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Reunion 2007 -
All members are cordially invited to the Annual Reunion and AGM for 2007. This year, there is a concert in the Cathedral, and so it is not possible to hold an evening Dinner in the Cathedral Undercroft Restaurant. However, we shall have a semi-formal Lunch in The Chorister School, but with no speeches! Ian Hawksby, the Chorister School Headmaster, and Jenny Tasker, Director of Music, are keen to host and entertain us. We will also be providing a cup of tea in school just before evensong! As in previous years, we want to encourage some of our younger members, so once again Jonathan Hughes will be holding an “Open Forum” for them, as an alternative to the (boring) AGM. The timetable for the day is as follows:- Welcome, coffee & school tours from 11am at School Music by pupils 12 - 12:30 at School Lunch 12:45 - 1:30 pm at School AGM 1.45 in Song School Younger Members Open Forum 1.45 at School Rehearsal for evensong 3:45 in Cathedral Cup of tea 4:30 in School Evensong 5.15 in Cathedral Topics for discussion at the AGM will include: Cyril Maude memorial, options to donate money, future of DCOCA; Last year, there was some unfortunate bad behaviour by some of the younger members. We are keen that this never happens again. Please note that, if you wish to stay over in Durham, you are responsible for finding suitable accommodation. Neither The Chorister School nor DCOCA can provide any such accommodation. Please reply as soon as possible. Deadline is Thursday 11th October 2007. If you would like to sing, please reply before Saturday 6th October 2007 - this is to allow James to plan! In the first instance, e-mail Alastair Pollard at alastair.pollard@ntlworld.com and tell him whether you will be attending lunch (stating if you have special dietary requirements) and whether or not you wish to sing evensong (indicating which voice), whether you will be at The AGM or Younger Members’ Forum and whether you require a cup of tea before evensong. Alastair will then communicate with you regarding the appropriate payment.
Newsletter Autumn 2007 - 0th January, 0001
As on previous occasions we publish here the text of the Autumn 2007 Newsletter SALE OF THE CENTURY: Earlier this year, we replenished our stock of DCOCA pin badges. The design is exactly the same as before, but there is a much simpler pin-and-clasp attachment rather then long sharp pin on older models. We also bought a few cufflinks and tie-slides in the same design. Pins are £2, tie-slides £3 and a pair of cufflinks for £5. Or a special deal of £10 for the full set! They will be on sale at the AGM in October. CONCERT 2009: The next Musical Celebration Concert will take place on Saturday 18th July, 2009. The concert is jointly sponsored by School and DCOCA and will take a similar form to the 2006 event, being an all day happening with rehearsals in the morning & afternoon and Cathedral concert in the evening. Once again the concert will have a first half of items by former pupils and the second part will be a choral work (a Mozart or Haydn mass looks likely) with the school choirs, the Choristers, former pupils, parents, friends, etc and with orchestral accompaniment again from the visiting teachers, former pupils and friends. Please put the date in your diaries now and let Jenny Tasker know as soon as you can that you will be coming, by e-mailing her at jenny.tasker@choristers.durham.sch.uk. Please say what voice you will be singing, or what instrument you would like to play in the orchestra, and what your dates at the school were. If you would like to offer an item for the first half, please also indicate so and say what you would like to play or sing. Having more time to plan this concert than the 2006 one, we hope we will catch the diaries of some of our more celebrated former pupils who could not make it last time, and we look forward to having an even more enjoyable and special day. DVD FOR SALE A DVD is now available of the last Musical Celebration Concert of March 11th 2006 – St Nicolas, etc. It can be collected from school for £8.00 or delivered by Royal Mail for £9.00. Applications for the latter (with cheque for £9.00 payable to “The Chorister School” and including name and address of purchaser) to Jennifer Tasker at School. CANCELLATION OF THE JULY 2007 REUNION: It is with great disappointment that we had to cancel the July 2007 reunion due to lack of support. This day was organised in direct response to the demands of the younger membership. Unfortunately, after initial enthusiasm hardly anybody bothered to reply and confirm their attendance or proffer apologies. Cancellation was the only option due to the very poor turnout. This caused great embarrassment for the organising committee, and our credibility with The Chorister School and members of the Cathedral clergy took a direct hit. DCOCA will be asking the younger membership what they want to do, and encourage them to take a more active part in the organisation of any events in the future. NEWS OF FORMER CHORISTER: Last Night of the Proms: Those who watched the broadcast of this and could take their eyes and memories away from the soprano soloist will have seen the first OC ever to perform a solo