Wonderful! So many things have been going on that I have been unable to keep up! I'll try to list as many of the events etc. as I can.
Stanley says a big "thank-you" to all who have helped him celebrate his birthday, and for all the cards (over 100!), good wishes etc. that have poured in.
The CD. Andrew Reid, Master of Music at Peterborough Cathedral, has made a CD of some of Stanley's choral music. It contains re-mastered items from four of the LPs made in dad's time at the Cathedral, and brand new recordings of other pieces sung by the present choir. This is a delightful disc. Ben Turner at Finesplice has done a remarkable job of restoring tracks from the archive material, and the team at World of Sound have worked hard to get the CD produced in time for dad's birthday, while not compromising quality. The new recording by the present choir of Peterborough Cathedral, directed by Andrew Reid, confirms that their wonderful cathedral still echoes to the sound of beautifully-performed music, and last, but by no means least, Andrew has done a first-class job in masterminding the whole project. I am very grateful to him, his choir, those who have generously sponsored the recording, and all involved.
The CD is now available from the cathedral shop, and online at: http://www.pcmusicassociation.org/Shop.asp
The R3 programme "The Choir" on Sunday 21/2/10 included an item on dad & his music. It featured an interview with Barry Ferguson and extracts from the new CD (see above) and Stanley's recording of Stainer's "The Crucifixion", which has just been re-released yet again on CD!
BBC Choral Evensong was broadcast live on Weds 24th Feb at 4pm from Peterborough Cathedral, directed by Andrew Reid. They did dad's "Behold, how good and joyful" as introit, Responses (3rd set), 3 chants by dad & one of Barry Ferguson's, dad's Peterborough Service, hymn tune (Yarwell) and Francesca played Versets on "Jesu dulcedo cordium" as a voluntary. The anthem was Howells' "Thee will I love", commissioned by Stanley in 1970.
A group of Old Choristers visited Stanley on Sunday 14th Feb. They had lunch with him and the family at Rustique restaurant in Richmond, and sang Happy Birthday to him, starting in unison and branching into glorious harmony!
Many places are including some of his music in their ordinary services to mark the occasion.
Wells Cathedral, directed by Matthew Owens, included some of Stanley's music as a tribute on 11th Feb.
On Friday 12th Feb. Winchester Cathedral sang the Lichfield service. (Thanks for this info, Alan!)
The Gentlemen of the Chapel Royal, Hampton Court Palace, directed by Carl Jackson, sang the Lichfield Evening Service and the anthem 'Christ is the world's light' at evensong on 14th Feb. The Parish Church of St Therèse, Mount Merrion, Dublin, under their Musical Director Brian Ingoldsby, included Stanley's "Come with us, O blessed Jesus" at their 12:30 Mass on the 14th.
St. Paul's Cathedral in Melbourne, directed by Dr. June Nixon, sang the Missa Sancti Pauli on the 14th. and the Dean said a few words about Stanley. June also took some valuable time in choir practice to tell the choir about Stanley's choir at Peterborough etc!
The Wessex Chamber Choir, directed by Richard Stevens, sang 'Behold, how good and joyful a thing it is' as the motet for Sung Eucharist at Exeter Cathdral on Sunday 14th February.
Oakley Parish Church sang Vann in E minor and dad's D flat major chant at evensong on Feb 14th. They don't normally have a choir, but the vicar, Linda Bond, got a group of singers together to mark the occasion! She talked about Stanley at the service.
Gary Sieling gave an "all-Vann" organ recital at Westminster Abbey on Sunday 14th Feb. (I hear that the Abbey nave was absolutely full and the playing was magnificent.) Gary also included some of Stanley's music at Bromley Parish Church in the morning of the same day. He is also including some of dad's music in each of his recitals this year (with the exception of the harpsichord recital - Stanley hasn't written any harpsichord music!). Click here for recital schedule.
All Saints' Church, Northampton, under their Director of Music Lee Dunleavy, held a celebratory evensong on 14th Feb using mainly Stanley's music. The preacher was Canon Paul Rose, who was Precentor at Peterborough during some of Stanley's time there, and our next-door neighbour for several years!
St. Paul's Church, Seattle, Washington, U.S.A. sang Stanley's motet "Prayer of the Incarnation" at Solemn Mass on 14th and Gary James, Organist/Choirmaster, played dad's "Carillon" as the postlude.
Lichfield Cathedral introduced "Behold How Good and Joyful" to their repertoire and scheduled dad's Lichfield evening canticles, both on the birthday weekend. They are also including "Eastern Monarchs" for Epiphany.
Apparently, 38 choristers on the RSCM Rochester Diocesan 3 day course sang 'Happy Birthday dear Stanley' on 15th. Gary Sieling reports that the singing was nicely in tune, expressive and with excellent diction, in the hope that Stanley would approve!
Canterbury Cathedral sang one of dad's anthems on 14th and a Vann evensong on 15th (thanks for this info also, Alan!)
St. Thomas Church, Fifth Avenue, New York, under their director John Scott, sang ‘Behold, how good and joyful a thing it is’ as the introit on the 17th.
The London Cantata Choir under their Musical Director Peter Moorse sang a complete weekend of Vann at Chelmsford Cathedral on the weekend following his birthday (20th and 21st February). Roy Massey played. Details of music for this weekend - AND their plans to use Stanley's music throughout 2010!
The Peterborough Chamber Choir, directed by Henk Kamminga, continues to include Stanley's compositions in their recitals and services. In January: at Ely Cathedral – Missa Sancti Pauli, Responses Set 3, Adam lay y-bounden, There is no Rose. In February: at St. Joseph’s R C. Church, Sheffield - If Ye love me, the Rugby Service, Soul of Christ, Sanctify me. At Sheffield Cathedral - dad's ssaattbb Missa Brevis. Passion Sunday (21st March) at Chichester Cathedral: Responses Set 4, Missa Brevis. In addition several of Stanley's chants are in regular use.
St. Matthew's Church choir in Allestree, Derby, sang "I love Thee, Lord" at choral evensong on 21st Feb. John Bishop, who teaches the RSCM "Voices for Life" course there, saw dad's birthday mentioned on the RSCM web-site.
Blackburn Cathedral, directed by Richard Tanner, are singing Vann in e minor and Stanley's Blackburn setting of Ave Maria at some stage.
........A concert is planned for 8th May in Larchmont, New York, directed by Douglas Kostner, featuring Milhaud's Sacred Service and Stanley's 'Behold, How Good and Joyful'
The Consort , led by David Harmer, are singing dad's "My Love's an Arbutus" in a concert in the autumn.
(My sincere apologies if I have omitted any details that I've been sent.)
Articles have been written for "Cathedral Music", "Organists Review" and "Church Music Quarterly" (March issue - already published I think, but I haven't see this yet).
Other news (may or may not be related to the centenary celebrations):
I hear on the grapevine that the Peterborough recording of Stainer's "Crucifixion" has just been re-issued on CD (possibly for the 3rd time?!), this time as REGIS RRC1307. Review here, and on "Recordings" page.Also, I hear that it is likely that "Christmas by Candlelight" is being re-mastered on to CD for publication later in the year.
And a couple of links to a light-hearted article and blog that have appeared in the last week or so!
WSV for PM? What have you started, Barry?!
A blog - I seem to recognize that photo!
Some photos of the celebrations N.B. You will need Adobe Acrobat reader, and allow time to download (17MB- sorry)!
Footnote. A correspondent tells me that dad has for some time been "the longest-lived Cathedral Organist in history"! I've no idea if this is true!
