Schola Gregoriana Gregorian Chant Instruction, London

New dates: up to November

Directed by Dr. Peter Wilton, B.Ed (Hons.)  M.Mus

(Editor of chant for the Office of Vespers for Westminster Cathedral Choir)

Discover the profound beauty and infinite variety of this timeless music by learning to sing it.

From 6.30 (after end of Mass) to 8 pm, Mondays 25th September, 9th, 23rd October, 13th and 27th November

At  St. James’s Spanish Place, George Street,  London,  W1U 3QY

(nearest tube station:  Bond Street; click here for a map)

18th December 7 pm:  Party at 26 The Grove, Ealing, W5 5LH

Study will include square notation, pre-stave neumes, interpretation, music for the Mass, daily offices, music for special occasions, psalmody and texts in different languages.

Anyone able to sing in tune is welcome, with or without chant experience.

Cost:  £5 per evening

Enquiries to Mr. Grey Macartney,  26 The Grove, Ealing, W5 5LH

Tel:  020 8840 5832            E-mails:  grey.macartney@gmail.com

Chant Course in Oxford, 11-13 August

SING GREGORIAN CHANT in the Liturgy SCHOLA GREGORIANA

Friday 11th - Sunday 13th August 2017

A weekend of enchanting melody and traditional liturgy in the beautiful surroundings of St.Stephen’s House, Oxford, to commemorate the centenary of the birth of the Founder of the Schola Gregoriana of Cambridge, Dr. Mary Berry (1917-2008), and to explore her legacy

Directors: Christopher Hodkinson, Philip Duffy and Fr. Guy Nicholls

The programme includes:

Study of the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary and celebration of all eight hours of the Office

New book: Gradual, by Berkely and Scotland

From the Moretus Gradual, 1598

I've just purchased a read an intriguing, short book on the restoration of rare, late-16th century printed Gradual: a collection of chants for the Church's liturgical year. The Gradual in question was beautifully printed in the Spanish Netherlands, using hand-copied monastic chant books as its sources.

The chant notation (shown, left) looks very like that used in the editions most singers use today, though it used five staves and lacks some of the specialised note-shapes (singers will note that there don't seem to be any quilismas or liquescents). Again, it (obviously) doesn't include the editorial marks added by the monks of Solesmes to most modern editions.

Although the melodies are somewhat different from the ones used today, which have been restored by reference to the oldest available manuscripts, they are quite different from the simplified and clunkily-printed chant used immediately before the Solesmes-influenced 1907 Graduale Romanum, upon which later editions have been based, exemplified by the 1870 Pustet edition shown below.

Chant Weekend 2017

At last's year's course, Colin Mawby discussing organ accompanyment.

Gregorian Chant Network Chant Training Weekend:

Led by Christopher Hodkinson and Fr Guy Nichols Cong. Orat.

Friday 31st March to Sunday 2nd April 2017, The Oratory School, nr. Reading, RG8 0PJ

Registration from 4 to 4.45pm; late Registrations 7-7.30

Course ends with lunch on Sunday. 

An intensive chant course running alongside the Catherine's Trust Family Retreat (led this year by Fr Serafino Lanzetta). Singers will be prepared to participate in the liturgies of the Retreat, including Mass Ordinaries and Propers, Chants for Benediction and the Office, as well as discussing chant interpretation and history. All liturgies are according to the usus antiquior (the Traditional Mass). With two chant tutors, the group can be split for some purposes into more and less experienced, so everyone can get the most out of it.

Large discounts available for groups coming from choirs and scholas affiliated to the Gregorian Chant Network: see overleaf.

Fees

LMS members: £10 discount

£195 per person

£120 each for 2 people from the same choir or schola

£90 each for 3 or more people from the same choir or schola

   

Download an application form or book online: www.stcatherinestrust.org

Outside procession at last year's Family Retreat and Chant Course.

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