Ulster Society of Organists and Choirmasters

U.S.O.C. Newsletter - November 2007

Holywood Festival and Organ Recital

Saturday 17th November 2007 at 3pm
Holywood Methodist Church

Holywood Methodist Church

This is the inaugural Organ Competition of the Holywood Music Festival and is the brainchild of Dr Harry Grindle, and put together by our committee member, Mr Stephen Timpany.

Stephen has worked very hard to set up this competition encouraging all organists to display their talents and abilities and we are very grateful to him. He has also organised our judge, Mr Peter Barley, Organist and Master of the Choristers at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin.

He will be giving a short recital at the end of the competition on the attractive two-manual organ. Mr Barley will surely demonstrate the versatility of the instrument and its colours, even if it is a smaller instrument than his usual haunt!

This is the last event in the 2007 USOC calendar, so please come along!

And later that evening . . . . . .

Ecclesium, Cathedral Voices and Melisma combine to perform the Durufle Requiem at St Peter’s Cathedral, Falls Road at 7.30pm (17th Nov)

USOC and St Peter’s have formed a close bond this year, achieving a sung mass on a Saturday, once a month throughout 2007.

The series concludes with this liturgical performance of the Durufle Requiem, directed by Philip Stopford with organist David Leigh, Dublin.

The service, with has no admission fee, will be preceded by a concert of Sacred Choral Music, sung by Ecclesium, directed by Philip Stopford. Music will include Allegri’s Miserere and two setting of Salve Regina by Victoria and Poulenc. Two works by Stopford will also be performed, a new setting of the collect of St Luke and the Beatitudes. Tickets can be purchased in advance from St Patrick’s Church, Donegall Street, or admission by programme. The Concert is at 6pm. Tea and coffee will be served between the concert and requiem mass.

Incidentally, the 2008 series begins with Melisma on Saturday 19th January2008, when the setting will be Mass in E flat for unaccompanied double choir by Josef Rheinberger.

Rheinberger

CHRISTMAS SERVICES and CONCERTS

The Priory Singers, (Director: Harry Grindle) Saturday 15 December, 2007 at 8pm

with Noel Williamson (Organ) will present what will be their last "Carols by Candlelight" in St. Molua's Parish Church, Stormont, Belfast. Admission: £10 (including seasonal refreshments).
Tickets available from The Good Book Shop, 61-67 Donegall Street, Matchetts Music Ltd., 6 Wellington Place or telephone (028) 9048 4913.

“Have yourself a merry little Christmas” with Melisma Friday 21st December 2007 at 7.30pm

All your favourite carols ancient and modern and the first performance of A Celtic Christmas by Philip Stopford. Mulled wine and minced pies.
Tickets £10, 028 9029 0567 www.melisma.org

St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast

Sunday 16th December	3.30pm	Carols for the City
Sunday 23rd December	3.30pm	Come and go carols
Monday 24th December	8pm	Nine Lessons and Carols
			11pm	Midnight Eucharist
				(Cathedral Voices)
Tuesday 25th December 	11am	Christmas Day Eucharist

Any items of interest or news, or church posts you wish to advertise, should be sent to me at music@belfastcathedral.org or Director of Music, Belfast Cathedral, Donegall Street, Belfast, BT1 2HB. Thank you. Philip Stopford, Hon.Sec.

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