at the Last Night. Andrew Kennedy sang the tenor solo in Elgar’s The Spirit of England – The Fourth of August with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and The BBC Symphony Chorus under Jirí Belohlávek. We send our congratulations to him and look forward to seeing and hearing him sing on similar stages and at similar occasions many times again in the future. OF CATHEDRALS AND ORGANISTS: Durham Cathedral is very large and grand, with its own Cathedral Organist and Cathedral Choir, but it still needs to raise funds to continue the great tradition of choral church music, a common problem for all churches, both large and small. We are pleased that everyone can still hear great music in such a wonderful setting. This summer I visited The Cathedral of The Isles in Millport on the Isle of Cumbrae. It is very small, the smallest Cathedral in Britain in fact, and smaller than most parish churches, but still handsome in its own right. The Cathedral organist (Andrew Chisholm) is well known locally for rowing his boat far and wide to raise funds to renovate the organ, two pianos and a harpsichord at the Cathedral. There is also a Cathedral choir, although it does not sing every week. Chichester has a fine Cathedral. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to visit whilst on business nearby. Although I was unable to stay for a service, I made a point of looking at the organ for the name “Alan Thurlow”. Alan was sub-organist at Durham towards the end of my choristership. I shall always remember Alan fondly. It was Alan that taught me the piano so patiently after Conrad had given up; who allowed me to sing a solo in the Cathedral, and allowed me to play a couple of hymns on Durham Cathedral organ. I shall always remember that. He e-mailed me last year to thank me for keeping him up to date through DCOCA Newsletters. Earlier this year I was invited to sing with the choir of Selby Abbey. It is such a privilege and pleasure to sing and spend time in such a magnificent building. Although it looks and feels like a mighty Cathedral, with some Durhamesque pillars, the Abbey is merely a parish church in a sadly rundown town in a former mining area of Yorkshire. The Choir there is excellent (Terry Corderey is a fellow singer) with over a dozen adults and a similar number of Choristers (both boys and girls). All the choristers work towards various RSCM awards, including the Archbishop’s award for musical ability. We sing choral Communion and Evensong services each week, in full four-part harmony. The choir is led by Roger Tebbett who manages to be an accomplished organist, a great teacher to the choristers and a friend to everyone in the choir. We are off to Scarborough next month to take part in an RSCM service, led by one James Lancelot! Speaking of Durhamesque columns, the entrance hall at Lindisfarne castle recalls in miniature the great Norman nave of Durham Cathedral. Definitely worth a visit, but watch out for the tide! Alastair Pollard OC 1970-1974 AUTUMN REUNION, 2007: 20th OCtOBER, 2007 Hopefully this will be much more successful, with a good turnout. We are somewhat restricted as the Cathedral and Choir are heavily involved with the RLPO (Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra). However, Jenny Tasker and her musical pupils will still entertain us with a recital in the morning, a DCOCA Lunch will be provided at The School (but NO SPEECHES!), the AGM and Young Persons Forum will take place as usual, and we will have the opportunity to sing something with the Choristers at Evensong. To round off the day, why not go back to the Cathedral to see the building in a different context from services, in the concert by the RLPO, but please book tickets yourself! It is a concert to mark 175 years of Durham University and features ‘The Durham Concerto’ by Jon Lord. Jon Lord is the former keyboard player with Deep Purple! For further information look on the Internet at: http://www.northeastengland.co.uk/page/news/article.cfm?articleId=2522 FCOCA NEWS (Alan Oyston): Chelmsford Festival 2007: A well organised Festival was attended by twelve DCOCA members and partners – Brian Daniels, George and Margaret Thomson, Donald and Joyce Limon, Brian and Ellen Goodyear, Peter and Sylvia Welby, Margaret Laing, Margaret Moore and Alan Oyston. Unfortunately John Moore had been rushed to hospital after a stroke but insisted that Maggie should attend. The Limons and Alan visited him in hospital; latest news is that he may be returning home soon – all our very best, John ! As a result of a Choral Foundation established in 1994 Chelmsford Cathedral has a choir of eighteen boys from local schools, a girls choir both supported by gentlemen of the back desks. Standards were impressive; participation of OCs included Compline on the Friday and extended to Sunday Choral Eucharist where we sang in the Widor Mass for Two Choirs and Two Organs. It was good to meet again the Bishop’s Chaplain, the Revd Chris Newlands, our one time Precentor, Chris, as well as officiating at my (Alan) daughter’s wedding in the Galilee Chapel, is remembered for his opera productions with Ian Shaw in the Assembly rooms. Their Magic Flute included a boy chorister – one Andrew Kennedy! The Federation has been