05 February – Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
10.00: Choral Eucharist (BAS)
If ye love me – Tallis
Festive Eucharist – Rawsthorne
Psalm 112:1-9
View me, Lord, a work of thine – Lloyd
393, 256, 502, 646, 330
Carillon – Murrill
4.00: Choral Evensong with Candlemas Liturgy and
Installation of Canons and Archdeacon
Smith Responses
Psalm 48
Stanford in B flat
There shall a star from Jacob – Mendelssohn
300, 645, 381
Introduction & Passacaglia (Sonata 8) – Rheinberger
12 February – Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany
10.00: Choral Eucharist (BCP)
Deliver us – Batten
Darke in F
Psalm 119:1-8
Ave verum – Elgar
7, 447, 497, 60, 384
Toccata Deo gracias – R. Keys Biggs
19 February – Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany
10.00: Choral Eucharist (BAS)
A Prayer of King Henry VI – Ley
German Mass – Schubert
Teach me, O Lord (Psalm 119:33-40) – Byrd
From the rising of the sun – Ouseley
527(393), 171, 93, 84, 525
Prelude and Fugue in B minor BWV 544 – Bach
26 February – Last Sunday after the Epiphany
10.00: Choral Eucharist (BCP)
Cantate Domino – Pitoni Missa Brevis – Murray
Psalm 20
O God, the King of glory – Purcell
424, 167, 505, 543, 320
Toccata on Lasst uns erfreuen – Choveaux
01 March – Ash Wednesday
7.30pm: Holy Eucharist with Ashes (BAS)
Missa l’hora passa – Viadana Psalm 103:8-18
Miserere mei, Domini – Allegri
Hide not thou thy face – Farrant
170, 180, 558
Prelude on O Mensch bewein’ BWV 622 – Bach
01 January – The Naming of Jesus
10.00: Choral Eucharist (BAS)
There is a flower springing – Praetorius
German Mass – Schubert
Psalm 8
Infant holy, Infant lowly – Polish Carol arr. Willcocks
155,622,135,148,150
Praeludium in D BuxWV 139 – Buxtehude
08 January – The Baptism of the Lord
10.00: Choral Eucharist (BCP)
Call to remembrance, 0 Lord – Farrant
Harris in F
Psalm 29
Behold the tabernacle – Harris
627(362),45,385,555,156
Psalm Prelude Set 2, No. 3 – Howells
15 January – Second Sunday after the Epiphany
10.00: Choral Eucharist (BAS)
O Praise God in his holiness – Weldon
Mass of St. Denis – Cabena
Psalm 40: 1-12
Bread of the world – Bancroft
162,270,454,455,132
Crown Imperial – Walton
22 January – Third Sunday after the Epiphany
10.00: Choral Eucharist (BCP)
O come, ye servants of the Lord – Tye
Missa l’hora passa – Viadana
Psalm 27:1, 4-11
Exsultate justi – Viadana
157(508),432,546,619,467
Prelude and Fugue in E minor BWV 533 – Bach
29 January – Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
10.00: Choral Matins (BCP)
O Lord, increase our faith – Loosemore
Smith Responses
Psalm 15
Stanford in B flat
439,446,466,438
Grand Choeur in D – Guilmant
10.00 Choral Eucharist (BAS)
O Radix Jesse – plainsong
Addington Service – Shephard
Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19 This is the record of John – Gibbons
108, 117, 109, 49, 419
March on a Theme of Handel – Guilmant
11 December – Third in Advent
10.00 Choral Eucharist (BCP)
O Rex Gentium – plainsong
Cabena in the Dorian Mode
Psalm 146:4-9 Almighty and everlasting God – Gibbons
111, 270, 375, 48, 306
Toccata – Belier 18 December – Fourth in Advent
10.00 Choral Eucharist (BAS)
O Emmanuel – plainsong
Festive Eucharist – Rawsthorne
Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18
Blake’s Cradle Song – Vaughan Williams
98, 88, 106, 96, 101
Toccata and Fugue in modo dorico BWV 538 – Bach
4.00 Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
Once in royal David’s city
Torches – Joubert
Adam lay ybounden – Ord
Ding! Dong! merrily on high – arr. Wood
Resonet in laudibus – Handl
How far is it to Bethlehem? – arr. Willcocks
O little town of Bethlehem
Nova! – Drinkell
In the bleak midwinter – Darke
While shepherds watched their flocks by night
Nativity Carol – Rutter
Unto us is born a Son
Bethlehem Down – Warlock
On this day – Haldane Stewart
O come, all ye faithful
Hark! the herald angels sing
Toccata-PreludeVom Himmel hoch – Edmondson
24 December – Christmas Eve
