York Minster

Friends of Cathedral Music to attend Evensong

Published Thursday 17th April 2008 by Michael Wiles

On Saturday May 3rd the York area of the Friends of Cathedral Music will be  holding its annual Gathering.

Because Ampleforth Abbey and College recently became corporate members of the FCM, the morning and afternoon activities will be taking place there and will include short  concerts by the Schola Puellarum Girls’ Choir, instrumentalists of the school, the Saturday morning Outreach Choir and the organ scholars of the college.  A guided tour of the church, a talk on the history and present day use of plainchant and a    resumé of the school’s music by Ian Little, Director of Music, complete the visit. A coach will transport people between York and Ampleforth.

The Gathering will reconvene in The Minster for Evensong where the anthem The spacious firmament on high by Philip Moore, newly commissioned by the FCM to mark his retirement, will be performed for the first time.

Following Evensong is a buffet and then a concert of music by Byrd and Tallis by The Ebor Singers (Harmonie Universelle) in Holy Trinity Church, Goodramgate.

The Friends of Cathedral Music, which exists to promote the continuation of our priceless and unique tradition of music in cathedrals, recently gave a grant of £17,000 towards a choristership here in York Minster. 

Anyone interested in finding out more about the FCM, or in taking part in the    Gathering or contributing to the commission, should contact the local FCM Representative, Michael Wiles on 01653 618479, mj.wiles@btconnect.com or here in the Minster. Non-FCM members are welcome at the Gathering.