St Peter’s Choir
About this week’s music
This week’s Mass setting is the setting in B minor, by Thomas Tertius Noble (1867–1953), with an anthem by Charles Wood (1866–1926): O Thou the Central Orb. This week’s special Evensong to celebrate the Oxford Movement features canticles by Herbert Murril (1909–1952) and an anthem by Edgar Bainton (1880–1956), I Saw a New Heaven.
Thomas Tertius Noble – Tertius indicating him as the third Thomas of his family – was an English-born composer who lived and worked in the United States for the later part of his career, after time spent at Ely and York. He held the post of organist and choirmaster of St Thomas’ Episcopal Church in New York for thirty-five years, and was foundational in establishing an Anglican choral tradition, including a Choir School. Likely the Mass setting, which is a partner setting to his better-known Evensong Canticles in B Minor, was published after his death, and the editing and preparation for publication was supported by his friend and colleague Francis Jackson, who is credited with the composition of the Kyrie.
Charles Wood was an Irish composer and teacher, who was responsible for teaching Ralph Vaughan Williams and Herbert Howells; he was considered an unparalleled teacher of harmony and counterpoint. The text of the anthem is taken from a poem written by the English hymnologist the Rev’d H.R. Bramley in 1915, possibly drawn from or inspired by one of seven sonnets paraphrasing the Advent “O Antiphons”, by Richard Meux Benson. Listen carefully for the hugely demanding organ part – we are grateful for the talent and dedication of our organist Rhys Arvidson, without whom we would be unable to offer this anthem for our worship.
Our Evensong will also be a feast of music (as it always is), especially an anthem by English composer Edgar Bainton. The emotional weight of the anthem may be traced to his direct experience of suffering, with Bainton detained as an enemy alien in Germany during the First World War – the connection is often drawn between the anthem, written a decade after Bainton’s release, and his wartime experience.
About the St Peter’s Choir
Founded in 1847, the choir of St Peter's Eastern Hill is one of the oldest continuing Anglican church choirs in Australia.
Music plays an important part in the liturgical life of St Peter’s, with the choir singing at High Mass on Sundays as well as regular Evensongs. Our repertoire ranges from Plainsong to more recent liturgical settings, with a range of familiar and lesser-known composers. We are particularly enjoying re-discovering English Communion settings of the late 19th and early 20th century, alongside the great Mass settings of the Renaissance.
Membership is made up of volunteers, professional musicians, and a quartet of Foundation Scholars who are studying singing at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. The Church recently launched the music foundation to support this endeavour and to provide opportunities for young up-and-coming singers to develop their performance experience while contributing to our liturgy; if you would like more information about this, or to support this vital ministry, please contact the Director of Music, Christopher Watson.
Join the choir
The choir rehearses at 9 am for a 10.30 am service, with no mid-week rehearsal or other commitment. We encourage amateur singers who wish to sing regularly or occasionally to get in touch with our Director of Music, Christopher Watson, to arrange an audition.