Organist and master of the choristers

Last updated

Organist and master of the choristers is the title given to a director of music at a cathedral, particularly a Church of England cathedral. The tradition dates back to the Middle Ages. They are often both the organist and the choirmaster.

The organist and master of the choristers is usually responsible for planning and producing all musical aspects of the cathedral work. [1] [2] That includes training and conducting of the cathedral choir. The sub-organist or assistant organist usually plays at cathedral services, although they will also be expected to take over the choral duties if the organist is unavailable.

One of the longest serving organists and masters of the choristers was Andrew Goodwin, who retired from Bangor Cathedral on 31 October 2009. He had served there for 37 years. He was the master of the choristers when Aled Jones was in the choir.[ citation needed ] Other long-serving holders of the title include Charles J Brennan, who spent 60 years (1904–1964) at Belfast Cathedral [3] and Dr Leslie Paul of Bangor Cathedral who served in that role for 42 years (1928 - 1970).

See also

Related Research Articles

John Anthony Birch was a British organist and choral director.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chelmsford Cathedral</span> Church in Essex, England

Chelmsford Cathedral in the city of Chelmsford, Essex, England, is dedicated to St Mary the Virgin, St Peter and St Cedd. It became a cathedral when the Anglican Diocese of Chelmsford was created in 1914 and is the seat of the Bishop of Chelmsford.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Choir of King's College, Cambridge</span> English Anglican choir

The Choir of King's College, Cambridge is an English Anglican choir. It was created by King Henry VI, who founded King's College, Cambridge, in 1441, to provide daily singing in his Chapel, which remains the main task of the choir to this day.

George Guest CBE FRCO was a Welsh organist and choral conductor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Choir of St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle</span>

The Choir of St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle exists to sing services in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Anne's Cathedral, Belfast</span> Anglican Cathedral in Belfast, Northern Ireland

Belfast Cathedral, also known as St Anne's Cathedral, is a Church of Ireland cathedral in Donegall Street, Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is unusual in serving two separate dioceses. It is the focal point of Belfast's Cathedral Quarter.

Philip John Moore is an English composer and organist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Nethsingha</span> English choral conductor and organist (b. 1968)

Andrew Mark Nethsingha, FRCO, ARCM is an English choral conductor and organist, the son of the late Lucian Nethsingha, also a cathedral organist. He was appointed Organist and Master of the Choristers at Westminster Abbey in London in 2023, having previous held similar positions at St John's College, Cambridge, Gloucester Cathedral and Truro Cathedral.

Alan John Thurlow is an English organist. He is best known as having been Organist and Master of the Choristers of Chichester Cathedral between 1980 and 2008.

The Southern Cathedrals Festival is a five-day music festival held in rotation among the English cathedrals of Chichester, Winchester and Salisbury, in the penultimate week of July. The festival was restored in 1960 after initial attempts to create the annual occasion were followed by 28 years without it. The respective director of music acts as festival director when it is that cathedral's turn to host the event.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Choir of Chichester Cathedral</span>

The musical foundation of Chichester Cathedral consists of the organist and master of the choristers, the assistant organist and the organ scholar; together with six singing men, eighteen choristers, six probationers – and including a head chorister and a senior chorister who both wear a notable medallion on a red ribbon according to their office held. The choristers and probationers are all boarders at the Prebendal School, the cathedral's choir school. The lay vicars are professional singers who all have everyday jobs.

James Bennett Lancelot was master of the Choristers, and cathedral organist at Durham Cathedral from 1985. He retired in 2017 and was appointed canon organist emeritus by the bishop of Durham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Organs and organists of Chichester Cathedral</span>

The organs of Chichester Cathedral are the major source of instrumental music at the cathedral, being played for daily services and accompanying the choir, as well as being used for concerts and recitals. There has been organ music at Chichester Cathedral almost continuously since the medieval period, with a break in the mid-17th century during the Commonwealth period.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Organist</span> Musician who plays any type of organ

An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists. In addition, an organist may accompany congregational hymn-singing and play liturgical music.

Richard Godfrey Seal was an English organist and conductor. From 1968 to 1997 he served as organist and master of the choristers at Salisbury Cathedral, which in 1991 established a separate girls choir in addition to the existing boys cathedral choir, the first cathedral to do so.

Charles Harrison has been Organist and Master of the Choristers of Chichester Cathedral since September 2014, succeeding Sarah Baldock. He has also held musical posts at Southwell Minster, Carlisle and Lincoln Cathedral.

Daniel Cook is an organist, conductor and singer. Since Autumn 2017 he has been Master of the Choristers and Organist at Durham Cathedral.

Andrew Millington is a British cathedral organist who served as Director of Music at Exeter between 1999 and 2015. He is also active as a composer, and has had several choral pieces published.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christopher Gray (organist)</span> British choral conductor

Christopher Gray is a British choral conductor and organist who served as Organist and Master of the Choristers at Truro Cathedral from 2008 to 2023 before being appointed Director of Music at St John's College, Cambridge.

References

  1. "The Organists".
  2. "Director of Music at St John's appointed as Organist and Master of Choristers at Westminster Abbey".
  3. "The Dictionary of Ulster Biography".