Page 32 - LOTN Autumn Issue 48 2021

FAITH AND CULTURE

supplied Mr Rattray with copies of their own hymnbook.
The choir also sang some hymns in English before Mass,
including Come, Holy Ghost. It is probable, though copies
have not survived in the church, that they also used material
from George Gordon’s two volumes of church music.
So, what of the Huntly choir today? I asked their director,
Robert Main, for details, and learned that the present choir
was formed a few years ago with the intention of leading
the congregation in singing the Mass. This has remained
their priority ever since and a growing repertoire of
liturgical parts is under constant review. Music of any genre
is used wherever it is appropriate for Mass. Robert told me
that they are lucky to enjoy the continuing support of the
congregation and the enthusiasm and encouragement of
Frs Kingsley and Peter.
He went on to say that the choir has often sung at services
in addition to the weekly liturgy of the parish. ‘We have The magnificent Conacher organ
sung vespers on a regular basis although as a scattered
parish we have often been hampered by inclement weather a Holy Week ecumenical series of services and contributed
during times such as Advent. Vespers started with Anglican to the local World Day of Prayer service when it was held in
chanted psalms but using translations from the Catholic St Margaret’s. We have done sponsored hymn sings in the
Divine Office as well as a hymn in parts. Before long a church in a more contemporary style to raise money for
sung Magnificat, Our Father and dialogues were added. Mary’s Meals’.
Fr Kingsley also introduced sung intercessions at these What music does the choir sing? ‘Most important was the
services so the genre continues to develop in Huntly. We desire expressed by Fr Max to move away from reliance on
also sang Vespers in a nearby Episcopal Church as part of only hymns to singing the Mass every week’. The choir also
sings a motet or other choir piece. ‘At the moment we sing
(specific to the Triduum and Eastertide) Webbe's Haec Dies,
Regina Caeli and Victimae Paschali. Outside of Eastertide,
our repertoire includes Mozart's Ave, Verum Corpus, ‘Ecce
Panis Angelorum’ (anon.), Lead me Lord, by S.S. Wesley, and
Webbe's Emitte Spiritum Tuum. We sang this last one as a
‘virtual’ at the Confirmation Mass earlier this year. Frisina’s
Anima Christi and Farrant's O Sacrum Convivium are presently
under development’. So, it is interesting that Webbe’s music
is still heard at Huntly as it was over 200 years ago.
I asked about the organ. ‘The organ itself in St Margaret’s
is a joy to play. Although it probably incorporates pipework
from whatever instrument was in the church previously, the
St Margaret’s organ is a Conacher built 150 years ago. It has
been well maintained over the years and received a major
refurbishment in the late 90s. It is quite small, having just 7
ranks of pipes, a single manual and pedalboard, but sounds
magnificent; aided no doubt by the wonderful acoustics
into which it speaks. The only drawback is the absence of
a swell box, which was removed some time in the recent
past and which presents strong challenges of flexibility, but
I have learned to live with that.’
What happened during the pandemic? I learned that
the choir at Huntly, like our Cathedral choir, continued
to provide music for online, and later for live, services by
individual members recording themselves singing at home.
These recordings were then mixed together to form a virtual
choir. The Huntly choir also took part in the online Diocesan
carol service in 2020.
A final comment from Robert. ‘All rehearsals start with
prayer. Without this underpin, we would be at a serious
disadvantage. There is no better advice to give any choir!’

St Margaret's Choir sing Ecce Panis Angelorum (Behold the
Bread of Angels)
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