Choral Music
Duration of the festival, Various times
Sheffield Cathedral
Choral Evensong
Experience an age-old Anglican tradition that dates back to 1549. Religious or not, choral evensong provides some of the best quality food for the soul you can get, and is an excellent opportunity to relax and unwind before the end of a busy day. Whether or not you are seeking thinking time outside the pressures of life, putting off jumping on that busy train or tram, or hitting the rush-hour traffic, or even if you are just passing by - pop in and listen to some great music by the city´s only professional choir. What´s more, services are free, you don´t have to book seats and you may arrive and leave when you need to.
The Choir
There was a choir of men and boys in the old Parish Church of Sheffield for centuries, and when that church was raised to the status of a Cathedral in 1913, the tradition continued. In recent years the music of the Cathedral has vastly expanded and today there is a very busy programme of services and concerts throughout the year. The choirs are directed by two professional musicians, assisted by an Organ Scholar (who is often a music undergraduate at the University of Sheffield).
The Cathedral Choir sings Evensong on each weekday except Monday during term-time at 5.45pm Sunday services consist of the Sung Eucharist at 10.30am and Evensong at 6.30pm. Currently there are some 50-60 young people involved in the Cathedral Choir. These children attend schools all over the city of Sheffield, and come in to rehearsals and services up to five times each week to be joined by the Cathedral Songmen and Student Songmen.
The boy and girl choristers all receive individual singing tuition from a specialist vocal tutor during their time in the choir, and in addition to their regular services, the Cathedral Choir often gives concerts in the Cathedral and beyond, broadcasts on radio and television, tours in the UK and abroad, and makes recordings for CDs. In the last few years the choir has toured the USA, Holland, Germany, France, Hungary the South Coast of England and the West Country.
Boys and Men
The boys and men sing together for up to four services a week. The 20 boys (including 6 probationer or trainee choristers), aged between 8 and 13 come from a number of different schools across the city. The gentlemen of the choir are divided into two categories, Songmen and Student Songmen. The former are eight professional people who form the backbone of the choir and are complemented by four students who are undergraduates from the University. There is no choir school and so the boy choristers have to learn a wide variety of music on a very tight rehearsal schedule. Personal commitment, punctuality, team-work and musical excellence help make the choir what it is today and these very qualities stand the boys in good stead in later life.
Girls
The girls' choir, which was formed in 1994, has 20 members aged between 12 and 18. The girls come into the Cathedral three times a week and sing up to two services a week, together with the Sunday services once each month. Like the boys, the girls come from a number of different schools in the city and again commitment and dedication are very important. It is hoped that many of the girls, after gaining musical experience at the cathedral, will continue to sing at college and later in life.
Services
- Sunday 07 June
10:30 - Choral Eucharist (accompanied by the Cassini Quartet)
Boys' and Men's Voices
Mozart:Missa Brevis in C K. 220
Arr. S. Jackson: Be still for the presence of the Lord
Brahms: Academic Festival Overture Op. 80
18:30 - Choral Evensong
Boy's and Men's Voices
Byrd: Responses
Blair: Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in B minor
Hadley: My beloved spake
Saint-Saëns: Fantasie in D Flat Op. 101
- Tuesday 09 June
17:45 - Choral Evensong
Men's Voices
Plainsong: Responses
Plainsong: Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis with Organ Versets
Whitacre: Lux Arumque
- Wednesday 10 June
17:45 - Choral Evensong
Boys' Voices
Plainsong: Responses
Terrington:Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in C
Nicholson: Be strong in the Lord
- Thursday 11 June
17:45 - Choral Eucharist
Girls' Voices
Byrd: Mass for 5
Messiaen: O Sacrum Convivium
- Friday 12 June
17:45 - Choral Evensong
Boys' Voices
Gowing: Responses
Dufay: Magnificat
Plainsong: Nunc Dimittis
Noon: O Sacrum Convivium
- Tuesday 16 June
17:45 - Choral Evensong
Men's Voices
Marlow: Responses
Wood: Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in
Walford Davies: Father of Heaven
- Wednesday 17 June
17:45 - Choral Evensong
Girls' Voices
Horton: Responses
Sumsion: Magnificat and Dimittis in G
Parry: He delivereth the poor
- Thursday 18 June
17:45 - Choral Evensong
Men's Voices
Moore: Responses
Howells: Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in E
Edwards: God that madest Earth and Heaven
- Friday 19 June
17:45 - Choral Evensong
Boys' and Men's Voices
Rose: Responses
Harwood: Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in A
Mendelssohn: How lovely are the messengers
