Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Walter Webster RIP

I am very sorry to report the death this morning of Schola singer Walter Webster.

Walter and his wife Sheila were both popular and respected singers in Catholic choirs in the North of England. Walter had been for many years a leading tenor in the choir of St Mary's Sunderland (rated by some as the best mixed-voice choir in the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle) and had also sung with the Rudgate Singers and the Latin Mass Choir at St Dominic's Priory.

In recent years Walter sang regularly with the Schola, making a valuable contribution with his wealth of experience and still strong tenor voice. He was a choir master's delight: reliable, musical and doing as requested!

His funeral (a Sung Requiem according to the Missal of Blessed John XXIII) will take place at St Patrick's Ryhope at 10am on Thursday 7 February.

Requiescat in Pace.

Sunday, January 6, 2008

Epiphany

This year we sang the Mass of the Epiphany at the Church of SS Peter and Paul, Longbenton.

The Introit and Alleluia were sung by the Schola to chants from the Liber Usualis. The remainder of the Proper of the Mass was sung by the Schola to chants arranged by Carlo Rossini.

The Ordinary of the Mass was sung antiphonally using Mass VIII and Credo III.

At the Offertory the Schola sang (in four parts - a capella) the Epiphany version of “Adeste fideles” which includes the verse:-
Stella duce, Magi Christum adorantes,
Aurum, thus, et myrrham dant munera.
Jesu infanti corda praebeamus.
(Lo, star-led chieftains, Magi Christ adoring,
Offer Him incense, gold and myrrh.
We to the Christ child bring our hearts’ oblations.)

At the end of Mass all sang the hymn “As with Gladness Men of Old”.

After Mass we were all given a piece of blessed chalk to write the inscription 20CMB08 on or beside the front door of our homes in order to bless our homes and those who live there. The letters stand for Christus Mansionem Benedicat (May Christ bless this house) and also represent the initials of the names tradition ascribes to the Magi (Caspar Melchior and Balthazar).