left a sizeable amount of money, some of which may be allocated to the Durham OCA. It has been suggested that we use any money allocated to us to set up a protected Choristership fund. CYRIL MAUDE MEMORIAL: In June, George Hetherington and Alan Oyston had a meeting with James Lancelot and Christopher Downs (Cathedral Architect) to provide a conductor’s desk (to JL’s specification) to complement the movable choir stalls recently established in the Nave (see sketch here). The total cost is likely to be around £2,000 for what will be a substantial addition to Cathedral furniture, made by our own craftsmen - a fitting and useful memorial to CBM. Allowance has been made for a small plaque on the desk. £2000 is too great a sum for the DCOCA to provide on its own, and not all members will remember Cyril Maude, so donations are invited from OCs and friends, and provide advanced financial cover to enable the project to go ahead asp. This idea has the warm approval of Chapter. We hope the AGM will give approval on 20th October to underwrite any shortfall. FROM PETER EVANS (former professor of Music at Southampton University): Your note in the Friends’ 2006 Report jogged my memories of that remarkable (and often underrated) man. I first recognized his great musical qualities when, as an undergraduate, I played in Conrad Eden’s string orchestra for the Dvořák Stabat Mater, all the wind parts being beautifully (if, inevitably, not ideally) realized by Cyril Maude on the organ. With my background of some hopelessly incompetent piano lessons in childhood, followed by the untutored acquisition of a rudimentary organ technique, it wasn’t until my year of postgraduate research in the Cathedral Library that I plucked up courage to ask Cyril to give me lessons (at St. Margarets’). His teaching was always utterly to the point, and probably resemebled that of his own master and felloe Yorkshireman, Walter Parratt; in a matter of months he repaired my technique, widened my interests in the organ repertoire and gave me the confidence to acquire the RCO’s professional qualifications. Hi wit could be “caustic”, but never sour, and a great fund of commonsense he brought to musical questions was always stimulating, even if it could not explain the memorable sheen that characterized his own playing. When I returned to Durham to join the University Music Department staff in 1953, it was on Cyril’s recommendation that I became organist at St. Giles’s church. A much weightier debt to Cyril was his arranging with Charles Pattinson that June and I should begin our married life in the spacious attics of 3 The College. We were Pat’s tenants for more than 8 years, and Christina and he were amongst our dearest friends. So it is an unexpected pleasure to see the photograph in the report. I knew a few of the lay clerks, for I sang alto in weekday services of the Cathedral Choir for a month or two after George Zealley fell from a ladder and another alto was seriously ill. A TALE OF SNUFF: In 1942, I was in my last term as a chorister in Durham Cathedral. The Dean, Cyril Alington, a former headmaster of Eton, came into our classroom one afternoon and pronounced that it was high time that we learnt how to take snuff. He lined us all up (24 boys in all) and told us to put our right hands on our hearts. “Flex the muscles of your hand and you’ll see a little trough at the base of your thumb. I shall pour a little snuff into that trough and then you must sniff it equally into each nostril”. He gave a demonstration and then proceeded down the line, depositing a helping of snuff into our thumb-troughs with the help of a little spoon. We sniffed and sneezed, but the Dean seemed satisfied as he went back to the deanery on the other side of the Close. Alington was just a little eccentric. He liked to walk down the aisle in the processions preceding a service chewing on a daisy. It was our duty to provide him with the aforementioned daisy. He was also an author of light verse of the following ilk: Half an inch, half an inch, half an inch shorter. Skirts are the same for both mother and daughter. When the wind blows, each of them shows, Half an inch, half an inch more than she or’ter. Alington also liked to show visitors round “his Cathedral”. He would stop in front of one of its magnificent pillars and explain that “like my wife, its circumference is equal to its height”. John Sidgewick - [from The Oldie August 2007] P.S. John’s wife has recently been coaching in German our own – Andrew Kennedy OC. SITUATIONS VACANT! DCOCA NEWSLETTER EDITOR: I have had the pleasure of editing the DCOCA Newsletters since 1996. But time and trains wait for no man, so I intend to relinquish my role in October at the AGM. In the words of a politician, “I need to spend time pursuing other women, sorry projects”. I still have a career to follow and a mortgage to pay, and my work commitments do not offer me sufficient time to devote to this most important task. The Newsletter is the only contact many of our members have with Durham and DCOCA, so it is vital to the future of our association. Can you offer the time and energy? Please form an orderly queue to apply for this position! We need someone in place early next year, 2008. Alastair Pollard.
