Friday 17 December 2010

** CANCELLATION **

Given the uncertain weather conditions, and Schola members coming from rather far afield, we have regretfully had to take the decision to cancel Solemn Vespers on Saturday 18th December.

We considered it better that this decision be taken now than even closer to the time.

We apologise for any inconvenience or disappointment.

Monday 6 September 2010

New Events

The Schola's monthly Vespers have moved to Saturday evenings at 4:30pm.

The calendar of events has been updated for October and November and can be viewed here.

Thursday 2 September 2010

Schola summer break

After singing every week for the Edinburgh International Festival Fringe, the Schola is now taking a well-earned break from singing and will be back in the late Autumn. There will be no weekly practices until further notice.

Please contact the schola via email or telephone if you would like to sing with us, to arrange for us to sing at a liturgical event, or to find out about planned events for Autumn/Winter.

The Calendar of Events for 2010 will be updated in due course.

Sunday 25 July 2010

Calendar of Events updated

The Schola's Calendar of Events has been updated for August 2010.

To view this, click here.

Tuesday 18 May 2010

Society of St Tarcisius - Sodality of Traditional Altar Servers


On Saturday 15th May 2010, at Blackfriars, Oxford, a newly founded Sodality of Servers of the traditional Latin Mass (“extraordinary form”) was inaugurated. This took place in the context of a training day for experienced altar servers, arranged by the Latin Mass Society of England and Wales, who were seeking to improve their understanding of the ceremonies of sung solemn mass. Thirty servers were present at the event, with the training being delivered by Fr Armand de Mallerey FSSP, Br Lawrence Lew OP, Mr David Forster, and Mr Richard Hawker.

The new Sodality has been founded at the request of numerous servers of the traditional Mass, who desired a society that would encourage them in their work on the altar, provide training for both new servers and the more experienced, promote a high standard of reverent and exact service, and form a network through which servers can stay in touch and share resources.

The Sodality is sponsored by the Latin Mass Society of England and Wales, though membership is open to those from other countries who may wish. It has taken as its patron St Tarcisius, a Roman acolyte who was martyred during one of the fierce persecutions of the third century, while defending the Holy Eucharist from profanation. The Sodality has taken “Fidelis usque ad mortem” – Faithful even unto death – as its motto, and seeks to inculcate in servers an intense devotion and reverence to Our Lord in the Eucharist, as well as a precise attention to the ceremonies of Mass.

A website for the Society has been inaugurated – www.saint-tarcisius.org.uk – where further details will be found. Anybody wishing to join the Sodality should contact the Secretary, Mr David Forster, at secretary at saint-tarcisius.org.uk.

Photographs of the training event on Saturday can be seen at http://www.lmschairman.org/2010/05/server-master-class-report.html

Note: efforts are also being made to co-ordinate interests in membership from Scotland. If you live in Scotland and are interested in membership, please leave a comment, or email Mark Miles at markadm at catholic.org

(Photo: Joseph Shaw)

Sunday 9 May 2010

Calendar of Events updated

The Schola's Calendar of Events has been updated for Summer 2010.

To view this, click here.

Friday 2 April 2010

Holy Saturday Tenebræ Cancelled

* HOLY SATURDAY TENEBRÆ CANCELLED *

Owing to complications brought about by three days of no electricity in the Cathedral, we have with regret taken the decision to cancel Holy Saturday Tenebræ. Our sincere apologies to those of you who had intended to come. Next year, God willing...

The Schola was grateful to receive permission to bring some of the marvellous liturgy of the Great Week back to St Mary’s Cathedral this year. From early February we had been arranging additional practices in an attempt to learn all the music for Tenebræ. This quickly proved to be an impossibility, given the sheer amount to be learnt (the total duration of these Tenebræ, where Vigils and Lauds are chanted together without a break, over the three days of the Triduum amounts to some eight hours of chanting): antiphons, psalms and responsories combine to imbue these great offices with more drama that in all the operas ever penned by man.

The very name, Tenebræ, derived most probably from the Good Friday responsory, “Tenebræ factæ sunt” (although some scholars differ on this), had a certain relevance this year, given that from the Tuesday until Good Friday morning the Cathedral had been completely without electric power supply. (Purists might add that the relevance would have been all the greater had not the 1955 reform of the Liturgy introduced by Pope Pius XII stipulated that Tenebræ, instead of being anticipated on the night before, should now take place on the morning of the day itself!) Shadows are not seen as clearly in daylight, but the overwhelming culminating effect of nigh on three hours of uninterrupted chant on each of three successive days, I would venture to say, leaves one with more than just an inkling of the enormity of what took place over those three days of Our Lord’s Passion. As for the cantors, I can vouch for us all when I say that the physical effect cannot be much different from that of running a marathon! We were delighted that Fr Brendan Gerard FSSP, in Edinburgh to assist Fr Emerson over Easter, was able to be present with us as officiant for the two days when we were able to chant this great office: Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. The Schola’s thanks are also due in no small measure to Mark Hamid, who at very short notice set about applying his carpentry skills and coming up with a magnificent Tenebræ Hearse, without which we could not in all conscience have gone ahead with the solemnity we managed to achieve.

