The Choir
John Loughborough Pearson's architectural designs for St Alban's made special provision for the presence of a choir, and it is no surprise that the acoustics of the church make singing and musical performance at St Alban's a joy. In particular, the high, stone vaulted nave and wide chancel provide an impressive cathedral-like setting and acoustic for visiting choirs and recording artists as well as St Alban's own choir, who are privileged to perform here every week.
St Alban's is fortunate to have a committed mixed-voice choir who sing each Sunday at the 10.00 a.m. Solemn Mass, and at special holy day Masses which fall during the week. In addition to leading the hymns and plainchant Propers, the choir try to provide a choral Mass setting each week from a repertoire that, following the traditional Anglo-Catholic worship of the church, includes much early music. The choir also normally sings a motet at each Mass, again drawing repertoire from St Alban's extensive library of early music and traditional Anglo-Catholic works. Mass settings that we regularly sing include Haydn's Little Organ Mass, Byrd's Mass for Four Voices, Sumsion's Mass in F and Wood's Mass in the Phrygian Mode.
St Alban's choir has made an important contribution to musical performance locally, performing liturgical music to a high standard in its true context and setting. New singers are always made welcome in the choir, and we are always interested in hearing from singers who would like to join us or learn more about our music. Rehersals are normally held on Friday evenings at 7.30 p.m. (currently suspended until a new Organist and Choir Director is apointed) and Sunday mornings at 9.30 a.m. prior to the 10.00 a.m. Mass.
Although choir numbers have fallen, new members have joined and Aled Liddington, our recently appointed Organist and Choir Director, is working to build up our choir in both numbers and confidence.
The Liturgy and building together form a unique and most favourable environment to enable choir members to enjoy the performance of church music. In 2014 we were fortunate to obtain on permanent loan an early 19th century manually pumped chamber organ, which may be used to accompany some of our early music settings.
If you are interested in joining the choir and experiencing the thrill of singing in this cathedral-like building and supporting the rich Anglo-Catholic liturgy each Sunday, or would like to find out more, please contact the Director of Music, Aled Liddington, Phone: 0121 314 0845, E-mail: satm.music@outlook.com or the Vicar, Fr Gerry Sykes, Phone: 0121 440 0404, E-mail: frgerrysykes@gmail.com.