Whether you’re a Summer visitor or a Devon resident, we would love to welcome you to worship with us at St Michael’s – traditional services, fine music, a diverse fellowship. It’s a fairly quiet month – activities will resume in September. A reminder that Tuesday & Thursday Plainsong Vespers have a break during August. Please check the website/twitter for updates.
Our Choir Tour to Germany was a joyful farewell celebration with Alex West of our Anglican Choral tradition from 16th to 21st century, and a time to hand-over to Erika Borley as our Choir Director. We also thank Sabrina for organising the Tour and the host families in her home town of Wolfenbuettel for their hospitality. See /choir-tour-blog/ for pictures and a write-up from the Tour.
Other farewells were to Rebecca and Vicki as they graduated in Maths and move away to jobs – come back and visit, and keep singing. We’re glad that Saffron will be returning, but that leaves us looking for several new scholars to join us in September. We are grateful to the Ouseley Trust for funding one of our Scholarships, and to Julian and Sabrina for their work securing such funding.
As well as auditioning for new Choral Scholars from the University in September, Erika is also looking to appoint 2 or 3 Junior Scholars, 16-18 year olds who might want experience before applying for University or College Choral Scholarships, or who just love singing church music – if you know of anyone who may be interested, see /music/scholarships/ and contact Erika.
So, here’s a summary of Music for August, and a few saints to remember. Firstly an all 16th century Sunday, and just a sprinkling of Bruckner, Darke & Sumsion later in the month.
Sun 2 August, Trinity IX, Sung Mass, 10.45am. Missa O Quam Gloriosum by Victoria. Ave Verum Corpus by Byrd.
Sun 2 Aug, 6pm, Choral Evensong & Benediction. Byrd Responses, Morley Fauxbourdon Canticles, Te Lucis Ante Terminum by Tallis.
Fri 7 Aug. John Mason Neale, Priest, Hymn Writer, 1866, best known for enriching our worship with many ancient and medieval hymns translated from Greek and Latin.
Sun 9 August, Trinity X, Sung Mass, 10.45am. Mass in F Darke. Verily, verily I say unto you, Tallis.
Fulda Cathedral High Altar – Assumption of Mary
Dom zu Fulda Hochaltar – Mariä Himmelfahrt
Sun 16 August, Solemn Mass for the Feast of the Assumption of BVM (transferred), 10.45am. Mass for Four Voices Byrd. Ave Maria Arcadelt.
Sun 23 August, Trinity XII, Mass, 10.45am. Mass in the Dorian Mode and If Ye Love Me, both by Thomas Tallis.
Mon 24 Aug. Bartholomew the Apostle, worth a mention for the street and cemetery named after him across the valley from St Michael’s.
Thurs 27 and Fri 28 Aug. Monica, 387, and her son Augustine of Hippo, 420, a great thinker and teacher of the faith.
Sun 30 August, Trinity XIII, Mass, 10.45am. Mass in F Sumsion. Locus Iste Bruckner.
Tues 1 September, at 6pm, CBS Mass for St Giles of Provence, Hermit, c.710, with Hymns and Plainsong Propers.
Richard Barnes.