Saturday 20 March 2010

Change of Vespers time - 25/03/2010

PLEASE NOTE: Due to unforeseen circumstances, Vespers on Thursday 25th (Solemnity of the Annunciation of Our Lord) will be celebrated at 5.00pm, and not at 6.45pm as previously advertised.

Friday 19 March 2010

reminder: A Passiontide Reflection

REMINDER: TOMORROW!

Chant Day @ St Mary's
A Passiontide Reflection


Talks, readings and chants led by Fr. Paul Francis Spencer C.P. and the cantors of the St. Margaret Schola, culminating with First Vespers of Passion Sunday in St Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral, Edinburgh.

All welcome: tuition in Gregorian Chant will be available (don't be put off: no experience necessary!).

Saturday 20 March 2010, 10:00am - 4:30pm.
St Mary's Cathedral Parish Centre (behind Café Camino),
Little King Street, Edinburgh (just by John Lewis at the foot of Leith Street)

Cost: £10.00 to cover lunch, refreshments and music.

Please call 07736061080 if attending.

Thursday 25 February 2010

LMS Priest Training Conference


PRIEST TRAINING CONFERENCE

USHAW COLLEGE: 12TH – 16TH APRIL 2010.

This conference is being organised by the Latin Mass Society for diocesan and parish priests. Priests will receive training to learn the traditional Latin Mass and Liturgy.

Visitors are welcome to attend the following services.

PROGRAMME.

Mon 12th April. 11.00: Solemn High Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
(Plainsong – Missa Cum Jubilo)
17.30. Vespers from the Little Office of The BVM

Tues 13th April. 11.15. Missa Cantata (Sung Mass).
(Plainsong – Missa Lux et Origo)
17.30. Rosary and Benediction.

Wed 14th April. 11.15. Missa Cantata (Sung Mass).
(Plainsong – Missa Cunctipotens Genitor Deus).
17.30. Vespers.

Thurs 15th April. 11.00. Solemn Requiem Mass.
(Missa pro Defunctis – Victoria).
17.30. Vespers.

Fri 16th April. 11.00. Solemn High Mass of St Cuthbert.
(Missa Aeterna Christi Munera – Palestrina).

All services will be held in St Cuthbert’s Chapel. Access is via the Conference Centre. Please allow ten minutes for parking and getting to the chapel.

Training will also be given to men and boys in altar serving.

Further information can be obtained from the LMS local contact:
David or Theresa O’Neill on 0191 264 5771. Email: david-oneill3 at sky.com.

Tuesday 23 February 2010

A Passiontide Reflection

Chant Day @ St Mary's
A Passiontide Reflection


Talks, readings and chants led by Fr. Paul Francis Spencer C.P. and the cantors of the St. Margaret Schola, culminating with First Vespers of Passion Sunday in St Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral, Edinburgh.

All welcome: tuition in Gregorian Chant will be available (don't be put off: no experience necessary!).

Saturday 20 March 2010, 10:00am - 4:30pm.
St Mary's Cathedral Parish Centre (behind Café Camino),
Little King Street, Edinburgh (just by John Lewis at the foot of Leith Street)

Cost: £10.00 to cover lunch, refreshments and music.

To register, or for further information, please email us (see right) or telephone 0131-561 5646. Don't be disappointed; book early!

This event is also on Facebook; see here.

Friday 5 February 2010

Launch of the Gregorian Chant Network


On Saturday 30th January, a meeting was held at the London Oratory to launch a new grouping, the Gregorian Chant Network, of scholas and interested parties to coordinate the promotion of Gregorian Chant in the Catholic liturgy.

The meeting was opened and the concept of the GCN introduced by Joseph Shaw, Chairman of the Latin Mass Society. After lunch Colin Mawby, the distinguished composer and former Director of Music at Westminster Cathedral, gave the keynote address on the importance of Chant, followed by a practical session on methods of conducting the Chant.

The meeting was attended by members of the Latin Mass Society, Una Voce Scotland, the Association for Latin Liturgy, the Schola Gregoriana of Cambridge, a number of chant teachers and experts, and the Directors of a score of Gregorian Chant scholas from all over the country, 36 people in all. The meeting concluded with First Vespers of Septagesima Sunday in the Little Oratory, led by Fr Alexander.

For more information, see www.gregorianchantnetwork.org

Thursday 14 January 2010

News from the Orkney Schola

On 14 December, just before Orkney turned into Europe's largest outdoor ice rink for a month, ten singers gathered at St Magnus' kirk, Birsay to sing Compline, with a small 'congregation' of friends and family. We were made very welcome, and from where I was sitting, we made a lovely noise in what turned out to be a very good acoustic. It's possible we will be asked to sing there again in 2010.

