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St Andrew’s

church choir, Epsom, Auckland, presenting a concert of sacred and secular music in St Matthew’s Church, Morrinsville. The choir was directed by Neil Shroff, with pianist Leonie Lawson

and organist David Brookes.

Chairwoman’s commentsDear RSCM family,

It was fantastic to end the year with a well-attended, happy gathering for our Choral Festival at St Andrew’s in Cambridge last weekend (31st October). We had a large well-balanced choir, made up of singers from Hamilton, Cambridge and Tauranga, singing a lovely variety of pieces, lead with enthusiasm by Jeremy Whimster. See Paula Spiers’ report on page 4 for more details.

It has been a difficult year for your committee to stay motivated, as we have had to postpone a couple of events due to lack of

Notes – November 2015 –

The Newsletter ofThe Royal School of Church

MusicWaikato Branch

November 2015

support, so this was a timely encouragement. The Music Sunday evensong at St Peter’s was also a lovely occasion with a good turn-out, so maybe this is the type of event we should be focussing on. At some stage in 2016, we will have a survey on what it is that members like best about RSCM Waikato activities, what is of no interest at all, and what you would like to see us do which we currently don’t. The committee is an excellent group of people dedicated to supporting church music, in all its forms, in our region. We all acknowledge that times have changed for the parish choir, but there is still a highly-valued place for this type of music in our churches and we are committed to offering support and activities around it, but we do need input from our members too.

As a result of our Composition competition this year, there is a lovely Advent work by Christopher Luke available to members. St Peter’s Cathedral choir presented this at the Choral Festival and it was very well received. See page 5 to find out where your choir can find a copy.

I wish you all well, once again, for your Advent and Christmas festivities and music-making and look forward to your company at our 2016 events.

Best wishes,Rachael

Death of Sir David WillcocksLovers of church music all over the world were saddened by the news of the death on 17th September of Sir David Willcocks. Many of our readers will have known him personally, and none of us can be unaware of his colossal contribution to music.The RSCMNZ Facebook page (www.facebook.com/rscmnz.org.nz) contains a number of eulogies including the Guardian’s obituary.

Music Sunday in New Zealand


(The September 2015 issue of CMQ [Church Music Quarterly, the RSCM magazine] contains a report from Robert Tait on the way the New Zealand branches celebrated Music Sunday.)

RSCM Music Sunday has been celebrated during NZ ‘s mid-winter with each of the country’s five branches celebrating on or near to 21 June. Auckland held an RSCM-focused evensong led by Anita Banbury, NZ’s Chief Voice for Life Examiner, and her St Mary’s Singers. In Waikato, regional choirs combined at St Peter’s Cathedral, Hamilton for evensong, using Stanford in B flat under the direction of Dr Rachael Griffiths-Hughes (Waikato University), with an address by its chaplain, the Revd Peter Lord Cowell, highlighting the work of the RSCM. Wellington branch further honoured the work of the RSCM with an organ recital by Visiting RSCM Director, Andrew Reid, followed by a Workshop (inspired by Roy Tankersley, Branch Chairman, and conducted by Andrew Reid) and then a celebratory service at St Andrew’s on the Terrace (NZ’s oldest Presbyterian Church). Canterbury celebrated the re-opening of Knox Presbyterian Church (following its collapse as a result of the Christchurch earthquakes) with a gathering of choristers for an afternoon of hymnody, and string quartet performances of liturgically related items all under the leadership of John Linker, Director of Music of Christchurch Cathedral and Paul Ellis, RSCMNZ President. Otago & Southland branch was the venue for a celebration visit from Christchurch Cathedral choristers serving at morning worship at St Peter’s, Caversham and then Branch Chairman, George Chittenden (who is Director of Music at St Paul’s Cathedral in Dunedin’s Octagon) hosted the choir as they sang for the Cathedral’s afternoon service recognising Music Sunday. Robert Tait, National Communications Councillor, RSCM NZ

Choral Festival


On Saturday, 31st October, some 50 singers from our region assembled at St Andrew’s church, Cambridge, for the branch’s annual Choral Festival. A gathering of choristers such as this is always exciting with four works sung tutti, selected and conducted by Jeremy Whimster, and each choir offering two works.