The DCOCA - 1st January, 0001
Durham Cathedral Old Choristers’ Association is commonly abbreviated to DCOCA. Our aim is to maintain contact between members, and to maintain their association with Durham Cathedral and The Chorister School. DCOCA is run by a small committee of loyal members who meet about 5 times a year in Durham, and we have over 100 fully paid-up members, plus a sizeable mailing list. Membership is open to ALL former pupils of Durham Chorister School - we welcome both Choristers and non-choristers, boys and girls. We hold an Annual reunion at The Cathedral and The Chorister School, typically in October. The format may involve a formal AGM in the Song-School, a Young Person’s Forum, an informal lunch and Recital at The School, and an Evening meal. The highlight for many is the Choral Evensong, at which former choristers may be given the opportunity to sing with The Cathedral Choir. There is a good relationship with both the Master of the Choristers and the Headteacher. A small annual subscription of £10 (payable by members over 22) cover the costs of 2 Annual Newsletters, and has allowed us to make sizeable donations to The School over the past few years to purchase Music, Instruments, Staging, and Recording equipment. We are members of the National Federation of Old Choristers’ Associations, and hosted a very successful festival in 2005 attended by almost 200 members from all over the UK, and some from as far away as Australia. Please feel free to contact Alastair.pollard@ntlworld.com or any member of the committee. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsletter Spring 2006 - 1st May, 2006
What follows is the text of the DCOCA Newsletter, Spring, 2006 CHORISTER SCHOOL MUSIC CONCERT: Alastair Pollard writes:- Saturday 11th March 2006 was a very special day in Durham Cathedral when a mass of musicians came together to sing and play instruments, to “Celebrate twenty years of the School’s Music Department”. The first half was a mixture of instrumental (brass, saxophone, organ, piano) and singing (soprano, tenor and bass); the second half was a performance of the St. Nicolas Cantata by Benjamin Britten. Thanks must go initially to Jenny Tasker (Director of Music) and Simon Tasker (host and compere) for putting on such a wonderful concert. The performers showed the highest quality of musicianship, and the wide range of music provided something for everyone; all from individuals connected by their association with The Chorister School Music department over the past 20 years. It was a delight to see that most of the singers were under 25 years old. There are not many small schools that can put on such a quality show by former pupils. And the concert hall was magnificent! The first half was a superb mix of old and modern, well known and not-so-well-known. The highlights for me were: James Taylor singing “Everybody says Don’t” from “Anyone can Whistle”, Kate Telfer singing Mozart’s “Come scoglio”, and the impromptu Brass Ensemble of pupils and parents. Although Benjamin Britten is not everyone’s favourite composer, I enjoyed the musicianship of the Choir and Orchestra and marvelled at a wonderful sound emanating from so many youngsters, some of whom were up far beyond their bedtime. A memorable scene was the Pickled Children walking down the aisle singing Alleluia. I felt proud to be associated with such a wealth of talent, even though I was too old to be part of The Music Department of The Chorister School. The range of music offered has come on so much since I was a Chorister at Durham; but just as important is that non-Choristers are encouraged to take part and actively do so. The only difference is the colour of tie worn! The School is now looking into organising the next Cathedral Concert in two years' time and anyone interested in taking part in the lower parts of the choir should let Jenny or Simon know. Simon and Jenny would like to thank everyone involved in the concert: Singers, orchestra, Cathedral staff, and all those OCs who helped in the background, shifting scenery, selling ties, photocopying etc. Jonathan Hughes and Ben Mummery to name but 2 - Ben is working part time as a butcher to finance himself through a law course! The following are extracts from recent correspondence: ALAN THURLOW