Music

St Mary's has a distinguished team of musicians led by the Director of Music, Richard Pinel, supported by the Organist, Richard Hills.

The principal act of worship on Sundays and on Solemn Feast Days is a traditional High Mass (a form of the interim rite) but with significant concessions to Vatican II and using the BCP readings. It seeks to achieve spiritual excellence by combining carefully thought out and well honed ceremonial with appropriately fitting music, combining traditional liturgical plainsong with settings of the mass, anthems and motets from a wide range of composers, from all musical periods.

The music staff attach vital importance to the integration of music and liturgy, with the former being emphatically the servant of the latter. To this end the selection and presentation of choral and organ music is undertaken with strict adherence to the celebration and lection of the day, together with the appropriate chant.

Much experience has been gleaned by the music staff over the years in shrine and parish churches, cathedrals and collegiate institutions. The autonomy afforded by this experience as expressed at St Mary's is greatly valued. This relationship is expressed joyfully in friendship with the congregation, and music of high quality is seen as a powerful binding force in this Eucharistic community.

Music Staff

 

Director of Music: Richard Pinel
Previous Directors of Music:
     2015-22 Paul Brough
     2009-14 David Trendell
     2000-09 William Whitehead
     1978-00 Shane Fletcher
     1968-78 Conrad Lewis
     1949-68 Bob Strong
     1903-49 George Underwood
 

Organist: Richard Hills
Previous Organists:
     2001-07 Andrew MacMillan
     1998-00 William Whitehead
     1995-98 James Thomas
     1987-95 Philip Berg
     1978-87 Michael Bowden
 

The Via Crucis: the Stations of the Cross at St Mary's, Bourne Street

An organ meditation on the Stations of the Cross at St Mary's, Bourne Street. Two sets of Stations are currently in use at St Mary's: our traditional set of 14 stations and an additional, modern interpretation by the artist Michael Fletcher, with an additional fifteenth station. The organ meditation is played on the St Mary's organ.

Posted by St Mary's, Bourne Street on Monday, 6 April 2020


A meditation on the Stations of the Cross recorded on the St Mary's organ during Lent 2020 by Richard Hills. Two sets of Stations were in use at the time: our traditional set of fourteen stations, and a modern interpretation (with an additional fifteenth station) by the artist Michael Fletcher.

Choir

Sophie Taylor-Denton, Yvonne Eddy (soprano)
Mhairi Ellis, Jess Reader (alto)
Maxim Meshkvichev, Andrew Bennett (tenor)
Graham Kirk, Paul Grier (bass)

 

Salve Regina à 8 by Victoria, sung by the choir of St Mary's at the High Mass for the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 8 September 2024

 

 

Plainchant introit followed by the Kyrie from Vierne's Messe Solennelle, sung by the choir of St Mary's at the High Mass for Christ the King, 26 November 2023.

Organ Scholar

The parish has a music fund that supports an Organ Scholar, usually appointed for one year, which provides the opportunity for a young musician to have free practice on an excellent organ while learning the business of Catholic church music within the mass, especially the accompaniment of plainsong. The fine organ was built by Henry Willis & Sons in 1928 and underwent major restoration in 2005/6.

Organ Scholar: Jason Tang
Previous Organ Scholars:
     2021-22 Alex Wilson
     2019-21 Henry Metcalfe
     2018-19 Nicholas Tall
     2016-18 Sebastian Gillot
     2015-16 Jack Stone
     2013-14 Christopher Woodward

We are always interested in receiving expressions of interest from potential Organ Scholars. Please send a CV and covering letter along with the names and contact details of two referees to the Director of Music at office@stmarysbournest.org.

Sebastian Gillot at the organ of St Mary's