The St. Paul's Cathedral Choir, London at the Cathedral of Saint Paul, MN
Sponsored by VocalEssence/Philip Brunelle
Produced by Michael Barone, Minnesota Public Radio
January 12, 2004

Recorded October 26, 2003
See playlist
Listen to the concert, part 1
Listen to the concert, part 2

Interviews
Interview with John Scott, organist
Interview with Huw Williams, sub-organist
Interview with Carey John Franklin, composer
Interview with Ian Kellam, composer

Search for more choral features at MPR

John Scott, organist. The Organist at St Paul's Cathedral in London is much more than a musician. The post is that of Director of Music, involved in training the choir, in selection of music, and maintaining high standards of performance. The overall responsibility for the music in the Cathedral rests with the Precentor - a member of Chapter (the Cathedral's ruling body).Scott has recently been appointed as the Organist and Director of Music at St Thomas, Fifth Avenue, New York effective September 2004.

Spanning nine centuries of history, the St. Paul's Cathedral Choir, London, has established itself as one of the major forces in British church music today. The group visited the Twin Cities' own Cathedral of Saint Paul in October 2003, and we'll hear a broadcast of that performance. The program includes outstanding British repertoire, plus the world premiere of a new work by VocalEssence composer-in-residence Cary John Franklin, based on Psalm 8.

VocalEssence music director Philip Brunelle notes, "Whenever VocalEssence has invited a choir from abroad we have always requested that the concert include one work by an American. As Cary John Franklin is our Meet The Composer composer-in-residence it seemed like the perfect match for a St. Paul's Cathedral Choir world premiere. Cary has selected verses from Psalm 8, 'How Excellent Is Thy Name,' words equally appropriate here or in London, England."

About St. Paul's Cathedral and Choir of London
St. Paul's Cathedral Choir of London's size and its mature, professional tone set it apart from other comparable groups of singers. Its history is complex and impressive: the present St. Paul's Cathedral is the fourth cathedral to stand on its site; the story of music in the Cathedral is closely entwined with its history and changing political and religious climates.

The first St. Paul's was built in 604, and in these early days the services were sung by 30 canons, who lived in a dormitory, performed both priestly and musical duties and were paid a stipend. The beginnings of a choir of men and boys is recorded in 1127, when a choir school was founded which made provision for "almonry" boys (literally poor children in need of alms) to serve the Cathedral. By the 13 th century, singers had begun elaborating the traditional plainsong chants with simple, improvised counter-melodies, which were finally composed rather than improvised. During the late 14 th century, trained lay singers called Vicars Choral were employed to cope with this more advanced musical style.

Between the building of the second St. Paul's by the Normans in 1087,an extensive restoration by Inigo Jones in 1621 and the complete destruction of the Old St. Paul's in 1666 by the Great Fire, the music of the cathedral was greatly affected – by the Reformation, the establishment of the Church of England, the productive reign of Elizabeth I, and the negative effects of the Civil War and Oliver Cromwell. After being disbanded during the Cromwell years, the St. Paul's Cathedral Choir was re-established when the monarchy was restored, in 1660.

The current St. Paul's Cathedral was designed by Sir Christopher Wren, and when it was opened in 1697, Henry Purcell's Te Deum and Jubilate were sung, together with a new anthem by John Blow, Master of the Choristers, who directed the music; Jeremiah Clarke played the new Smith organ. (It is interesting to note that famous organists such as Handel and Mendelssohn enjoyed playing the St. Paul's organ.) From this time, superb musicians were to head the music at St. Paul's, among them Maurice Greene, Thomas Attwood, John Goss, John Stainer, and John Dykes Bower. Christopher Dearnley, who was appointed Organist in 1968, extended the daily repertoire of the choir and introduced many musical and liturgical innovations.

St. Paul's has always been an important venue for the performance of new works. In recent years many composers, among them Jonathan Harvey, John Tavener and Hugh Wood, have been invited to write for the cathedral. The Millennium Service for England, broadcast live by the BBC on January 2, 2000, featured commissions by two major British composers: Sir Peter Maxwell Davies and Sir Harrison Birtwistle. In mid November each year, the choirs of Westminster Abbey and Westminster and St. Paul's Cathedrals join together to celebrate the patron saint of music, Cecilia. The annual Festival of St. Cecilia usually features a newly-commissioned anthem, a tradition that dates back to the first festival in 1683 when Purcell was the composer.

At the center of the choir's purpose is the singing of Evensong each day, with Mattins and the Eucharist additionally on Sunday. Partly due to the immense size of St. Paul's Cathedral, the choir is quite large - thirty choristers, eight probationers (who begin at age 7 or 8) and eighteen men. Tour logistics call for a slightly smaller choir – eighteen choristers and twelve men.

John Scott, director of music
Huw Williams, sub-organist*

C. HYLTON STEWART: Psalm 23
THOMAS TALLIS: Veni redemptor (organ solo*)
JOHN TAVERNER: Dum transisset
THOMAS TALLIS: Salvator mundi
ORLANDO GIBBONS: O clap your hands
J.S. BACH: Prelude & Fugue in G, S. 541 (organ solo*)
J.S. BACH: Motet, Der Geist hilft unsrer Schwachheit auf *

WILLIAM HARRIS: Bring us, o Lord
PERCY WHITLOCK: Glorious in heaven
CARY JOHN FRANKLIN: How excellent is thy name (premiere)
CHARLES-MARIE WIDOR: Final , fr Organ Symphony No. 8 (organ solo*)
H. BALFOUR GARDINER: Evening Hymn *
IAN KELLAM: Agnus Dei *
C. HUBERT H. PARRY: Hear my words, ye people * Encore - CHRISTOPHER DEARNLEY: Jubilate Deo

Saint Paul's Cathedral, London
Cathedral of Saint Pauls, Minnesota
VocalEssence Web Site