According to Wikipedia, this is one of the most often performed hymns in the U.K. It even features in a shortened form as “All Good Gifts” in “Godspell” … More We Plough the Fields and Scatter
This article first appeared in the October 2014 issue of our parish magazine. In the first “Sister Act” film, a Reno lounge singer named Deloris Van Carter (played by Whoopi Goldberg) witnesses her mobster boyfriend killing an employee. She is then hidden in a convent under a witness protection program. She doesn’t take easily to … More Hail, Holy Queen – Marc Shaiman (1959-present)
Come, my Way, my Truth, my Life:
Such a Way, as gives us breath:
Such a Truth, as ends all strife:
Such a Life, as killeth death … More The Call (R V Williams)
This article first appeared in the September 2014 issue of our parish magazine.
This month’s musical musings are dedicated to my godson, who is due to start at high school this month, and may choose to attend confirmation classes when he turns 12 years old … More “Take This Moment” John Bell (1949-present)
This is one of my favourite hymns, learned at High Down County Junior School, Portishead, back in the 1970s, and always sung with gusto by everyone present. I never quite understood who Julie was … More O Jesus I Have Promised
We learned this during choir practices in summer 2012 and I immediately loved the sound of the words and interplay of the parts. Written for two equal female voices, sometimes they sing the same music in canon … More “O Salutaris” Cesar Franck (1822-1890)
Written by David, Psalm 23 is always likely to have been a song, and many composers have set it to different tunes. Everyone has a different favourite, which is likely to be the one they learned at school and grew up with … More “That Shepherd One”
This article first appeared in the June 2017 issue of our parish magazine.
Although widely chosen as an anthem to be sung at weddings, the words of Panis Angelicus were originally written by St Thomas Aquinas for the feast of Corpus Christi. … More Panis Angelicus – Aquinas (1225-1274)/Franck (1822-1890)
The readings in our service on Wednesday 12 July included an excerpt from Psalm 33, the response to which was “Praise the Lord, for His love endures always” … More Psalm 33
This song is based on the solo “Gabriel’s Oboe”, music composed by Ennio Morricone for the 1986 film “The Mission”. A few years later Sarah Brightman begged Morricone to allow her to set lyrics to the music, and eventually he relented … More Nella Fantasia
St Margaret's Church Prestwich 