Our Lady and the English Martyrs,

Cambridge

Please click on one of the following:

Introduction.

Choral & Instrumental

The Organ

The Bells

Concerts

Organ Concerts

Contacts

Links

Introduction

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The musical tradition of the universal Church is a treasure of inestimable value, greater even than that of any other art. The main reason for this pre-eminence is that, as a combination of sacred music and words, it forms a necessary or integral part of the solemn liturgy.

The Constitution on The Sacred Liturgy, Article 112

The Church makes uses of many signs and symbols to celebrate her faith - music being of pre-eminent importance. Sacred music is not to be seen merely as an adornment, but rather as a 'necessary' and 'integral' part of the liturgy. Its fundamental purpose in the community of faith is to glorify God and to sanctify the faithful. Its function is ministerial - music must serve and never dominate. At best it helps the assembly to pray more profoundly, and in doing so they enter into a deeper unity one with another, as together they celebrate the Mysteries of Jesus Christ and are joined to His perfect hymn of prayer and praise to the Father.

Here at OLEM, music plays a valuable part in our liturgical celebrations. The musical treasury of the Church is preserved and cultivated by the regular singing of Gregorian chant, polyphony and music of the classical and romantic periods, through to the best of the contemporary. What follows is a description of the various choirs, instrumental and musical activities that contribute to the life of our parish and its liturgy. If you would like to become involved in one or more areas of the musical life of our parish, then do get in touch.

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Choral and Instrumental

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The Choir sing for the 10.45am Sung Mass on Sunday mornings, mid-week solemnities, as well as for the solemn liturgies of Christmas and the Easter Triduum. Composed of young post-graduate musicians and semi-professional singers, their repertoire ranges from plainsong and polyphony through to works by contemporary composers such as Richard Proulx, Colin Mawby, Andrew Wright and Philip Duffy. New members are welcome. Good sight reading ability is important and entry is by audition. The choir rehearses at 9.30am before the Sunday morning mass. For further information please contact the Director of Music.

The Latin Schola sing the weekly Latin Mass on Sunday evenings at 6.15pm. A wide repertoire of music is performed, almost exclusively in Latin, and includes a substantial amount of plainsong and polyphony. Experienced and committed singers are welcome. The choir rehearses every Wednesday from 8 - 9.30pm and on Sunday before the Mass from 5pm. Further details available from the Director of Music.

The Five Alive Group was founded in 1993 to provide contemporary music for the Sunday Mass at 5pm. The music performed covers a wide range of composers and style. New singers and instrumentalists are welcome to join. If you would like more information then please contact Joe Caprani.

Cantors We are seeking to recruit a team of cantors who will be able to lead the singing of the psalm and acclamations particularly at the 6pm Saturday (Vigil) Mass and the Sunday Family Mass at 9.30am. If you enjoy singing and would be interested in some training for this important ministry, then please contact the Director of Music.

The Abbott & Smith Organ

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Click here for a view of the organ

Click here for a view of the organ keyboard

Renovated by Nicholson & Co (2002)

Specification of the Abbott & Smith Organ

GREAT ORGAN CHOIR ORGAN *ADDITIONS (2002)

Double Diapason 16 Open Diapason 8 Tuba 8 on Choir

Large Open Diapason 8 Violoncello 8 (unenclosed)

Small open Diapason 8 Clarabella 8 8 thumb pistons to Gt Organ

Doppel Flute 8 Dulciana 8 8 thumb pistons to Sw Organ

Principal 4 Lieblich Flute 4 8 thumb pistons to Ch Organ

Harmonic Flute 4 Piccolo 2 Reversible thumb pistons to

Fifteenth 2 Contra Fagotto (tc) 16 all unison couplers

Mixture 15.19.22 Clarinet 8 8 general thumb pistons:

Trumpet 8 *Tuba 8 96 levels of memory with

Clarion 4 Swell to Choir 16 divisional levels

Swell to Great Reversible toe pistons

Choir to Great Gt to Ped, Sw to Gt

Gt + Ped combs coupled

Gen on Sw toe pistons

SWELL ORGAN PEDAL ORGAN Setter Piston/Gen Cancel

Tuba blower on/off

Bourdon 16 Open Diapason 16

Open Diapason 8 Bourdon 16

Lieblich Gedeckt 8 Violoncello 8

Viola da Gamba 8 Trombone 16

Lieblich Gedeckt 8 Great to Pedal

Voix Celeste (tc) 8 Choir to Pedal

Principal 4 Swell to Pedal

Fifteenth 2

Mixture II 19.22

Double Trumpet 16

Horn 8

Oboe 8

Clarion 4

Tremulant

Super Octave

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'The pipe organ is to be held in high honour in the Latin Church as the traditional musical instrument, the sound of which has the power not only to add a wonderful splendour to the Church's ceremonies, but also to lift up men's minds in a remarkable way to God and things on high.'

