St Mary the Virgin Merton

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St Mary's Choir and Music
Listen to, or download, mp3 extracts from the Choir's October 2007 CD "We will Remember Them". 
(To download, right click on the links below and choose Save Link as...)
 St Mary's Choir Christmas 2008
St Mary's Choir before Nine Lessons and Carols, December 2008


Choir recording its Remembrance CD at St Paul's Wimbledon Park
The choir recording its 2007 Remembrance CD at St Paul's Wimbledon Park
2009 Music Events
Sunday 5 July
St Mary's Choir Reunion
Choral Evensong at 3.30pm
followed by barbecue and beer tent in Glebe Field
  More...

Saturday 18 July at 8pm
An evening of music and readings, featuring Parish Players, Karl Dorman and guests

Sunday 19 July at 6.30pm
The Study School Choir sing Choral Evensong
Looking ahead to 2010
Choral Services at York Minster
1-5 September
Looking back to 2008
  • On Saturday 24 May we sang a concert of English Choral Classics in St Petri Hamburg, Germany, and at their Eucharist on Sunday 25 May. More...
  • On 8 March we performed
    Faure's Requiem at Rugby School with the School Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus
Decani in rehearsal at Exeter Cathedral
Decani rehearsing at Exeter Cathedral, August 2007
Musical events in 2007:


 Choir at Westminster Cathedral Feb '07

The Choir sang the First Mass of Sunday at Westminster Cathedral
on 24 February 2007

Choir at St Petri Hamburg May 08

The choir at St Petri Hamburg, May 2008 (Click on image for larger version)

 
  • 17 November and 24 February - First Mass of Sunday at Westminster Cathedral
  • In September we recorded our latest CD - Evensong for Remembrance Day
  • On Saturday 24 March the trebles joined West Barnes Singers in a performance of Carl Orff's Carmina Burana at St Paul’s Church, Augustus Road, Wimbledon Park
  •   St Mary's Choral Festival 2007

    • On 3 and 4 February we hosted a choral festival to mark the occasion when Jesus was presented in the Temple. The whole weekend saw a variety of performers joining us to mark this special event

    • On 3 February George Bevan (Director of Music at Wycombe Abbey) performed a special lunchtime organ recital celebrating the works of Mendelssohn. This was then followed by Choral Evensong for men's voices

    • Later on 3rd, the choir were joined by Sine Nomine from Warwickshire to perform an evening of choral favourites

    • Sunday morning, 4 February, at 9.30am saw the St. Mary's premiere of the contemporary Mass by Basil Moss

    • Choral Evensong at 6.30pm featured Bernard Rose responses, canticles in C by Stanford and the anthem 'When to the Temple Mary went' by Eccard

    • This was followed by a chamber music concert by the Corelli Strings at 7.30pm. The programme  included Mozart - Divertimento K136 and Grieg - Holberg Suite


The choir at Coventry Cathedral July 2006 
Coventry Cathedral July 2006

The choir carol singing in Wimbledon 2004
 Carol singing in Wimbledon, December 2004

  

Why not join us?

St Mary's Choir is always looking for new members to swell the ranks, both trebles and men's voices. Singing experience is desirable, although not essential.

We sing a wide repertoire at St Mary's and sing regularly at other venues.

We have sung at Exeter Cathedral (August 2007), Westminster Cathedral (February and October 2007), Guildford Cathedral (January 2009), Coventry Cathedral (July 2006), Christchurch Priory (October2006) and St Petri Hamburg (May 2008)

Out latest initiative, the St Mary's Occasional Singers, are also now recruiting adults. 

For both Choir and Singers call Director of Music Karl Dorman (07870 938167) for an informal voice test (nothing scary!)

About the music at St. Mary’s

For many years St. Mary’s has enjoyed a long musical tradition that has enhanced its church services and given inspiration to all who have worshipped here. In a very literal sense, generations of singers and other musicians have not only received support and encouragement from their music making but in many cases have gone on to use this experience as a springboard for a lifetime of musical fulfilment.

It is our objective  to maintain and develop this established heritage and preserve it for those who will follow.

Our repertoire ranges from music by William Byrd and Henry Purcell, through Mozart, Handel and Stanford to William Walton, John Tavener and Peter Warlock.

What musical activities take place?
St. Mary’s reflects the broad Anglican choral repertoire within a traditional liturgy and maintains a choir of about twenty five trebles and men. The choir sings at the two main services on Sundays: the 9.30 am Parish Eucharist and Evensong at 6.30 p m. (with a monthly fully Choral Evensong).  At every service we sing an anthem or motet. Occasionally there are less formal services that take place instead of or as well as this normal pattern and provide scope for different musical idioms.

What does choir membership involve?
Primarily it requires dedication and commitment, as well as the inherent qualities of enthusiasm and the ability to sing well. Life as a treble chorister usually begins at around the age of 7 or 8 when they are introduced to the choir routine and begin to learn new repertoire. After this has been successfully established they are expected to commence the normal attendance timetable of two weekday practices.

Choir Practices

  • Fridays: Trebles 7.00 - 8.30 pm; Men: 8.00 - 9.15pm

  • Sunday Eucharist, including practice, 9.00 - l0.45am

  • Evensong, including practice, 6.00 - 7.30pm

Choral Links
Anglican Church Music
 British Choirs on the Net

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