The St. Margaret Schola

Vespers in Advent

2011-12-13T15:16:00.014Z

Vespers and Benediction on Saturday 17^th December

at 4:00 pm

in St Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh

The first of the Great ‘O’ Antiphons – O Sapientia.

Celebrant: Mgr. Regan, Cathedral Administrator.

Vespers and Benediction on Friday 23^rd December

at 7:00 pm

in St Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh

The last of the Great ‘O’ Antiphons – O Emmanuel.

Celebrant: Fr. Emerson, FSSP

Gregorian Chant for Beginners in Orkney

2011-07-18T19:07:00.000+01:00

Mr Ben Whitworth of the Orkney Schola will be teaching an evening class, 'Gregorian Chant for Beginners', starting on Wednesday 28 September, and running until Wednesday 23 November (with a break on 9 November) in Orkney. The course will be held at the King Street Halls, Kirkwall, under the auspices of the Council's Community Learning Programme.

Full details will be available soon, but please mark your diary now! More information will be found on the Schola's blog at orkneychant.blogspot.com.

New Vespers Location at St Andrew's Cathedral, Dundee

2011-06-15T10:09:00.004+01:00

The Schola is excited to announce a new regular location for Vespers at St Andrew's Cathedral, the mother church of the Diocese of Dunkeld, in Dundee.

Vespers will now take place in Dundee approximately every other month, alternating with our existing commitment in Edinburgh.

We are particularly grateful to Vincent, Bishop of Dunkeld, for his support and to Fr Martin Pletts, the administrator of the Cathedral.

Please see the calendar of events for details of individual events.

2011 Calendar of Events

2011-02-03T16:55:00.011Z

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

Saturday 19 February

Septuagesima Sunday

Solemn First Vespers and Benediction

Saturday 19 March

Feast of St Joseph

Solemn Second Vespers and Benediction

Thursday 21st, Friday 22nd & Saturday 23rd April

Tenebrae for the Sacred Triduum

Solemn Sung Matins and Lauds

8am, St Mary's Cathedral

Thursday 23rd June

Solemnity of Corpus Christi

Solemn Second Vespers

5pm, St Mary's Cathedral

Saturday 2nd July

Solemn Vespers

5pm, St Andrew's Cathedral, Dundee

Thursday 21 July

St Lawrence of Brindisi

5pm, Solemn Vespers and Benediction

Friday 26 August

Couperin: Messe Pour les Paroisses

7.30pm, St Mary's Cathedral

François Couperin's masterly Messe pour les Paroisses (Mass for the Parishes), plainchant settings of Mass movements for the organ, will receive a rare liturgical performance here on the cathedral organ, alternating with chants sung as part of the Mass by the Schola.

Saturdays, 6, 13 and 20 August

Latin Choral Vespers

Sundays, 7, 14, 21 and 28 August

9pm, Compline by Candlelight

~~*~~

All liturgies begin at 4:00pm at St Mary’s Cathedral, Broughton St, unless otherwise stated. Once new events are finalised, they will be added here. Bookmark this page!

Happy New Year!

2011-01-07T14:27:00.008Z

20+C+M+B+11

The gentlemen of the St Margaret's Schola would like to wish all their friends and benefactors a Happy and Holy 2011!

2010 was a very successful year for the Schola with a total of twenty-one sung liturgies. Particular highlights included the Tenebrae for the Sacred Triduum and Holy Mass in honour of our patroness, St Margaret. We are very grateful to everyone who has helped to make our work possible, particularly our celebrants and especially Monsignor Regan and the staff and parishioners at St Mary's Cathedral.

We hope you will be able to join us again in 2011, which we pray will be another successful year.

CANCELLATION

2010-12-17T21:20:00.002Z

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.

New Events

2010-09-06T12:15:00.006+01:00

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.

Schola summer break

2010-09-02T18:50:00.003+01:00

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.

Calendar of Events updated

2010-07-25T21:36:00.002+01:00

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

To view this, click here.

Society of St Tarcisius - Sodality of Traditional Altar Servers

2010-05-18T18:43:00.002+01:00

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)

Calendar of Events updated

2010-05-09T14:06:00.001+01:00

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

To view this, click here.

Holy Saturday Tenebræ Cancelled

2010-04-02T15:18:00.004+01:00

* 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.

