A Liturgical choir sings once a month at the Sunday 10.00am Mass. Music for the choir is mainly drawn from the Renaissance and Viennese sacred repertoire, although this is not restrictive. The choir sings the customary hymns, psalms and Gregorian chants used at the Mass. New works will also be commissioned for the choir; occasional performances with brass and string ensembles also take place.
The Director of Music is looking for singers who have a clear tone and good sight-reading skills to form quartets, octets and larger ensembles throughout the year. Singers are asked to indicate which service or services they are able to attend. Some singers may be fully committed (with jobs and family duties) and may only be able to come occasionally when there is no clash of commitment. Other singers may be able to attend much more regularly but there is no expectation of regular attendance other than that the singer
honours the commitment made..
The Liturgical Choir rehearses at 9.25am (prior to the Mass at 10.00am) on the actual Sunday. For singers who are based near the church, there is an additional rehearsal on the Friday prior to Choral Sundays at 6pm . All music is distributed prior to rehearsals to singers who have made a commitment to participate in a particular service.
Singers are welcome to act as Cantor at the Sunday Mass throughout the year. This includes singing the Responsorial Psalm and acclamations. There is also the opportunity for a longer, solo
piece during the service which the cantor would be able to provide.
Planned music for 2008 is as follows:
St. Martin's Schola Cantorum
The Schola Cantorum has been established to develop and promote the use of Gregorian Chant within the Liturgy. Although based at St Martin’s, its membership is not exclusive to that church and welcomes singers from churches of different denominations or no faith at all.
The Schola explores Gregorian Chant using the Office of Vespers as a basis. The repertoire includes Gregorian Hymnody, material from the Gradulia
Romanum and choral music inspired by Gregorian Chant.
The Schola is initially being based around music for tenor/baritone/bass voice ranges, although it is hoped to
extend the repertoire to include soprano and alto voices in the future.
The Schola will sing at St Martin’s Roath until its membership and repertoire is fully established. The Schola will not sing at the Sunday Liturgy, thereby allowing singers who are already committed to their own particular church to participate in the life of the Schola. Future plans will include visits to other churches and Cathedrals as part of a devotional programme.
For further information on these activities or music at St. Martin's, please contact Timothy Hill, Director of Music on 01685 37 30 32 or email: music@stmartinsroath.org.uk
The Director of Music is looking for singers who have a clear tone and good sight-reading skills to form quartets, octets and larger ensembles throughout the year. Singers are asked to indicate which service or services they are able to attend. Some singers may be fully committed (with jobs and family duties) and may only be able to come occasionally when there is no clash of commitment. Other singers may be able to attend much more regularly but there is no expectation of regular attendance other than that the singer
honours the commitment made..
The Schola explores Gregorian Chant using the Office of Vespers as a basis. The repertoire includes Gregorian Hymnody, material from the Gradulia
Romanum and choral music inspired by Gregorian Chant.