11.00pm Midnight Eucharist of Christmas (BCP)
Ding! Dong! Merrily on high – arr. Wood
Messe de Minuit pour Noël – Charpentier
Psalm 96
Carols
118, 119, 136, 121, 138
Dieu parmi nous – Messiaen
06 November 2016 – Twenty-Fifth after Pentecost – All Saints Sunday – Remembrance
10.00 Choral Eucharist and Holy Baptism
Christ hath a garden – Drinkell
German Mass – Schubert
Psalm 149
O quam gloriosum – Victoria
528, 250, 361, 274, 57, 276
St. Anne Fugue in E flat BWV 552 – Bach
4.00: Choral Evensong
Smith Responses
Psalms 148 and 150
Walmisley in D minor
Give us the wings of faith – Bullock
275, 520, 282
Sarabande in modo elegiaco – Howells
13 November 2016 – Twenty-Sixth after Pentecost
10.00 Choral Eucharist (BCP)
Cast thy burden upon the Lord – Mendelssohn
Darke in F
Psalm 98 And I saw a new heaven – Bainton
370, 515, 527, 76, 535
Sonata No. 1 (1st mve.) – Mendelssohn
20 November 2016 – Last after Pentecost – The Reign of Christ
10.00 Choral Eucharist (BAS)
O praise God in his holiness – Weldon
Festive Eucharist – Rawsthorne
Benedictus O taste and see – Vaughan Williams
184, 606, 374, 48, 602
Exurgat Deus – Hurford
27 November 2016 – First Sunday of Advent
10.00 Choral Eucharist and Great Litany (BCP)
Wood in the Phrygian Mode
Psalm 122
How beautiful upon the mountains – Stainer
112, 99, 116, 52, 110
Passacaglia in C minor BWV 532 – Bach
4.00 Advent Procession
The Great O Antiphons of Advent
Matin Responsory – after Palestrina
O come, O come, Emmanuel
The Truth from above – arr. Vaughan Williams
There is a flower springing – Praetorius
Hills of the North, rejoice!
Rejoice in the Lord alway – Anon. 16th cent.
‘Twas in the year – arr. Wood
On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry
Vesper Responsory – after Praetorius
Lo! He comes, with clouds descending
Litanies – Alain
The congregation of Christ Church Cathedral, Fredericton welcomed David Drinkell as director of music in July. He comes among us with his wife, Elspeth. The Cathedral has valued a high standard of music in the past and we are pleased that with David’s expertise and leadership it appears that will continue.
David comes with a long history of accomplishments and experience. He was born in Colchester, Essex in England and had his first paid job as a church organist at twelve years of age! He was paid five shillings per week! Since then, he has earned his BA, FRCO, ADCM, ARCM and has been organist and choir master at many Cathedrals in England, Ireland and for the last ten years, at St. John the Baptist Cathedral, St. John’s, Newfoundland.
A Cathedral is a Cathedral, and it must be a leader in the diocese.
“A Cathedral is a Cathedral,” says David, “and it must be a leader in the diocese.”
However, that does not mean it must be too serious. He has been quoted to say, “Life is too short to be serious,” Indeed, choir rehearsals are peppered with anecdotes and funny stories about the composers and the music, keeping choristers amused.
“When you play a noisy beast like a church organ, you have to have a sense of humour.” He loves to bring to life all the various sounds the organ can produce.
David is known for frequent organ recitals. In Ireland, he played a different program in all 31 Cathedrals, all within one week! In St. John’s, the locals were treated to weekly recitals, totaling 200 consecutive performances. Fredericton audiences will be pleased to learn that he is hoping to continue that custom at Christ Church Cathedral, beginning this year with an Advent series, and continuing each Friday thereafter. He is also hoping that there will be enough interest among youngsters, to form a children’s choir.
His interests are varied and include choral and organ music, food, wine and restaurants and architecture, especially of old churches. He is extremely knowledgeable about many church organs, and regularly posts comments on organ sites by way of the internet with details about church organs.