Change of Vespers time - 25/03/2010

2010-03-20T18:23:00.002Z

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.

reminder: A Passiontide Reflection

2010-03-19T19:00:00.000Z

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.

LMS Priest Training Conference

2010-02-25T20:42:00.001Z

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.

A Passiontide Reflection

2010-02-23T06:45:00.004Z

Launch of the Gregorian Chant Network

2010-02-05T17:28:00.003Z

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

News from the Orkney Schola

2010-01-14T08:53:00.000Z

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

2010 Calendar of Events

2010-01-01T12:00:00.023Z

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

~~*~~

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

2010-01-01T06:00:00.005Z

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

~~*~~

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

~~*~~

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

~~*~~

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

~~*~~

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

Practice time - Wednesday evenings

2009-12-31T08:24:00.003Z

Due to ongoing refurbishments and other commitments within Cathedral House, rehearsals will now take place on Wednesdays until further notice.

The first rehearsal of the New Year will be on Wednesday 13 January 2010, 6.00-8.00pm. Rehearsals will take place within the Choir room, Cathedral House.

Please note members normally meet within Café Camino (map), attached to the Cathedral, from around 5pm onwards. If you cannot attend the first rehearsal or do not hear about it in time, please get in touch with us nevertheless.

Our first Vespers of 2010 will be that of St Agnes, Virgin and Martyr, on Thursday 21 January, 6.45pm wihin the Cathedral.

Another Successful Gregorian Chant Course

2009-12-16T21:10:00.001Z

The historic church of St Magnus, Birsay (Orkney), provided a fitting venue for Gregorian chant on Monday 14 December. The ancient evening service of Compline was sung by students on a beginners’ Gregorian Chant course. The course, led by Harray resident Ben Whitworth, ran at Appies Tea Rooms, Sandwick, during November and December. It followed a successful beginners’ course, also at Appies, last winter.

Ben said: ‘The students on the course were really enthusiastic and the quality of the singing at Birsay Kirk indicates just how much work they put in. Gregorian Chant is rightly famous for its serenity, but it requires a lot from the singers: accuracy, stamina, good pronunciation of Latin – and all this unaccompanied. I’m proud of how much this class has achieved.’

After the first beginners’ course, a number of students wished to continue meeting to learn new music. The group – known as the Orkney Schola – now rehearses regularly, and has sung at the Catholic parish church of Our Lady and St Joseph in Kirkwall. An intermediate course will run at Appies in the New Year, beginning on Thursday 21 January 2010. To book, please call Pam Farmer on 841562. The course will suit anyone who has completed one of the beginners’ courses at Appies, or who has some experience of choral singing.
Further details:

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

(image: Singers at the Gregorian Chant service of Compline in St Magnus’ church, Birsay; Angie Whitworth)

News from the Edinburgh Schola

2009-12-11T09:00:00.001Z

The St Margaret Schola goes from strength to strength. Founded with the specific aims of rendering praise unto God, preserving the music of the Church, and promoting the use of Chant throughout the St Andrews and Edinburgh Archdiocese, the Schola has now sung Latin Vespers (Extraordinary Form) in St Mary's Cathedral on ten occasions. This has now become a monthly event - the most recent being for the Feast of St Margaret, Queen of Scotland, where Vespers was celebrated by Fr John Emerson FSSP, and St Andrew, Patron of Scotland. Vespers is now always accompanied by Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament - an unexpected blessing from Our Lord.

Members of the Schola have also sang at recent Una Voce Scotland Masses at Seton Collegiate Church, the ruins of Cambuskenneth Abbey, and also at various Requiem Masses this month. November also saw the first Mass at Torphichen Preceptory, the ancient seat of the Order of St John of Jerusalem (Knights of Malta), since the Reformation - again organised by Una Voce Scotland.

Upcoming "Dates for your Diary" include:

Sunday 13 December, Vespers for the Third Sunday in Advent (St John Cantius, Broxburn);
Thursday 17 December, the first of the Great Antiphons: "O Sapientia" (Vespers, 5.00pm);
Sunday 20 December, Vespers for the Fourth Sunday in Advent (Immaculate Heart of Mary, Balornock);
Thursday 21 January 2010, Vespers for St Agnes, Virgin & Martyr;
Thursday 11 February 2010, Vespers for the Apparition of the B.V.M.;
Thursday 25 March 2010, Vespers for the Annunciation of the B.V.M.

