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August 03, 2004
Sunday reviewed
Finally managed to just sit and think about the Sunday services at the Abbey, and still have difficulty putting into words the feast for the senses that it carried. A first class choir, supported by an Organ and an Orchestra, singing in the Abbey's accoustics on a lovely day, with the rich smell of incense and the golden and multi-hewed beams of sunlight through the glass in the clerestory windows, is almost overpowering.
The Bruckner Mass setting is beautiful, especially in the context for which it was written. The French Horn and Trombone passages in the Kyries, Gloria, and Creed are fantastic and the whole is just stunning.
The Orchestra is a group who come together every year just for Musica Deo Sacra and call themselves "The West of England Players". They are mostly professionals who do this for their own devotions, and the balance are amateurs in the top league or instrument scholars from various universities. For this service, the orchestra and choir occupy the West End of the Nave and the Choir Stalls East of the Screen are opened to the congregation. The first part of the service therefore takes place "in the round" with the Sacred Ministers stood between the Nave and the Choir Screen.
The Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, preached an excellent sermon which rather nicely tied together all that we had heard from other preachers through the week. His prime theme was the need to "take time out" for worship, a lesson that Martha of Bethany had not quite learned when Christ stayed with her and her sister Mary. He touched on the ministry of worship and the inspiration of music and how this was as much a gift of the Spirit in that it provided refreshment of the senses and the soul. Something that was certainly confirmed as the service moved on and Bruckner's setting worked its magic on us. Who can equal a motet by Byrd as an accompanyment to the Communion?
The Solemn Evensong with Benediction to end the week was an equally moving and joyful setting. The music included Howells, Leighton, Elgar, Purcell, and Blairstow and gave us plenty to enjoy. The Lord Abbot's sermon was sharp, to the point, and focused on carrying out into the world the value of worship, the value of knowing God, and trying to bring His Word and will to the world through our faith and our joy in worship. The Benediction which followed Evensong, accompanied by O salutarus hostia and Tantum Ergo to music by Elgar and Henschel provided the perfect ending to a busy but fulfilling week.
So, we have an end to our festival week. The memory will sustain me for the next few months at least. For those who would like to be part of this next year - mark the last week in July in your diaries now!
Posted by The Gray Monk at August 3, 2004 01:09 PM