Instruction on Music in the Sacred Liturgy V111. 62.

The Past ~ The three-manual Abbott & Smith organ was designed by the then University Professor of Music, Sir Charles Villiers Stanford, a significant figure in English music as both composer and teacher. The year 2002 sees the 150th anniversary of his birth. The organ is an historic instrument and remains largely in it's original state, although electronic action and blowers have been installed.

In 1999 a report on the condition of the organ was commissioned. The report concluded that there was urgent need for repair and renovation of this fine instrument. The pipes were clogged with dust and dirt, electronic contacts were wearing out, the keys and stops were chipped and the wind chests beginning to split. The condition of the organ made it tricky to play and listeners were no longer able to appreciate it's true quality.

The organ would cost in the region of £750,000 to build today. A programme of renovation, preserving it's essential qualities, and enabling it to meet contemporary needs was devised, and the appeal for £120,000 was launched on Friday January 25th 2002. The organ builders Nicholson & Co of Malvern were awarded the contract for the work which included :-

· cleaning and the complete overhaul of the pipes

· renewing the swell, great and choir electric actions

· overhauling and restoring the wind chests

· upgrading the keyboards and console

· installing a new solo tuba stop on the choir division.

Work began on the organ in April 2002 and was completed by September. The organ’s pipe-work has been cleaned, sound boxes repaired; the instrument now has a new mechanism and electrical systems,

The console has been renovated with new keyboards and a new combination system, together with a new adjustable bench and mirror. The brand new solo Tuba has been installed thanks to a generous bequest from the Howe family.

The Bells

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The bells of OLEM are renown as one of the most celebrated in the ringing fraternity. The eight bells are rung by ringers from the Cambridge area (including the University Guild) for mid-week solemnities and weddings. If you would like further information please contact the Tower Captain, Paul Seaman via the Parish Office.

Concerts

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‘TE DEUM LAUDAMUS’ Our annual Musicfest begins on the great Feast of Pentecost (May 11th) and finishes on the Feast of Corpus Christi (25^th).

The festival is a wonderful opportunity to welcome local people, occasional visitors and tourists to our church, as well as an opportunity to reflect and give thanks for the Church’s ‘rich treasury’ of sacred music.

Sunday 11^th May

The Solemnity of Pentecost

MASSES 6.OOpm (Saturday 10^th)

8.00am, 9.30am (Family) 1215pm (Polish) 5.00pm (Sung)

10.45am SOLEMN MASS

Chorale ‘Komm, Hieiliger Geist, Herr Gott’ Buxtehude

New English Mass II David Hill

Spirit of Mercy Paul Johnson (first perfermance)

Praeludium in D (532) Buxtehude

6.15pm SOLEMN LATIN MASS

Missa Dum Complerentur Victoria

Loquebantur variis linguis Tallis

Fantasia ‘Komm, Heiliger Ceist, Herr Gott’ J S Bach

Monday 12^th May

Feria

MASSES 8.00am, 12.15pm

12.45 pm ORGAN CORNER I

Richard Cowers King’s College School, Cambridge

Works by Buxtehude, Bach, Mendelssohn, Stanford and Cowers

Richard l5 a chorister at King’s College Chapel and has recently won a

music scholarship to Eton College. Admission free/retiring collection

Tuesday 13^th May

Feria

MASS 8.00am

7.30pm SUNG MASS (women’s voices)

Chorale ‘Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier’ J S Bach

Mass XII (plainsong)

Hymn to Jesus Paul Johnson

Chant de Mai Jongen

Wednesday 14^th May

Feast of Saint Matthias, Apostle

MASSES 8.00am, 10.00am

12.45pm MIDDAY MUSIC I

Ian de Massini PIANO

Eight Preludes J S Bach, Huit preludes Messiaen

Pianist, organist, conductor and composer, Ian de Massini continues his journey through the complete keyboard works of J S Bach, interleaved in this recital with Huit preludes marking the centenary of the birth of Olivier Messiaen. Admission free/retiring collection

6.30pm CHORAL EVENSONG

Sung by the Choir of the University Church of Great St Mary, Cambridge

Sam Hays DIRECTOR Leigh Simpson ASSISTANT ORGANIST

Responses Shephard

Canticles Stanford in A

My soul there is a country Parry

Psalm Prelude No.1 Howells

Thursday 15^th May

MASSES 8.00am, 1000am

Friday 16^th May

MASSES 8.00am, 10.00am

7.30pm ‘LOVE LOST AND FOUND’

