Choral Union
Choral Union are busy preparing for
performances of Stainer’s Crucifixion in Holy Week. The first performance will take place in St Brigid’s Cathedral, Kildare, on the evening of Palm Sunday (14 April) at 7 pm (tbc), and will be sung jointly with the cathedral choir. (This will be the first time for the Choral Union to perform away from Sandford and St Philip’s.) On Wednesday 17 April we will perform Crucifixion in St Philip’s Church at 8 pm, accompanied on the newly restored organ by David Leigh, Organist of St Patrick’s Cathedral.
New members of any voice part are always welcome: rehearsals are on Wednesday evenings in Sandford Church. Please contact David O’Shea (doshea3@gmail.com) for more information.
Choral Scholars
Choral Scholars have had a busy term so far, and in addition to singing at several services some members are now preparing for singing exams in the summer. On Friday 1 March the Choral Scholars will sing a service of Choral Evensong in Sandford Church at 7 pm, which will mark the third anniversary of the setting up of the group.
Organ Scholar
Our organ scholar Jack Doherty is continuing his organ studies, and will soon sit the second year examination in the Archbishop’s Certificate in Church Music. He has recently been helping out at rehearsals with the Choral Scholars and Choral Union. In addition to his experience in the parishes he has been singing in the Campanile Consort in Trinity College, where he is studying music and maths.
Stainer’s ‘The Crucifixion’
On Wednesday 17 April at 8 pm in St Philip’s Church, the Choral Union and Choral Scholars will present a performance of Sir John Stainer’s passion oratorio ‘The Crucifixion’. This piece lasts around an hour, and is a musical retelling of the story of the Passion of Christ, including solos, choruses and organ music. It was written in 1887, and was designed as a counterpart to the great Passions of J.S. Bach for use in parish churches and features, amongst others, the much-loved chorus ‘God so Loved the World’. For the performance the Choral Union and Choral Scholars will be accompanied by David Leigh, Organist of St Patrick’s Cathedral.