The highlight had to be the first performance of the work, ‘Creator of the stars of night’, by Christopher Luke, Director of Music at St Mary’s, New Plymouth, which won our 2015 composition competition. St Peter’s Cathedral Choir performed this with evident pleasure, conducted by Rachael Griffiths-Hughes. The audience responded well to the melodic wealth, the clarity of the part writing and the satisfying structure. May we hear this many more times.

The Cathedral Choir also sang Malcolm Archer’s ‘I Saw a New Heaven’, the host choir sang Rutter’s ‘Blessing’ and ‘The Prayer’, conducted by Vaughan Chetwynd, and the choir from Tauranga’s Wesley Methodist Church sang ‘A Balm in Gilead’ and ‘Come Now’, which had a lovely running accompani-ment.This too was conducted by Jeremy.

The tutti items were ‘Save us o Lord’ by Bairstow, ‘Christmas Lullaby’ by Rutter, and ‘I’m gonna sing’, which gave those that like to feel the rhythm with a little body movement the opportunity!

The afternoon ended with Barnard’s setting of the RSCM Prayer ‘Bless o Lord’. In truth it ended with a lovely afternoon tea!


It was sad that Christopher Luke was unable to join us and sad too that the Cathedral Singers were too involved with a rehearsal for Carmina Burana for 1st November to come. The committee welcomes advice of dates to be avoided because of both church and choral society concerts, workshops and rehearsals. In 2016 let us aim for at least ten choirs here!

Paula Spiers(Readers can find a copy of the work by Christopher Luke on the branch website. Go to http://www.rscmnz.org.nz, and clink on ‘Branches’ and the ‘Waikato’. Editor)

RSCM WaikatoBranch activities 2016

Dates for branch activities in 2016 have been proposed. In all cases, confirmation and other details will be published in the next edition of Notes or by email.Branch AGM, at which we plan to run a short workshop on the various ways in which the Evensong/Compline canticle Nunc Dimittis ‘the Song of Simeon’ has been and still is performed:7th May. Venue to be announced.Music Sunday will be celebrated this coming year at Mt Maunganui on 19th June.We hope to hold the Youth Festival on 6th August, andthe Choral Festival in October.

RSCM (Waikato)Composition Competition 2016

We are running this competition again in the coming year and invite entries from young musicians no older than 22 years of age. The prize is $500.

The compositions are to be settings of a benediction or blessing text. There are many such texts to be found in prayer books, and others can be located through the internet.


The work should have been composed in 2015-16 and not previously performed. It can be a cappella or accompanied and should be suitable for use in a church, chapel or school context.Two copies of entries should be sent to the secretary (see last page for contact details). For any further informaion that may be required, please phone Paula Spiers (7) 981 1460.

Concert series in Tauranga and Mt Maunganui

The Scholars Pro Musica chamber choir will be performing Handel’s Messiah with the Auckland Baroque Orchestra on 21st November at 7.30p.m. The performance will take place in St Mary’s, as will the popular Advent carols and Nine Lessons and Carols at 7.00p.m. on 29th November and 20th December respectively. Further information at the website: scholarspromusica.org.nz.

Concerts in New PlymouthThere are still two concerts at St Mary’s Cathedral, New Plymouth, in its series of Lunchtime Organ Recitals: 20th November at 12.15p.m. and the 2015 Christmas Organ recital, at 2.00p.m. on Saturday 19th December.A gold coin donation would be appreciated, and all recitals are followed by refreshments on the Hatherly Hall.