All liturgies will start at 6:45pm in St Mary's Cathedral, Broughton Street, Edinburgh, unless indicated otherwise. We also hope to arrange for the ancient Triduum practice of Tenebrae (sung Matins and Lauds) this coming year. Another commitment of the Schola is to regular Deanery Masses in the Ordinary Form (with the Ordinary sung in Latin Chant), which we hope to progress in the New Year.

As ever, we hope you will be able to join us for our events. We hope also to continue to swell our numbers, and all interested are invited to email edinburghschola at gmail.com .

Upcoming events

2009-12-04T18:30:00.002Z

Members of the Edinburgh Schola will be singing at a number of events during December:

Saturday 12 December
Una Voce Scotland
Advent Day of Recollection

10.00am, Nazareth House,
1647 Paisley Road West, Glasgow

~~*~~

Sunday 13 December
Third Sunday of Advent

Solemn Sung Latin Vespers and Benediction
6.45pm, SS John Cantius and Nicholas Church,

West Main Street, Broxburn

~~*~~

Thursday 17 December
Greater Feria ('O Sapientia')

Solemn Sung Latin Vespers and Benediction
5.00pm, St Mary's RC Cathedral, Edinburgh

~~*~~

Sunday 20 December
Fourth Sunday in Advent ('O Clavis David')

Solemn Sung Latin Vespers and Benediction
6.30pm, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Balornock (Glasgow)

+ + PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF TIME + +

~~*~~

Dates for the New Year are being finalised and will be published as soon as possible.

Practice sessions continue weekly in Edinburgh, on Wednesday or Thursday nights; for more details please email edinburghschola at gmail.com .

Upcoming events

2009-10-01T20:58:00.003+01:00

Thursday 15 October
Feast of St Teresa of Ávila

Solemn Sung Latin Vespers
and Benediction

~~*~~

Monday 16 November
Feast of St Margaret of Scotland

Solemn Sung Latin Vespers
and Benediction

~~*~~

Monday 30 November
Feast of St Andrew of Scotland

Solemn Sung Latin Vespers
and Benediction

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

Scottish Catholic Observer

2009-07-20T12:57:00.003+01:00

Ben Whitworth of the Orkney Schola reliably informs us that we are in the Scottish Catholic Observer this week.

Thank you, SCO!

Assumption Solemn Vespers

2009-07-10T10:15:00.004+01:00

The following was issued as a press release on Thursday 8th July:

SATURDAY 15th AUGUST 2009
FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION
SOLEMN SUNG VESPERS
IN THE EXTRAORDINARY FORM
METROPOLITAN CATHEDRAL OF THE ASSUMPTION
BROUGHTON STREET, EDINBURGH

The Metropolitan Cathedral of the Assumption will be celebrating its patronal feast day with a celebration of Vêpres de la Vierge (Op.18) by Marcel Dupré. This is an exciting work for organ and Gregorian chant which will be performed by the internationally acclaimed cathedral organist, Simon Nieminski, and the Schola Sanctae Margaritae, a group which performs and promotes Gregorian chant within the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh. The event will not only be significant as the patronal feast of St Mary’s Cathedral but also as a significant 90th anniversary performance in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe on the new Matthew Copley organ.

The officiant at Vespers will be the cathedral administrator, Mgr Michael Regan, who will be assisted by six coped clerics according to the ceremonies of the usus antiquior. Unfortunately His Eminence, Cardinal Keith Patrick O’Brien, will be out of the country in mid-August but he has kindly given his blessing to the celebration.

The work is a significant one from both a musical and liturgical perspective. It came into being when Claude Johnson, one of the original directors of Rolls Royce, chanced to be in Paris in August 1919. On the Feast of the Assumption he went to the Cathedral of Notre-Dame for Vespers. On that day the Organiste Titulaire, Louis Vierne, was replaced by Marcel Dupré, the former ceding the console to the latter for the purpose of testing his skill at improvisation. Dupré’s performance, by all accounts, did not disappoint his mentor.

So impressed was Johnson by what he had heard, that, upon his return to England, he contacted Dupré to ask how he might obtain a copy of the music. When the composer replied that the entire thing had been improvised, Johnson immediately offered a commission for their committal to paper.

