Music
St. Michael’s maintains a thriving musical tradition, at the heart of which is the choir. As well as enjoying a great social activity, bringing together people ranging in age from 15 to 60+ , the choir members are committed to the highest quality of music making. With their Director, Jonathan Dods, they explore vocal production, choral skills and performance practice. Their repertoire spans more than 1000 years, from plainchant to new commissioned works by composers such as Cecilia McDowall and Bernard Hughes.
The choir practises on Tuesdays, from 8.30 to 10pm, and sings one Eucharist and one Evensong per month as well as the major festivals. At the Mass we sing a Kyrie, Sanctus, Benedictus and Agnus Dei, a psalm, anthem and an acclamation. Evensong is fully choral with responses, psalm, settings of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis, anthem and - when Benediction is given - a Tantum Ergo and O Salutaris. Members of the choir also sing the beautiful plainsong office of Compline on Tuesday before practices.
In addition to regular services, the choir sings a Festival Mass on the last day of the Bedford Park Festival in June, with a large orchestra and professional soloists. This year, Gounod’s St. Cecilia Mass was performed. The choir also takes a regular weekend singing trip in July, recently to Norwich, Sherborne and Winchester (see photograph).
New music for 2007 included Holst: Nunc Dimittis, Berkley: Missa Brevis, Blow: Salvator Mundi, Purcell: Remember not Lord our offences, Kodaly: Missa Brevis, Lotti: Crucifixus a 8, Leighton: Drop drop slow tears, Mozart: Spatzenmesse K220, Vaughan Williams: Valiant for Truth, Byrd: Ne Irascaris and Mathias: Let the people praise thee O God.
Future events include Bach’s Magnificat with members of the Academy of Ancient Music and a trip to Italy.
St Michael's also has a thriving Junior Choir of around forty members aged from from six to sixteen. Sarah McDowall, its director, welcomes all young voices regardless of denomination. The junior choir sings at family services - 10am on the first Sunday of the month - and stages a musical during the Bedford Park Festival.
As well as the choirs, several other local musical groups and soloists - string, wind and voice - perform as part of many services and in concerts in the church.
If you would like to find out more about the choir, or have any questions about music at St. Michael’s, please contact the Director of Music, Jonathan Dods, jondods@yahoo.com or via the Parish Office.
Jonathan Dods - Director of Music
Jonathan read music at Christ Church, Oxford, where he was a choral scholar. He returned to London after a year as assistant organist at Lodi Cathedral in Italy. Jonathan is a freelance singer, organist and teacher.
Vicki McGregor - Assistant Organist
Vicki read Music at Magdalene College, Cambridge, where she was also Organ Scholar. Since graduating in 2004, she now works as an accountant at Deloitte, but loves playing the organ and the oboe in her spare time. Her favourite organ pipe is the Nazard.