Christmas concerts at MatamataThe Matamata Community Choir has been performing free concerts of contemporary Christmas Music for 54 years. Concerts are always held over the first weekend in December, This year’s will take place on 3rd, 4th, and 5th December starting at 7.30pm and 1.30pm on 6th December at All Saints’ Church, cnr Broadway and Hohaia Streets in Matamata, admission free. The choir has between 55-65 voices supported by a small orchestra. This year’s conductor is David Qualtrough from Te Aroha. David is an experienced conductor, who in the past has conducted the NZ Men’s Choir. The music is based on the birth


of Christ, with several well-known carols, including an arrangement of the ‘Sussex Carol’ by Phillip Stopford, and John Rutter’s ‘Angel Carol’.David Brookes will play 30 minutes of Christmas music on the church organ before each concert.

Christmas concert at StratfordOn Sunday 6th December at 2.00p.m., there will be a Christmas Concert, performed by the Stratford Singers, with Christopher J. Luke, organ, at St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Stratford

Centenary Arts Festival at St Peter’s, HamiltonOne hundred years ago last month, the foundation stone of St Peter’s Cathedral was laid and the third (and present) church building on the site opened some months later. This auspicious centenary will be celebrated over the next twelve months with a series of events, including four weekend festivals focussing on the artistic activities of the cathedral. The first of these festivals is a Centenary Art Festival on the weekend of 21st – 22nd November. Visitors will have the opportunity to see and purchase works of art by some of the Waikato’s finest artists, and will also be offered a fascinating glimpse into the artistic life of the cathedral.A beautiful mixed-media work donated by Jane Whyte will be offered by silent auction, there will be displays of floral art, vestments, embroideries and tapestries in the cathedral and refreshments on offer in the cathedral centre, alongside the exhibition of paintings, photography, pottery, turned wood and jewellery. Anyone interested in tapestry can add a stitch or two to a new banner being made to commemorate the centenary – a chance to be part of the next 100 years of history! (Watch this space; the third of the four festivals, in August next year, will be a music festival, celebrating the best in cathedral style church music. Editor.)


Cantata Vespers at the Cathedral21st November: Bach BWV 140, Wachet auf, ruft uns die

Stimme. (soloists, chorus, strings, trumpet)This service takes place during the Cathedral’s Arts Festival.

201620th February: Bach BWV 82, Ich habe genug (Jonathan Eyers,

bass, strings and oboe)19th March: Bach BWV 182, Himmelskönig, sei wilkommen

(recorder, strings, chorus and solos)16th April: Telemann TWV 1:1744, So gehst du hin? (two

oboes, strings, chorus, solos)21st May: Graupner GWV 1141/30, Lobet den Herrn (strings,

chorus, solos)

Cantata vespers will all occur at 5.00p.m. at St Peter’s Cathedral on the third Saturday of the month. Since they are religious services, there is no admission charge, but there is a retiring collection.

St Peter’s Cathedral Book and Gift ShopThe shop stocks a wide range of CDs, mostly sacred music, but also some serious secular music and of religious books. Particularly for the coming seasons of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany, there is some material which may be of interest to readers:

CDsAdvent at St Paul’s, a selection of Advent music from Tudor

times to presentKatherine Jenkins My ChristmasMusica Sacra Christmas SpectacularTidings: Christmas with the Choir of Wellington Cathedral of St

Paul

Books


Revealed: A course uncovering Advent to Epiphany, Claire Benton-Evans

The Echo of God: A six-week course from Advent to Epiphany, David Adam

Watching & Waiting: A guide to the celebration of Advent, Kenneth Stevenson

Do Nothing, Christmas is coming: An Advent calendar with a difference, Stephen Cottrell

The Light of the World: 31 Days of Advent, Beryl Adamsbaum

Advent and Christmas services and music

St Andrew’s, CambridgeSunday, 22nd Nov.: St Andrew’s Choir and Organ Concert

2.30p.m., St Andrew’s.Sunday, 29th Nov.: Patronal Festival Evensong, 6.00p.m., St

Andrew’s. Saturday, 5th Dec., Christmas Concert, 11.00a.m. in Cambridge

Town HallSunday, 13th Dec.: Carol Service, 7.00p.m., St Andrew’s.Sunday, 20th Dec.: St Andrew’s Choir sings Carol Service,

6.00p.m., at Matamata.