Whereas during most of their history after publication they tended to be heard as a series of pieces for organ, their original place was in liturgical context. It was in 1994 that the late Dr Mary Berry CBE, Director of the Schola Gregoriana of Cambridge, embarked upon a project to reintroduce the Versets into their proper liturgical context, recording them later that year in Notre-Dame de Paris, with Philippe Lefèbvre, Titulaire of the Cathedral at the Grandes Orgues, and David Hill on the chamber organ. (Herald: HAVPCD170). The organ is treated as a liturgical voice, taking up the reprise of the antiphon after each of the five psalms, and basing its improvisation on the melody of the original chant of the antiphon: canon, chorale etc,. The Schola and organ alternate throughout the hymn, Ave Maris Stella, the organ offering the most varied of treatments of the melody. This alternation continues throughout the Magnificat, with the organ, rather than improvising on the chant, engaging in interpreting parts of the text.

Rounded off by the concluding Preces and the Salve Regina, the whole Office comes together to provide an uplifting – even at times breathtaking – celebration of one of the major feasts in the Church’s calendar. Nothing is left out, nothing is left to chance, and every element – every voice – integrates perfectly. It will be fitting to hear a work of such quality and which musically expresses the renaissance within the Church of organic development in Edinburgh for her cathedral’s patronal feast and during the world’s largest cultural festival.

Vespers will begin at 4pm and will be followed by a free organ and guitar recital at 5pm.

Forthcoming Events

2009-07-10T09:44:00.000+01:00

Thursday 6th August
Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord
Solemn Sung Latin Vespers
and Benediction

-

Saturday 15th August at 4pm
Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady
Solemn Sung Latin Vespers

The Schola will be collaborating with Simon Nieminski, the Cathedral Organist, for the second of his Saturday Vespers on the last four Saturdays in August. Together we will perform Marcel Dupré's Vespres de la Sainte Vierge for Chant and Organ. The event will be of particular significance not only because it will be the ninetieth anniversary of the work's premiere at Notre Dame de Paris but also because it will be the patronal feast of the Cathedral and thus an important day for the whole Archdiocese. We hope that as many people as possible will be able to join us from the various deaneries. Vespers will be followed by a recital on the new organ.

Thursday 3rd September
Feast of Pope St Pius X
Solemn Sung Latin Vespers
and Benediction

-

Thursday 15th October
Feast of St Teresa of Ávila
Solemn Sung Latin Vespers
and Benediction

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

Sacred Heart Vespers

2009-06-18T23:28:00.008+01:00

The Sacred Ministers, Schola (seated) and Servers after Vespers

On 18th June the Schola sang Vespers and Benediction for the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Mgr Michael Regan, the Chaplain of the Schola (centre of photo), officiated and was assisted by Fr Paul Francis Spencer CP, Fr John Emerson FSSP, Fr Neil Ferguson OP and Fr Gerard Byrne (pictured in copes from left to right respectively). We are most grateful to them all for their contributions.

The more solemn form of Vespers was a most fitting celebration of this much loved feast. We are looking forward to celebrating the Feast of the Assumption with even greater solemnity on 15th August for the patronal feast of the Cathedral. We are also looking forward to our next event, which will be Solemn Vespers for the Transfiguration of Our Lord on 6th August at 6:45pm.

Photo: Claire Hamid

Welcome!

2009-06-18T17:30:00.001+01:00

Welcome to the blog for the Edinburgh Schola!

Our hope is to render praise unto God through the singing of Gregorian chant, to preserve the ancient music of the Church in this way, and to facilitate and promote the Chant throughout the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh

Mgr Regan has kindly allowed us to use St Mary’s Cathedral in the east end of Edinburgh as the base for our weekly practices and monthly Vespers.

The Schola meets most weeks on Thursday evenings for rehearsal or to chant Vespers.

In order to promote chant, we will also have around half a dozen Masses with Gregorian chant each year. These will be spread among the deaneries and will begin in Autumn 2009.

This website aims to provide information for both current and prospective members and all who are interested in our work.

Recent Vespers

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We are happy to report that our recent Vespers for the Feasts of St Joseph and the Ascension have been most successful.

Our thanks must go to our officiants Fr Neil Ferguson OP (St Joseph and Ascension) and Fr John Emerson FSSP (St Joseph the Worker) and to everyone who has served and assisted at Vespers.

We are most grateful to Eoghain Murphy for sending us photographs of Vespers and Benediction for the Feast of St Joseph the Worker.

The Schola singing the psalms

The incense is placed in the thurible

Fr Emerson approaches the altar to give Benediction.

