Lenten Music

​The Stabat Mater is a 13th century hymn to Mary, positioned at the foot of the cross on which her son has been crucified. The authorship of these words may be in some doubt, but the messages are clear and full of impact: grief, anguish, torment, injustice. Many will be familiar with the hymn when making the Stations of the Cross. Christ’s journey to Calvary was one of extreme hardship, culminating in the ultimate sacrifice. As we journey through the season of Lent reflecting on this, we may be making our own small sacrifices and giving some thought to the hardships that others suffer on their journeys through life. The darkness of the past twelve months has, ironically, led to illuminated views of certain corners of our lives and we continue our journeys through Lent and beyond with a different landscape ahead of us. The dominance of the pandemic has tended to push other ongoing crises to the side-lines. The misery and distress experienced by the people of Yemen and Syria, for example, have not gone away and these situations need our prayers and our support more than ever. In a recent BBC news report, the correspondent Orla Guerin visited a school, almost completely ruined, but which was still being used by the children eager for an education that will help lift them from their plight. One of the star pupils is a boy, aged just nine and blind from birth, called Ahmed, who helps with the teaching (he is shown in the final image of our piece). It is an astonishing and moving story (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-middle-east-56212929) and one which resonates with the deep bond of love a parent has for their child. The hope of the whole world rests with the future of the young people within it and their welfare is the concern of all of us as we make our own tentative steps forward.
Numerous composers have produced a Stabat Mater. Our rendition is of the first six verses of the version by Giuseppe Tartini (1692 – 1770) , in which verses alternate between plainsong and a three-part harmony.
Caitlin, Jackie and Kevin Walsh

Music at St. Stephens

St. Stephen’s Parish Choir (voluntary choir) sings at the 10am Parish Eucharist, and occasionally for other Services too.  The team includes novice singers and advanced musicians, offering appropriate leadership of congregational worship, together with a weekly anthem.   

Rehearsals are currently suspended due to Covid restrictions but are normally all contained within Sunday morning – starting at 9.20am and ending at 12 noon after Service and coffee.

Matthew Blaiden (Organist) trains the Parish Choir and are always pleased to audition prospective singers. If you would like to apply to join the choir please email music@sswsj.org.  Rosemary Field remains as Emeritus Organist.

The church is also used for concerts and rehearsals by diverse choirs.

An Organ Scholarship is in place now that we have the newly-installed J J Binns organ, inaugurated by James O’Donnell; the organ is used regularly in concerts as well as being the main instrument for accompanying worship.