30 June. As the Archbishop commented in his homily, this was the first ordination to take place in the Cathedral for some years, as ordinations in the recent past had tended to be in the home parish of the new priest. However, following the success of the ordinations to the Permanent Diaconate in St. Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, consideration was given to having ordinations to the priesthood in the Cathedral, as the home parish would still host the new priest’s first Mass. Read more
Glasgow the Welcoming City
July 7, 2011
Bailie MacMaster opens the service
The City/GCT events seem fated to be challenged by the weather in recent times. In December, it was snow. This time, it was unseasonable cold and heavy rain, but despite this, a good number of singers and musicians and a reasonable congregation made it to the City Chambers on 19 June. Read more
St. Mungo Singers 40th Anniversary Dinner
July 7, 2011
Archbishop Conti at the Anniversary Dinner
The St. Mungo Singers, the Diocesan choir of the Archdiocese of Glasgow, started the celebration of their 40th Anniversary with a dinner at the Sherbrooke Castle hotel on 12 June. Read more
The St Mungo Singers 1971 – 2011
June 14, 2011
The St Mungo Singers 1971 – 2011 (This is an ongoing report)
The St Mungo Singers were founded in 1971 by Frs McGinty, Trainer and Fitzpatrick and Kathleen Donnelly to promote liturgical music in the Archdiocese of Glasgow. We began by supporting Music Conferences – at St Aloysius’, Garnethill, at Cardross College, at Bellarimine School – and were given our name The St Mungo Singers by Archbishop Scanlan.
Fairly soon we realised that there would be many advantages in having a larger liturgical choir and so we decided to gain more support by a performance of The Mass of St Patrick, by Philip Green, with Canon Sydney McEwan singing the Mass in St Mary’s, Calton. It worked really well.
We visited about 70 parishes within 5 years, and our first memorable Archdiocesan event was the welcome for the Papal Legate, Archbishop Bruno Heim, at the request of Archbishop Thomas Winning. The Archbishop suggested that we find or devise an Entry Processional based on the medieval ‘Laudes’ or Litany form , and, given the nature of the occasion, it seemed appropriate to use ‘feed my lambs, feed my sheep’ as the response! Since then we have sung at a great many Archdiocesan events, including funerals for priests, ordinations, consecrations, visits of the Nuncio, parish jubilees, the Wayside Club, Archdiocesan Lourdes Days, RCIA & Pentecost . . . . A high point was the Kelvinhall Ordination Mass with several choirs and St Andrew’s Brass. We also supported the early Children’s Masses on Palm Sundays and Cantatas from 1977 until they were strong enough to sustain themselves,. We were the main participants in events marking the multi-centenaries of St Margaret, St Mungo, St Ninian, St Columba, St Gregory the Great, and Blessed John Duns Scotus and we have enjoyed collaborating with St Aloysius’, Garnethill in the Ogilvie Vespers.
This year’s choir program has included music for the Papal Visit, the Requiem in St Agnes’ (including the plainsong Introit and Communion), and one for ourselves in St Leo’s, St Andrew’s Day, the St Mungo Festival events, Carols for Peace, the Mass of our Celtic Roots, the RCIA service on the 1st Sunday of Lent, the Ogilvie Vespers, the Chrism Mass, the re-opening of St Andrew’s Cathedral, St Andrew and a Catena of Saints, an Ecumenical Vespers in Bishopbriggs, the Champagnat Mass, Glasgow the Welcoming City, a wedding in St Aloysius’, an ordination, an Investiture Mass for The Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, and a festive Mass to launch the New Missal. One of our ongoing concerns is to support parish choirs in the Archdiocese and this has also engaged the attention of the Music Committee.
Developments
Ecumenical events
Early on we worked with Kerr Spiers and the Paisley Baptists, with Rev Bill Hewitt of Elderslie, and Fr Godfrey Hartley of the Episcopalian Mission to Seamen in Govan, and we shared concerts with the Jewish Choral Society and the Kedron Choir. We played a major part in the Glasgow Garden Festival and the 1990 Year of Culture. Since Glasgow Churches Together began we have given it continual support collaborating with many other choirs, bands and instrumentalists to the present day. Events have included the Agape launching GCT, the Year of the Celtic Saints, the St Mungo Cantata in Glasgow Cathedral, the first Scottish Ecumenical Assembly of the Year 2001. At the initiative of Archbishop Conti and Dr Laurence Whitley we have taken a leading part in the annual St Mungo Service in Glasgow Cathedral
Civic events
We were invited to participate in The Garden Festival in 1988 and were at the heart of the ’Songs of Praise of the Christians and Jews’ forging many warm friendships. We gave some discrete support to the Children’s Mass at the Garden Festival along with St Andrew’s Brass and the Art Dept of St Roch’s Secondary —this was probably the biggest event of the Festival. With the encouragement of Lord Provost Alex Mossom we initiated the now annual Carols for Peace in the City Chambers, and then at the invitation of Lord Provost Liz Cameron engaged the GCT Music and Worship Committee in organizing Glasgow the Welcoming City. Most recently, with the inspiration of Bailie Catherine McMaster we have participated in the St Mungo Festival in the Mitchell Library, Glasgow Cathedral and, of course, the annual St Mungo Mass which was upgraded by Cardinal Winning in the 1980s.
Repertoire
From the beginning our aim has been to promote that understanding of the role of liturgical choirs indicated by the Vatican Council— to lead and support the congregation and to enrich the occasion by appropriate choral music. Our policy has therefore been to sustain our heritage of liturgical music while promoting contemporary music which facilitates the full active and conscious participation called for. This is no easy task but our repertoire has maintained a core of Plainsong, with music of Palestrina, Tallis, Byrd, Bach, Handel, Mozart, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Berlioz, Vaughan-Williams, Elgar, Rutter, and Chilcott. Lots of our liturgical material is local and provides accessible and singable melodies which are sensitive to the meaning of the texts and can be enriched by choral harmony, but we have also introduced many of the great classic ecumenical hymns to the Archdiocese, and encouraged the music of Taize and of Iona.
As the New Missal approaches we are already busy working on new settings by Noel and Gerry.