Accompanying him is his talented wife, Elspeth, who is from the Orkney Isles in Scotland. She has already shown her versatility as a singer, helping in the soprano, alto and tenor sections of the choir, as needed – but not all at the same time! She is looking for employment as an administrator or secretary in the Fredericton area.
Since the position at the Christ Church Cathedral is only part-time, David is also checking out the need for accompanist, adjudicator positions in the Fredericton area.
We are hope David and Elspeth will enjoy being part of our Cathedral church family for a long time.
02 October 2016 – Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
10.00: Choral Eucharist (BAS)
Let thy merciful ears, O Lord – Mudd
Festive Eucharist – Rawsthorne
560, 500, 508, 453, 467
Psalm 137;1-6
Ave verum – Elgar
A Trumpet Minuet – Hollins
4.00: Choral Evensong (BCP)
Smith Responses
Psalm 118
Stanford in C
O Thou, the central orb – Wood
17, 546, 306
Toccata Songs of Praise – Chappell
09 October 2016 – Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost – HARVEST THANKSGIVING
10.00: Choral Eucharist (BCP)
Jesus Christ, the Apple Tree – Poston
Sumsion in F
Psalm 100
262, 429, 398, 559, 258
Thou visitest the earth – Greene
Sortie in E flat – Lefébure-Wély
16 October 2016 – Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost
10.00: Choral Eucharist (BAS)
Deliver us, O Lord our God – Batten
Mass of St. Denis – Cabena
393, 521, 501, 617, 631
Psalm 119:97-104
O Lord, increase our faith – Loosemore
Praeludium in G minor – Buxtehude
23 October 2016 – Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost
10.00: Choral Eucharist (BCP)
Lord, for thy tender mercies’ sake – Hilton
Harris in F
474, 361, 364, 85, 438
Psalm 65
O for a closer walk with God – Stanford
Postlude in D minor – Stanford
30 October 2016 – Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
10.00: Choral Matins (BCP)
Smith Responses
Psalm 119:137-144
Stanford in B flat
Behold, the tabernacle – Harris
384, 354, 466, 573
Prelude and Fugue in D BWV 532 – Bach
Saturday, April 2nd at 7 PM, Christ Church Cathedral, 168 Church Street, Fredericton
A concert to raise funds for my new full-length album, “Calming Trust and Coming King,” slated for release in the late spring. A freewill offering will be received.
Friday, April 1st: Becka deHaan at the Light Spot Cafe, 294 Westmorland Road, Saint John, 7:00-9:30 PM.
“If you had told me last April 1st that in exactly a year I would play a beautiful Christian cafe here in New Brunswick called The Light Spot, I’d have thought you were telling me an April Fool, because I never knew the place existed. Well it does, and it’s wonderful. Thanks to Dorothea for welcoming me so enthusiastically among the great talent that performs there regularly. So, come out on a Friday or Saturday night and have a tea or coffee while enjoying some great Gospel music. And if the Friday you come happens to be April 1st, see you there!” Becka deHann
And if you miss those, another such concert is in the works for the evening of Friday, April 22nd, at St. John’s the Evangelist Anglican, Main Street in Fredericton.
Choral Evensong 06 March 2016 Featuring the music of John Medley, first Bishop of Fredericton
The first Bishop of Fredericton is perhaps best known for the establishment of the Anglican Diocese of Fredericton, the building of its Cathedral of Christ Church and many other churches throughout New Brunswick. Medley supported free pews, free-will offerings and the development of diocesan synods. He was the author of Hymns for Public Worship in the Diocese of Fredericton (1855, 1863, 1870).
It may be unknown to some that Bishop Medley’s interests and skills reached far beyond being a recognized scholar, gifted preacher, priest and Bishop. Among the skills that would reach deeply into other areas of church life were his musical abilities. During the early years of the Fredericton Cathedral, Bishop Medley was the primary preacher, director of music and chief pastor. His contribution to church music during the later half of the 19th century was significant.