The Schola is looking forward to its next liturgy which will be First Vespers for the Feast of the Sacred Heart on 18th June at 6:45pm. We plan to have a full compliment of six coped assistants to compliment the chant, as is fitting for such a great feast.

Joining the Schola

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Anyone can join the schola as long as they are keen to sing! There is no need to be able to read Gregorian chant notation. We will teach you how to read the the notation, how to develop fluency in Latin pronunciation, etc. Plainsong is very easy to sing and given patience and experience anyone can sing even the more complex pieces.

Members will need to commit to a rehearsal each Thursday evening lasting for two hours and around six Saturdays a year for the deanery Masses.

Membership of the schola is also restricted to men. Gregorian chant has always been sung by single sex choirs since it was developed by monks and nuns. We don’t have the resources to run a ladies' schola, but we are committed to encouraging both men and women to sing chant in our work to promote it throughout the Archdiocese. We hope that women will be able to support us by joining us for our liturgies throughout the year.

If you are interested in joining please contact us using the details to the right - and if you have any questions about joining please do not hesitate to drop us a line.

Supporting the Schola

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Even if you are not able to sing in the schola for we would very much appreciate your support. Please get in touch with us if you feel you can offer us anything useful – perhaps you have some old chant books which we could put to better use, for example?

If you would like to join our mailing list please send us an email at the address on the right with “Mailing List” as the subject. We will send you updates about our latest events and other information from time to time.

Thursday Evening

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Owing to various other commitments in the Cathedral diary, Thursday has been chosen as the evening for our weekly rehearsal and Vespers.

Therefore, the first rehearsal will take place on Thursday 5th February. Please drop us an email or leave a voicemessage if you intend to join us.

We will gathering each week in the Cathedral porch between 18:00 and 18:15 before walking over to the house and will be finished by 20:15. If you cannot attend the first rehearsal or do not hear about it in time, please also get in touch with us. We hope you will be able to join us for our second rehearsal on the 12th.

Our first Vespers will probably take place on 19th or 26th February, depending on our progress - we will confirm this by 13th February.

NEW DATE for First Vespers

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Due to diary commitments, our first public Vespers will now take place on 19th March 2009 at 6.45pm, which will be Solemn Vespers for the Feast of St Joseph.

We look forward to seeing you at the Cathedral.

Forthcoming Events

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Our recent Vespers for the Feast of St Joseph was a great success and special thanks are due to Fr Neil Ferguson OP for officiating on that occasion.

The Schola has decided to sing Vespers monthly for the time being and our next liturgy will be on 30th April and will be First Vespers for the Feast of St Joseph the Worker.

Looking further ahead there will be Vespers on 21st May for Ascension and on 18th June there will be First Vespers for the Feast of the Sacred Heart.

All liturgies will begin at 6:45 pm at St Mary's Cathedral.

Spring Events

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Thursday 30th April
Feast of St Joseph the Worker
Solemn Sung Latin Vespers
and Benediction

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Thursday 21st May
Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord
Solemn Sung Latin Vespers

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Thursday 18th June
Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
Solemn Sung Latin Vespers
and Benediction

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All liturgies begin at 6:45 pm at St Mary’s Cathedral

The St. Margaret Schola

Vespers in Advent

Gregorian Chant for Beginners in Orkney

New Vespers Location at St Andrew's Cathedral, Dundee

2011 Calendar of Events

Happy New Year!

** CANCELLATION **

New Events

Schola summer break

Calendar of Events updated

Society of St Tarcisius - Sodality of Traditional Altar Servers

Calendar of Events updated

Holy Saturday Tenebræ Cancelled

Change of Vespers time - 25/03/2010

reminder: A Passiontide Reflection

LMS Priest Training Conference

A Passiontide Reflection

Launch of the Gregorian Chant Network

News from the Orkney Schola

2010 Calendar of Events

Upcoming events - Spring 2010

Practice time - Wednesday evenings

Another Successful Gregorian Chant Course

News from the Edinburgh Schola

Upcoming events

Upcoming events

Scottish Catholic Observer

Assumption Solemn Vespers

Forthcoming Events

Sacred Heart Vespers

Welcome!

Recent Vespers

Joining the Schola

Supporting the Schola

Thursday Evening

NEW DATE for First Vespers

Forthcoming Events

Spring Events

CANCELLATION