Page 22 - Church Music Quarterly March 2018

minister, there will be ample opportunity for the new instruments to be used
for God’s praise, for which purpose
they were set apart and consecrated. Spread the Good News!
Dr Rita Le Var, organist, St Eligius, Arborfield Green
REMEMBRANCE DAY SERVICE
RSCM France, 11 November 2017
It was a privilege and pleasure for the RSCM France Singers to be invited once again to lead the singing at the annual British and Commonwealth Remembrance Service for the Paris Branch of the Royal British Legion in Notre-Dame Cathedral on 11 November.
Practices for the choir took place from mid-October in the American Cathedral, kindly made available. In this way, the singers, older and younger and drawn from some 10 choirs in the Paris area, had an opportunity to prepare for the kind of acoustic that would await them on the day. The preparation of all the hymns and National Anthem was particularly thorough, resulting in fine, confident singing during the service.
In addition, the 34 choir members gave an excellent account of the John Ireland anthem Greater Love, something of
a ‘staple’ on such occasions.
It was in the newly commissioned work In Pace, written by award-winning young English composer Jack Oades, that the Singers excelled themselves.
RSCM France Singers in Notre-Dame Cathedral
In this slow-moving piece, typical of much 21st-century choral music, the Singers produced a sound that was tuneful, convincing and deeply moving. The ‘macaronic’ text (in four languages), taken from the Book of Wisdom, represented the languages of the
main former combatants, all of which resolved into Latin, the universal language of peace. The composer, present to direct the anthem, was
full of admiration for the musicality of the choir and the excellence of our regular accompanist, Sarah Kim.
The direction of the music was shared between our visiting composer, Zachary Ullery (RSCM France CPO
and Canon Director of Music at the American Cathedral, Paris), and John Crothers, RSCM France Chair. Following the service, a number of the choir members were welcomed to a reception at the British Embassy in Paris, hosted by the ambassador, Lord Llewellyn.
John Crothers, Chair, RSCM France
Arborfield Green: blessing the organ and piano
NEWS FROM RSCM CANADA
Eastern Ontario and Quebec Chapter
The Montreal Organ Festival was held in early July with over 700 church musicians from across Canada and
the United States, including several members from RSCM Canada. The Royal Canadian College of Organists Convocation was held at Christ Church Cathedral with music under the direction of organist Patrick Wedd.
Music programmes continue to flourish in Montreal at St Matthew’s and at Christ Church Cathedral, as well as St Thomas, Belleville, and Sacred Heart Choir in Peterborough, Ontario. Recently, the Chapel Choir Captains
at Trinity College School, Port Hope, received their highly coveted badge
of office, the RSCM shield pin.
Niagara-Huron Chapter
Tyler Mäkinen, organist at All Saints, London Ontario, is the recipient of the 2017 Bursary. This award is open to students in organ, piano, and voice, and are regular participants in their church’s worship.
A Celebration of Advent: Hymns and Music for the season took place on 3 December at All Saints, London, Ontario with choirs from the area and Fr Quenton Little, Tyler Mäkinen and William Lupton providing leadership. William Lupton, RSCM Canada
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