St Peter’s Choir
About this week’s music
This week’s Mass setting is the Mass for Four Voices by William Byrd (1540–1623). The anthem is a setting of Libera Nos (I&II)I&II) by John Sheppard (c. 1515–1558).
William Byrd wrote this Mass setting for an intimate space: it was probably a clandestine Mass for a very small group secretly – and dangerously – living out their Catholic faith in Protestant England. This means that each of the vocal lines are more exposed, with pairs of voices engaged in tight counterpoint. Each section is built from a small group of motifs, with tension created by the dissonances and resolutions he carefully places to best suit the text and its meaning.
John Sheppard wrote two settings of the antiphon to the Trinity – which he imaginatively called I and II – with the second setting modifying and varying the cantus firmus (a slow-moving “spine” of a piece, often based on a plainsong, held firm in one voice and surrounded by polyphony) of the first. This gives the music something of a “tonal stability” and a sense of serenity, with the cantus firmus acting as a still and slow-moving anchor point. The music was likely written for daily use after Compline at Magdalen College, where College members were required to recite the antiphon to the Trinity each evening – it was therefore written for a quiet devotional setting. Shepphard died young, aged only 43, in the influenza epidemic of 1558; like many of his cohort, he wrote under both Henry and his successor Mary, but as his style did not change notably within that upheaval, it is difficult to accurately date his compositions.
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.