On 2 January, we were saddened to learn of the death of Fr Ronald Walls, a learned and much-loved priest, in his ninetieth year. Father Ronnie had spent the last three years of a very active retirement serving the Catholic parish in Orkney. He had given the Orkney Schola much encouragement since its inception. Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine.

After two very successful beginners' courses at Appies Tea Rooms in Sandwick, I will be running a follow-up course at the same convivial venue, starting on Thursday week (21 January), running for six weeks and culminating in the singing of Vespers. For details, or to enrol, please call Pam Farmer (01856 841562).

For additional information, contact: Ben Whitworth, Cribbaquoy, Harray, Orkney KW17 2LQ, tel. (01856) 771677, email: ben at whitworth.net, blog: orkneychant.blogspot.com

Friday 1 January 2010

2010 Calendar of Events

This post will be regularly updated - check back for updates!

Thursday 21 January
St Agnes, Virgin & Martyr
6.45pm, Solemn Vespers and Benediction

Thursday 11 February
Apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary
6.45pm, Solemn Vespers and Benediction

Saturday 20 March
A Passiontide Meditation
Talks, readings and chants, culminating in
First Vespers of Passion Sunday
9.30am - 4.30pm, St Mary's Parish Centre /
Café Camino, Broughton Street, Edinburgh
E-mail post@edinburghschola.org.uk for further details

Thursday 25 March
Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
5.00pm, Solemn Vespers and Benediction (note change of time)

Thursday 1, Friday 2 and Saturday 3 April
Tenebræ for the Holy Triduum
10.00am, St Mary's RC Cathedral, Edinburgh

Thursday 13 May
Missa Cantata for the Ascension
6.15pm, St Andrew's Church, Belford Road, Ravelston, Edinburgh (more)

Thursday 24 June
Nativity of St John the Baptist
6.45pm, Solemn Vespers and Benediction
Celebrant: Fr Gerald Sharkey

Sunday 1 August 2010
Missa Cantata (Pentecost X)
11.30am, St Andrew's Church, Belford Road, Edinburgh

Sunday 8 August 2010
Missa Cantata (Pentecost XI)
11.30am, St Andrew's Church, Belford Road, Edinburgh

Saturday 7, 14, 21 August
Latin Choral Vespers
4.oopm, St Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral, Picardy Place, Edinburgh

The traditional service, with voices and instruments including plainsong and exquisite unaccompanied renaissance polyphony on 7th August; Solemn Pontifical Vespers including Praetorius’ Magnificat super Chorale melos Germanicum for two choirs, organ and brass on 14th; Pergolesi's Magnificat with voices and strings on 21st.

Sunday 8, 15, 22 and 29 August
Compline by Candlelight
9.00pm, St Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral, Broughton St, Edinburgh

Plainsong prayer at sunset reflecting the rich traditions within the Church. A serene period of quiet reflection.

Monday 10 August
Requiem Mass [OF]
7.00pm, St Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral, Broughton St, Edinburgh

Centenary of the birth of the late Cardinal Gordon Joseph Gray, our previous Archbishop

Saturday 30 October
Feast of the Kingship of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Solemn First Vespers and Benediction

Saturday 13 November
Vespers for the Dead
for Remembrance Sunday

Tuesday 16 November
Solemn Sung Mass for the Feast of St Margaret
7:30pm, St Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral, Picardy Place, Edinburgh

A chanted Mass [OF] in celebration of St Margaret, Secondary Patron of Scotland and Patroness of the Schola. This Mass will be sung primarily in English with Gregorian chants in Latin.

Saturday 18th December
First Vespers of the Fourth Sunday of Advent
4:15pm. - Solemn First Vespers and Benediction - O Adonai


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All liturgies begin at 4:30pm at St Mary’s Cathedral, Broughton St, unless otherwise stated. Once new events are finalised, they will be added here. Bookmark this page!

Upcoming events - Spring 2010

Thursday 21 January 2010
St Agnes, Virgin & Martyr
Solemn Vespers and Benediction
St Mary's RC Cathedral, Edinburgh

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Thursday 11 February 2010
Apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Solemn Vespers and Benediction
St Mary's RC Cathedral, Edinburgh

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Thursday 25 March 2010
Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
5.00pm
, Solemn Vespers and Benediction (note change of time)
St Mary's RC Cathedral, Edinburgh

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Thursday 1, Friday 2 and Saturday 3 April 2010
Tenebrae for the Holy Triduum
10.00am, St Mary's RC Cathedral, Edinburgh

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All liturgies begin at 6:45pm at St Mary’s Cathedral, Broughton St, unless otherwise stated.