Ben Thapa TENOR Anne Marshall PIANO

Works by Schumann, Leoncavallo and Tosti

After graduating from London’s Guildhall School, Ben spent three years as a member of the chart topping crossover group G4. Now a postgraduate student at the Royal College of Music, Ben returns to his home church with pianist Anne Marshall to present a memorable programme of German and Italian works,

Admission free/retiring collection

Saturday 17^th May

MASS 10.00am

6.00pm FIRST MASS OF THE SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY

(organ and cantor)

Chorale ‘O Gott Du frommer Gott’ Brahms

Lourdes Mass Lecot

Fantasia ‘Wir glauben all; an einen Gott, Schapfer’ J S Bach

7.30pm CHORAL CONCERT I

The Brentwood Cathedral Consort

with members of the Choirs of Our Lady & The English Martyrs

Andrew Wright CONDUCTOR Julia Wilson-James SOLOIST

Nigel Kerry ORGAN

English choral works by Byrd, Stanford and Mawby,

concluding with a performance of Andrew Wright’s ‘Requiem’ Admission free/retiring collection

Sunday 18^th May

MASSES 8.00am, 9.30am (Family)

12.15pm (Polish) 5.00pm (Sung)

10.45am SOLEMN MASS

Prelude ‘O Gott du Frommer Gott’ Peeters

Psalm 150 Mawby

The Cambridge Mass Andrew Wright

Ad maiorem Dei gloriam Matthias

God in Trinity Andrew Wright

‘Alleluias’ Preston

6.15pm SOLEMN LATIN MASS

Missa ave regina caelorum Victoria

Libera nos, salve nos Sheppard

Grand Choeur ‘Benedicamus Dominum’ Weitz

Monday 19^th May

MASSES 8.00am, 12.15pm

12 45pm ORGAN CORNER II

Spencer Martin The Leys School Cambridge

Works by Buxtehude, Bach, Brahms and Widor

Spencer holds an organ scholarship at the Leys School in Cambridge. His programme of German and French works concludes with Widor’s ever-popular Toccata.

Admission free/retiring collection

Tuesday 20th May

MASS 8.00am

7.30pm SUNG MASS (men’s voices)

Chorale ‘Wie wohl ist mir, O Freund der Seelen’ Karg-Elert

Mass Xl (plainsong) View Me Lord Wood

‘Harmonies du Soir’ Karg-Elert

Wednesday 21^st May

MASSES 8.00am, 10.00am

12.45pm MIDDAY MUSIC II

Sarah Rosewell SOPRANO Nigel Kerry ORGAN

Works by Bach, Handel, Schubert, Peeters, Alain and Vann

A lunchtime recital of music for organ and voice featuring Cambridge-based soprano, Sarah Rosewell.

Admission free/retiring collection

Thursday 22^nd May

MASSES 8.00am, 10.00am

Friday 23^rd May

MASSES 8.00am, 10.00am

7.3Opm THE 2008 GRAND PARISH QUIZ

St Mary’s School Hall, Bateman Street

Now established as a not-to-be missed fixture in the church calendar, the annual parish battle of wits also includes a delicious ploughman’s supper, bar and raffle. Our indefatigable Monsignorial Quizmaster, Tony Rogers, will be firing the questions and proceeds for the evening will go to help fund music education projects in our twin parish of Birzeit, Palestine. Tickets £5 or £20 for a family ticket Available from the parish office: 01223 350787 office@olem.org.uk

Saturday 24^th May

MASS 10.00am

6.00pm FIRST MASS OF THE SOLEMNITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI (organ and cantor)

Versets (l-IV) on ‘Adoro te Devote’ Peeters

Corpus Christi Mass Proulx

Versets (V&Vl) on ‘Adoro te Devote’ Peeters

7.30pm CHORAL CONCERT II

Cambridge Voices

Ian de Massini DIRECTOR Jonathan Lilley ORGAN

Works by Duruflé, Paulenc, Messiaen, Fauré, Bax, Hawells, Handel and de Massini together with organ fireworks!

The concert series concludes with a gala evening of English and French master choral and organ works, performed by the celebrated Cambridge Voices, joined by the talented organist from Ely Cathedral, Jonathan Lilley. Admission free/retiring collection

Sunday 25^th May

MASSES 8.00am, 9.30am (Family)

12.15pm (Polish) 5.00pm (Sung)

10.45am SOLEMN MASS

Chorale: ‘Schmücke Dich, O Liebe Seele’ J S Bach

The Losinga Mass Malcalm Archer

Corpus Christi the Fountainhead Paul Johnson

Panis Angelicus Mawby

Finale Symphony No.1 Vierne

6.l5pm SOLEMN LATIN MASS

Mass in G minor Vaughan Williams

O Sacrum Convivium Messiaen