St Mary’s, Maunganui.29th November, 7.00p.m.: Advent Carol service.20th December, 7.00p.m.: Nine Lessons and Carols.

St Mary’s, Hamilton:Christmas Eve: Children’s Mass and Carols at 6p.m. Carol

Service at 11.15p.m., followed by Midnight Mass. The choir sings for these.

Christmas Day: Masses at 7.30a.m. and 10.30a.m.

St Mary’s, New Plymouth:Sunday 29th November - 5.00p.m.


Service of Lessons & Carols for Advent; Choir of the Taranaki Cathedral Church of St Mary and Ars Nova Choir with pre-service organ music from 4.30p.m.

Wednesday 23rd December - 7.30p.m.Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols; Choir of the Taranaki

Cathedral Church of St Mary with pre-service organ music from 7.00p.m.

Thursday 24th December - 11.30p.m.Midnight Mass; Choir of the Taranaki Cathedral Church of St

Mary with pre-service organ music from 11.00p.m.

MatamataCarols at the Firth Tower.On 22nd November at 2.00p.m. a carol service will be held at

this historic venue. All Saints’ Church.20th December - Choir of St Andrew’s, Cambridge, see above.24th December-Midnight Eucharist.This service will include the usual well-known Christmas carols and organ music before, during and at the conclusion of the service played by David Brookes.


St Peter’s, Hamilton: First Sunday of Advent, 29th November: 7.00p.m. Advent carol

serviceFourth Sunday of Advent, 20th December: 6.00p.m. Service of

Nine Lessons and Carols Christmas Eve: 9.00p.m. Carol Service with the Cathedral

Singers, and 11.00p.m. Midnight Mass (choral) Christmas Day: Choral Eucharist at 9.45a.m.

Events calendar for your diaries21st Nov. Cantata Vespers: see above7th May: Branch AGM. Venue to be announced.15th May: closing date for entries in Composition Competition.19th June: Music Sunday at Mt Maunganui.6th August: Youth Festival.October: Choral Festival.

Editor’s columnMany thanks yet again to those who have contributed material for this issue.Back to Messiah with the signature clip in July. This was the beginning of the introduction to the chorus ‘Lift up your heads’.

The committee has received with great regret Rhonda Gibbison’s notice that she will not be making herself available for reelection as secretary at the next AGM. We are extremely grateful to her for her years of service in this role. We hope that members will give thought to whether this is a contribution they could make to the running of the branch, and allow themselves to be nominated.

The next edition of Notes will appear in March, and I would like to be able to publicise Lenten and Easter services around our region, especially those featuring music. I’d thus be very grateful for relevant timetables from churches.

Deadline for material for the next issue: 29th February 2016.


OFFICERSChairwoman Rachael Griffiths-Hughes,

70 Nixon St, [email protected]

856 6365

Past Chairwoman

Paula Spiers, 73/312 Victoria Street, Hamilton.

834 3403

Secretary Rhonda Gibbison, 166B Tramway Road, [email protected]

855 7363

Treasurer Virginia Gallagher, 6 Cambrae Road, [email protected]

825 7443

Editor NOTES Ray Harlow24 Marama St, Hamilton [email protected]

839 3473

Chaplain Revd Peter Lord Cowell, 839 4683

COMMITTEEMark Eyre 121 Taylor Street, Cambridge.

[email protected] 7011 or 027 2838400

Sister ColleenMorey

37C Clyde Street, Hamilton East 3216 [email protected]

8566583

Vaughan Chetwynd

St Andrew’s Church, PO Box 356, Cambridge.

REGIONAL CONTACTSJeremy Whimster

49 Rimu St, Tauranga. 07 578 6056

RSCM (NZ) Website http://rscmnz.org.nzRSCM (England) Website http://www.rscm.com


mailto:[email protected]

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