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This week
Music at St Michael’s (14/07/2024)
The motet at Eucharist today is “Jesu, dulcis memoria” by Tomás Luis de Victoria (1548–1611), with words attributed to the 11th century saint, Bernard of Clairvaux:
Jesus, sweet remembrance,
Granting the heart its true joys,
But above honey and all things
Is His sweet presence.
The same words were the inspiration for Edward Bairstow’s 1911 composition, “Jesu the very thought of thee”, which is the introit at evensong tonight (6.30pm). The canticles by Herbert Howells (1892 – 1983), are from the Gloucester Service, one of Howells’ most admired settings. These canticles – and the anthem, “The doctrine of Wisdom” by the Welsh composer, William Mathias (1932 – 1992) – will be sung by the choir at their forthcoming visit to Chichester Cathedral on the August Bank Holiday weekend.
Although the Junior Choir has sung its last service this term, and today’s evensong is the last before the summer break, the choir will continue to sing at the morning services through the rest of July.
Music at St Michael’s (21/07/2024)
Mass for St Thomas (Thorne)
All my hope on God is founded (584)
The church’s one foundation (506)
Brother James’ Air (Jacob)
Christ is the world’s true light (610)
Music at St Michael’s (28/07/2024)
Mass for St Thomas (Thorne)
How sweet the name of Jesus sounds (664)
I come with joy (448)
O sacrum convivium (Farrant)
Guide me, O thou great redeemer (652)
Our “Summer Pudding Concert” is on Wednesday 10th July at 7pm — an opportunity to hear the sweetest music, and to eat a mountain of desserts! This year we are promising an eclectic experience from some amazingly talented musicians in our choir and congregation – and enthusiastic ones! The composers and writers represented include Handel, Ray Davies (of The Kinks), Judith Durham, Berlioz, Ian Clarke (flautist), John Betjeman, Kristen Anderson-Lopez (Frozen), and Tchaikovsky. You’re sure to find something to delight your palate.
Entrance is free, though contributions are encouraged to support St Michael’s Music initiatives, such as the junior choir and the choir’s cathedral visits.
The pictures opposite show the choir from the Easter Family Service, and Esme (7), receiving her RSCM White Medal that day. The choir included our junior choristers, and some previous members of the choir, who were visiting Southampton for Easter
Join our Junior Choir
Our Junior Choristers start from Year 3 and Youth Singers from Year 7.
find out moreHalf-Term Singing Days
Open singing days run during half terms for those in years 3 and over.
find out moreListen to the Choir
Listen to audio and video recordings of the St Michael and All Angels’ Choir.
find out moreAbout us
We sing Choral Eucharists Evensongs, Carol Services,
The Family Service…We rehearse on Wednesdays from 7.30–9.00pm (6.30–7.45pm for younger singers) and before services. The choir doesn’t sing at St Michael’s immediately after Christmas and Easter, or during the school summer holiday, when cathedral visits are sometimes arranged.
Director of music: Andrew Hanley
The Choir and COVID-19
During COVID times, it was hard to keep singing! Yet as a choir, we found it more important than ever. We worked hard to keep a choral sound available, and keep practising. Virtual anthems and hymns were produced for services. We ran a “virtual pub” after Zoom-based choir practices, complete with the occasional “pub” quiz, and birthday and special occasion celebrations. From the first service featuring our recordings (Palm Sunday, 2020) through to the end of the second lockdown in May 2021, well over 100 recordings of our hymns, anthems, and psalms were used in our services.
You can view the recordings of these virtual anthems on the YouTube “NSABparish” channel. virtual anthems on YouTube