“…undoubtedly [Medley was] the most prolific and talented anthem composer of post-confederation 19th century Canada,” Dr. Willis Noble, Director of Music and Organist at Christ Church Cathedral said. He is credited with several chant tune compositions, anthems and responsible for the introduction of the first Diocesan Hymnal in 1855. 1
…undoubtedly [Medley was] the most prolific and talented anthem composer of post-confederation 19th century Canada
Prior to his becoming Bishop, several tragic domestic occurrences included the death of his second son in 1839, his wife in 1841, his oldest daughter in 1843 and his mother in a carriage accident in 1844 in which Medley himself was involved but survived with injuries. It was in the fall of 1844, that the then Archbishop of Canterbury wrote to the Rev’d John Medley, then prebendary of Exeter cathedral:
REVEREND Sir, It has been determined to separate the Province of New Brunswick from the Bishopric of Nova Scotia, of which it now forms part, and to erect it into an independent Bishopric. It is most desirable that this important station should be filled by a clergyman well qualified by learning and ability, by temper and judgment, by piety and soundness of doctrine, to discharge its arduous duties. I have been informed by competent judges that you possess these qualifications in no ordinary degree, and their report has been fully confirmed by the answer of the Bishop of Exeter to my inquiries. I therefore request your permission to mention your name to Lord Stanley as Bishop. The office is not to be coveted on account of its emoluments … 2
Among the Medley selections scheduled to be sung on 06 March are:
“They Shall Hunger No More”
“Shew Me Thy Ways”
“O Praise the Lord”
A verbal presentation on the life, theology and music of Bishop Medley will precede Evensong at about 3:30 p.m..
At the Cathedral we’ll say goodbye to Willis Noble, Director of Music, on the last Sunday in March. Willis plans to embark on a journey of further academic studies early next fall and will be moving to Toronto.
The Cathedral congregations will say thank you to Willis on Easter Sunday, 27 March following a 10:30 a.m. combined worship when he insists that he will provide the cake, as his own expression of thanksgiving. “I have nothing but fondness for the people and of my time at the Cathedral,” Willis said.
“The past ten years are some of my most cherished memories and I am thankful for the time I’ve spent with the Cathedral community.”
As an accomplished organist, teacher and choral director, Willis has also successfully continued to nurture a contemporary Christian music group leading the more informal styled 11:45 a.m. worship on Sundays.
Dean Geoffrey Hall said, “I’ve not known a church musician with whom it is easier to work. Willis has a grasp of liturgy and the theological and a breadth of musical ability that has made him a very good fit for the needs of the Cathedral over the past decade.”
“I’ve not known a church musician with whom it is easier to work.” Dean Geoffrey Hall
Of course the Cathedral has been only part of his contribution to the musical community while in Fredericton. Willis has also been part of the adjunct faculty in the Department of Fine Arts at St. Thomas University. Reporting his being honoured by the New Brunswick Choral Federation for his distinguished service to choral music in the province in 2013 and the Stanley B. Cassidy Memorial Award by the Fredericton Music Society for his outstanding contribution to music in the Fredericton community, the STU website had this to say about him:
“Willis is not only a fantastic musician with an illustrious professional career, but also an extraordinary teacher and a wonderful colleague,” says Dr. Martin Kutnowski, Chair of the Fine Arts Department. He teaches a wide range of courses. Given the satisfaction of his students, it’s clear that Willis feels equally at home when teaching the most basic elements of music, as in a music rudiments class, or when teaching the challenging subject of music and meaning, and everything in between. We are very lucky to have him at STU.”
Being of the Christian faith few at the Cathedral would put luck high on a list of why things are the way they are. We can only give thanks that God called Willis to spend these past ten years with us. We wish him well as he moves on to new endeavours.
From 1997-2005, Dr. Noble was Director of Music at the Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Toronto and Director of Music for Trinity College, University of Toronto. He was also an Associate Professor of Divinity at Trinity College.
Until 1997, Dr. Noble was head of the Department of Music at Mount Allison University, where he taught church music, organ, and choral music. He also conducted the Chamber Choir. He was also the Organist and Choir Director of St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Sackville, a position he held from 1984 to 1997.
Dr. Noble has extensive teaching experience, including history of choral music, church music (especially Canadian repertoire), and Baroque music. He was also a member of the board of the New Brunswick Choral Federation, and Director of the Diocesan School of Church Music. He is an active recitalist specializing in Canadian Organ Repertoire.
Willis has a Master’s Degree in Music from the University of Toronto, and has earned a doctorate from Indiana University in 1982. He is the author of ‘Sacred Choral Music in Canada.’
