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2005 saw the launch of The Guild website (www.stpaulsguild.org), which will evolve over the years as a central resource for news and history of the choristers of St Paul’s Cathedral. We would also recommend a visit to www.ofchoristers.net, an extraordinary work of dedication.
Music in the Cathedral has, naturally, changed a little to reflect the personality of the new Organist and Director of Music, Malcolm Archer, whose name as composer now appears more often on the Cathedral music lists (see pink box link to the right of this page). A new CD of Christmas music, Love Came Down at Christmas, was recorded – as is often the way – in the summer and includes Malcolm’s carol of the same name, plus a beautiful recording of Jan Sandstrom’s ethereal arrangement of Es ist ein Ros entsprungen. It is released on Griffin (GCCD 4051).
Many former choristers, Guild members and current chorister parents sing in St Paul’s Cathedral Chorus, which has augmented the Cathedral Choir in performances of Handel's Messiah and JS Bach's St John Passion for many years. The Chorus is always happy to hear from former choristers who would like to join their happy throng. Contact Chorus Secretary, Yvonne Jackman (herself a former chorister parent), on 020 8391 4437 for further information. Neither the rehearsal nor performance schedule is demanding, yet standards are very high, so here is a fine opportunity for good singers who would like to keep singing but cannot meet the more demanding schedules of the bigger London choruses. Chorus rehearsals are at 6.15pm on Tuesdays in St Martin’s Ludgate, Ludgate Hilll, just down the road from our alma mater. Prior audition is required, but, by arrangement, you may attend an initial rehearsal to see whether you can still read Messiah in half-light!
The following choristers left at the end of the 2005 academic year; we thank them for their contributions to the choir over the years and wish them all luck in their senior schools and future careers: Finlay Bain (Hampton School), Ben Collings (Oundle), James Ferguson (Reigate Grammar School), Augustus Perkins-Ray (Stowe School), Basil Vincent (Uppingham School), Joseph Bourne , Julius Carboni, Charles Dalton and Sebastian Payne (all to The King's School, Canterbury).
Following massive investment and several years of cleaning and refurbishment, St Paul’s Cathedral is now looking better than ever. The interior stone is gleaming, the interior has been re-lit and the even the pineapples on the top of the front towers have been re-gilded. If you are in London please call in, not only to hear the choir but also to enjoy once again the sheer glory of Sir Christopher Wren’s architectural masterpiece. The weekly music list is posted on the Guild website (see pink box link to the right of this page), along with all the Cathedral news on www.stpauls.co.uk.
Other news:
• Dec: Simon Russell Beale (chorister 1969-74) takes over the role of King Arthur from Tim Curry in the Tony Award-winning Monty Python musical Spamalot on Broadway.
• 13 Nov: Guild Chairman, Robert Bowles, John Riggs and Hon Sec, Nigel Edmund-Jones, represented the Guild for a wreath-laying ceremony at the Choristers' War Memorial in St Paul's Cathedral after Evensong. 33 choristers gave their lives in the Great War and the Second World War. Canon Martin Warner reminded those assembled that Heaven "was full of singing" (Revelation).
• 10 Jul: Fauré in a Day. Mark Williams, Assistant Sub-Organist of St Paul's Cathedral and Director of Music at St Paul's Cathedral School, conducted a 70-strong choir in Fauré Requiem at St Giles Cripplegate, the Barbican, London on 10 July 2005. The performance, sung by members of the Guild, the St Paul's Cathedral Chorus, parents and teachers from St Paul's Cathedral School, was dedicated to those who lost their lives in the London bombings, 7 July 2005. Click to see report and photos.
Maria Hackett
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• 2 Jun: Maria Hackett
'The Choristers' Friend'
('The Scourge of St Paul's - BBC Radio 4)
Read more about the truly redoubtable Miss Hackett, who died in 1876 - the year that the Carter Lane Choir School was opened - on: www.ofchoristers.net
Photo: Getty Images
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• 9 Nov: Former under-19 England cricket captain, Alastair Cook (chorister 1993-98), is called up as cover for injured England captain, Michael Vaughan, on the England cricket team's tour of Pakistan. Click here for Essex CC story.
3 Sep: Alastair scores 214 (with a hangover?) against the Australians at Chelmsford. Click here for CricInfo story.
2 Sep: Alastair Cook wins Cricket Writers' Club Young Cricketer of the Year Award for 2005.
• 12 Jul: Former England U-19 cricket captain, Alastair, primarily a batsman, claimed his maiden 1st-class wickets with 3-13 for Essex CCC v Northants.
...and finally:
• Dome, sweet dome, Lisa Jardine writing in The Guardian in 2002: 'So, over and above the iconic shape, it is to the unorthodox resolutions of St Paul's, its reconciliation of form and function at so many scales, that we respond. We engage with the built form as we can never engage with Hawksmoor's unbuilt designs, or even Wren's own presentation drawings. In St Paul's we experience the fusion of art and engineering, and as we do so, we, like Defoe, pay homage to Wren, the original polymath and above all determined architect.'
