For nearly 20 years I’ve contributed quite a few articles, mainly to our ‘Cathedral Notes’ here at Newcastle but also occasionally to the Diocesan journal or the national RSCM magazine. ‘Cathedral Notes’ went into abeyance just as I was about to publish an article about the new (2016) initiative of a school ‘Organ Workshop’; it reappeared two years later, but then in late 2019 it ‘evolved’ to communicate news of the extensive building redevelopment project… and promptly went into abeyance again.
Several friends had suggested making these pieces available to a wider readership; so I started in 2017 with one which (back in 2000) introduced us at Newcastle… and then a much later one (2013) to celebrate two significant anniversaries!
Several people liked one from 2014 discussing gender issues…
Cathnotes Gender14
… then the 2016 one about school Organ Workshops was finally uploaded in 2019…
Cathnotes 2019 1b
The cathedral became a building site in January 2020, with no vacation choirs planned. We started making other plans for the summer; but meanwhile the Corona Virus crisis put a stop to all public worship – let alone vacation choirs. It’s a very worrying time for everyone; but watch this space for developments regarding the Choir. Here’s my May 2020 update: Summer 2020a
We’d planned to sing at Oxford in August 2020, but understandably the people at Christ Church Cathedral made the reluctant decision to ‘stand down’ all their summer choirs. I mention this, and some other news, in my July 2020 update: Summer 2020b
Continuing restrictions into autumn and winter have of course affected all choirs. At least BBC broadcasts of Choral Evensong were able to resume, and there have been some great initiatives in ‘streamed’ worship and music. Fitz Choir people have commented that we should stay positive and keep planning; so here’s a further update to be going on with: Autumn 2020a
OXFORD 2021
After months of uncertainty, some vacation choirs were functioning again in Summer 2021. Kieran joined friends from Yorkshire, back at Ripon Cathedral, on 7th-8th August for three very successful services.
A small, determined Fitz Choir group (including four of those ‘Yorkie’ friends) went to Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, from Wednesday 18th to Sunday 22nd August. We sang four Evensongs, and Sung Eucharist on the Sunday. Kieran shared directing and accompanying with Tamsin Brown, well known for her work at St John’s, Newcastle. We’re uploading to our ‘GALLERY’ pictures from 2021 (and some which should have been posted there earlier!), and a full update appears here:
NEWCASTLE 2022
We had a provisional plan for Oxford in August 2022, but in March it became clear that accommodation would be much more expensive than in 2021. At Newcastle, D-o-M Ian Roberts was keen to welcome us back after two years’ absence, so after weighing up several options, we booked a long weekend which a balanced 16 or so singers could do there. It was Friday 5th to Sunday 7th August, with our usual opportunities for social time together. Our music list appears on the cathedral’s Web site; there are items written by our good friends Philip Riley and John Lewis, besides my own Missa Orbis Factor which I wrote for the cathedral in 2007. Ian accompanied us on the Sunday; for Friday and Saturday we welcomed back my former Gateshead colleague John Goodenough, who last played for us in 2009.
Links to our August 2022 ‘streamed’ services are below:
Friday: https://youtu.be/veCGx6TApVg
Saturday: https://youtu.be/ozeS-5-x49A
Sunday AM: https://youtu.be/IFCRw_qTLxA
KIERAN’S 70th
As in June 2013, Chris again did us proud by arranging a boat trip on the Thames. Along with family, the Choir was represented by two of our south-eastern singers – Fiona from Reading, and Pete from London. A curry followed. We’ll add some photos soon.
NEWCASTLE 2023
Summer 2023 was quite busy. Kevin’s choir covered a July Sunday at Ripon then had a 5-day residency at Llandaff. Kieran joined in both, then in August several Yorks friends came to Fitz Choir at Newcastle. We gave a second outing to The Headingley Service – Kieran’s Mag & Nunc in A, written in memory of Anthony Stretton (Kevin had conducted it for the first time on Remembrance Sunday 2022).
We sang cathedral services on Saturday 12th August (4.00pm Evensong) and Sunday 13th August (10.00am Eucharist and 4.00pm Evensong) – full details on the cathedral’s site. We were again privileged to have Ian Roberts as our organist.
We returned to Brinkburn Priory on Holiday Monday (28th August). About ten singers had hoped to be with us, but several (including our entire Yorks contingent) had other commitments – mainly family – so in the end a quartet of local supporters gave one of our organ-based concerts. Lots of chorale preludes etc., but also four choir anthems. It was successful, with a good audience; we’ll post some recordings in due course.
Here are links to our 2023 ‘streamed’ services:
Saturday: Choral Evensong on Saturday 12th August, 2023. – YouTube
Sunday AM: Sung Eucharist for the Tenth Sunday after Trinity – 13th August, 2023 – YouTube
Sunday PM: Choral Evensong on the Tenth Sunday after Trinity. – YouTube