Chichester Cathedral had a strong tradition of musical patronage through the twentieth century. Walton, Berkeley and Howells were all commissioned to compose music for the Cathedral: culminating in the British premiere of Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms in 1965, commissioned by the then Dean, Walter Hussey, and John Birch, as Director of Music.
Current Director of Music, Charles Harrison, continues the tradition, and a few days ago I accompanied composer Frederick Stocken to Choral Evensong at the Cathedral, to hear the premiere of his Chichester Service, a setting of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis commissioned for this year’s Southern Cathedrals Festival – the whole service to be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 the following week.
A challenge for Charles Harrison to put together a performance with the joint forces (boys and lay clerks) of three Cathedral foundations (Chichester, Winchester and Salisbury) both in terms of creating a coherent sound, and staying in control of numbers and sight lines within the chancel (standing on a box, above, being not his usual habit).
‘There are a few divisi moments, but it’s mainly in four parts, so I’m hoping the setting is usable not only in cathedrals but also parish churches,’ says Frederick. ‘I was impressed by Charles Harrison’s sensitive conducting of my Prayer Of St Richard of Chichester (a previous commission), and wrote very much with his sensitivity in mind.’
The quality of Stocken’s writing contrasted tellingly with the anthem chosen for the service, Ascribe unto the Lord by SS Wesley. A lengthy favourite of many choirs, Wesley’s flabby repetition of text and awkward word underlay was exposed by Stocken’s simple and eloquent setting of the words of the Canticles – the text flowing freely, the music mirroring the rapid changes of mood, and word repetition used sparingly to make a point – in particular the exhilarating triple Amens.
‘Impressive’ and ‘An exciting find…’ commented members of the often severe BBC Radio Three Forum afterwards; and ‘Thrilling to know you were hearing a piece of music for the first time: it made my hair stand on end!’ came from a Cathedral official as we departed.
Catch it on the BBC iPlayer if you can – see below.
This service from Chichester Cathedral was recorded by the BBC for transmission on their long-running Radio 3 Choral Evensong programme. It was first broadcast on Wednesday 23rd July 2019, with a repeat on Sunday 28th July. Available on BBC Sounds or iPlayer app until 26th August 2019. Find the individual musical items on the BBC Choral Evensong website until that date.
Full details:
Introit: The Call (Harold East)
Responses: Leighton
Office hymn: O Holy Spirit, Lord of grace (Tallis’s Ordinal)
Psalm 119 vv.1-32 (Noble, Goodenough, Matthews, Stainer)
First Lesson: Isaiah 26 vv.1-9
Canticles: Chichester Service (Frederick Stocken)
Second Lesson: Romans 8 vv.12-27
Anthem: Ascribe unto the Lord (Wesley)
Voluntary: Toccata (Terence Allbright)
Sung by the combined Boy Choristers and Lay Clerks of Chichester, Salisbury and Winchester Cathedrals
Charles Harrison (Organist and Master of the Choristers)
Tim Ravalde (Assistant Organist)
Many thanks to Louise Salmond Smith, Head of the Prebendal School, for permission to use her service rehearsal picture from Twitter (@PrebendalHead), above.
