Sunday, 14th December

Went to the 11a.m. Choral Eucharist at SAINT THOMAS CHURCH FIFTH AVENUE http://www.saintthomaschurch.org/ Except for its length, Saint Thomas is of cathedral proportions, with the nave vault rising 95 feet above the floor. The church is built completely of stone, according to medieval construction principles, using load-bearing rib vaulting without the space-spanning benefits of steel. The size, spacing, and number of columns and arches are precisely what is necessary to support the structure - and give it the unique acoustical properties associated with churches built of the same materials and in the same way during the Middle Ages. Because much of the music presented in concert at Saint Thomas was composed for use in these churches - not in the concert hall - Saint Thomas Church provides an authentic space in which this music can be heard today. Add to the sound the sight of a magnificent Gothic interior and you have an experience that is hard to surpass in New York.


John Scott, Organist and Director of Music since 2004, is one of the world’s leading organists and choir trainers. After his initial musical training as a Cathedral chorister in Wakefield, Yorkshire, Mr. Scott immersed himself in organ and choral music, becoming Organ Scholar of St. John’s College, Cambridge. While still a student, he made his Royal Albert Hall debut as the youngest organ soloist to appear in the Proms.Upon leaving Cambridge, Mr. Scott was jointly appointed Assistant Organist at London’s two Anglican Cathedrals, St. Paul’s and Southwark. He subsequently became Sub-Organist of St. Paul’s, and served as Director of Music there for fourteen years before joining Saint Thomas Church as Director of Music. In 1998, he was nominated International Performer of the Year by the New York Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and is a frequent jury member of the world’s most prestigious organ competitions. Before embarking for his new post in New York, he was awarded the title Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO), a personal honor from Queen Elizabeth II.



David and I had met and sang under the direction of John Scott in Brisbane at a Royal School of Church Music Summer School , during the time he was at St Paul's. We were particularly excited to hear Frank Martin's acapella mass for double choir within the context of a service.
'One of the greatest a cappella works written this century'; so writes Gramophone's Marc Rochester in the sleeve note to this recording, and this is no exaggeration. Written in 1922, with a devastatingly effective Agnus Dei being added in 1926, Frank Martin's Mass for double choir is a truly wonderful work, combining intensely personal moments of religious contemplation with outbursts of overwhelming glory.

David had sung and and been in a recording of this with Canticum Chamber Choir Brisbane, Australia conducted by Music Director, Emily Cox. http://www.canticum.asn.au/ so we were familiar with the work . The Saint Thomas Choir of 12 men and about 30 boy choristers (who attend Saint Thomas Choir School, the only church-affiliated residential choir school in the United States, and one of only four such schools remaining in the world) is considered by critics to be the leading ensemble in the Anglican choral tradition in the United States, and among the finest in the world.. They certainly lived up to their reputation in this service .



We had to rush off after the service to have lunch back at the apartment and head off on a journey to the Cathedral of the Incarnation, Garden City, New York which involved taking the Long Island Rail Road "Hempstead Line" from Penn Station in Manhattan on 34th ST to the Garden City Station- a journey of about an hour and a half all up.

We were going to the Lessons & Carols for Christmas Service at 4p.m. as the former organ scholar at St Paul's Burwood and Christ Church St Laurence here in Sydney , Alistair 'Nipper' Nelson is the Associate Organist/Choirmaster .

Mr. Larry M. Tremsky, Canon Musician ,has been the Organist and Master of the Choirs at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Garden City since July of 2000.

http://www.incarnationgc.org/cathedral_worship.html

Music has been an important part in the life of the Cathedral since its founding. They offer a thriving and varied choral program, a concert series, and the largest pipe organ on Long Island. http://www.incarnationgc.org/cathedral_worship.html

The Choir of Men & Boys, one of the few remaining in the United States and Canada, normally sings at the 11:15 Choral Eucharist, and was founded in 1883. The Cathedral Girls' Choir, made up of 26 girls, was founded in 1933 to offer girls the same opportunities for musical training and ministry as the boys have . The girls normally sing at the 9:30 Family Eucharist. The Schola Cantorum was established in 1998 to expand the repertoire available for the Girls’Choir to sing, and to give adult women an opportunity to participate regularly in the music ministry of the Cathedral. The Schola frequently joins with the girls for the 9:30 am service, and joins with the full choir for major events, such as this.

The service was wonderful, the choir magnificent and "Nipper" did us proud .(especially in his playing of Reger as the postlude)

The music included the following

Once in Royal David’s City

Philip Ledger -Sussex Carol

Frank Boles – Adam lay ybounden

Hymn – Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming

Robert Pearsall – In dulci jubilo

John Rutter – There is a flower

Hymn – O little town of Bethlehem

John Joubert – When Christ was born of Mary free

Sergei Rachmaninoff - Бoropoлицe Дeвo (Bogododitse Devo)

Max Reger – The slumber song of the Virgin

Peter Warlock – Bethlehem down

Hymn – A stable lamp is lighted

John Tavener – Today the Virgin

Hymn – Hark! The herald angels sing



Following the service we went to a reception in the undercroft and enjoyed the hospitality of the parishioners -good food and would you believe, Aussie wine !

Then we went out for a meal to a nearby Italian restaurant with Nipper and Larry and had a lovely time.

Nipper came back into Manhattan with us on the train to look at the Christmas lights in Times Square and the 'red stairs ' http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/17/nyregion/17tkts.html
By the time we got back to the apartment it was after 11p.m. but it had been a great day.