Alan was the sub-organist at Durham in the early 1970s. He then went on to be Organist at Chichester Cathedral. He wrote last year to say how much he enjoyed reading the recent Newsletter and how pleased he was to see a prodigy of his as President of DCOCA. He is now in his 26th year as Organist in Chichester, but his memories of Durham remain as fresh as ever. He said “It was a very happy time for me, and without any doubt set me up and prepared me for my work here”. My own memory is of Alan teaching me the piano after Conrad Eden had given up on my feeble attempts! In June last year the Archbishop of Canterbury awarded Alan a Lambeth Doctorate; the same degree was bestowed on Conrad Eden in the early 1970s - something which makes him begin to feel very old! Alan likes to keep in touch with DCOCA and Durham, but unfortunately doesn’t manage to get back very often - a combination of distance and pressure of life. Nevertheless Tina and he continue to have Durham at heart and are very grateful to everyone who keeps them in touch and to support and encourage the present generation of musicians at the Cathedral. Alan Thurlow organist@chichestercathedral.org.uk TERRY CORDERY My name is Terry Cordery. I was a day boy in Skirlaw, although that house did not exist when I first started at the Chorister School under Canon Ganderton in 1956. I well remember Ma Blythe in the third form. She used to take us pond dipping in the garden pond in front of the play ground, fishing out newts and various strange creatures. I recall Stuart Holder playing his trombone and doing his best to teach me maths. I also remember a certain Cyril Watson who kept a friend called flea bite in his classroom cupboard. Happy day!. From Choristers I crossed the river to Durham School where I spent several uneventful and unremarkable years. However after teaching in Australia for several years and in England for many years I am now about to retire from my post as head of music at Lyndhurst, the Junior Department of Pocklington School, although I will continue to sing with Selby Abbey. You don’t have to have been a Chorister to fulfil a musical career - Ed Terry now lives in Cawood, Selby, North Yorks. CHORISTER BURSARIES: The question of Chorister Bursaries and Scholarships is subject to much debate in DCOCA at present. We must ensure the future of boy choristers in Durham Cathedral and elsewhere, despite the best efforts of many to deny us the special way of praising God through young voices. DCOCA would like to set up some form of bursary, but as the amount of money required is likely to be well into the hundreds of thousands of pounds, our funds are simply too small to do this on our own. The Cathedral too is keen to raise money for many schemes, and hopefully one specifically for Choristers can be launched, maybe with significant financial backing from former pupils. Do you know of any generous businessmen who could help us out? Many Cathedrals are already looking at such bursaries. Some already have schemes in place. I came upon the Morse-Boycott bursary fund based at Chichester Cathedral, and contacted them. The Morse-Boycott bursary fund provides bursaries for boy choristers to help them through education. It is for the parents to apply and we deal direct with the parents rather than with the cathedrals or choir schools, nonetheless it is usually the Organist or the Head Teacher that puts the parents on to us. Bursaries can be provided to any boy chorister in England and Wales with preference being shown to sons of the clergy and, because the original trustees wished it so, to Chichester. We advertise occasionally but not too frequently or widely because our resources are limited and we don't want to raise expectations that we cannot fill. We have about £23,000 a year to dispense - all income from investments - and are currently supporting 6 boys at 4 cathedrals. We have just committed all our funds for the next academic year from Sept 06 but bids could be made to arrive before March 2007 for the next year. We have just become the trustees of the Traditional Choir Trust also. This is a new charity and is still building its capital but we hope to offer a boy chorister bursary of about £2,400 a year from this in 2007. Further details can be provided by The Communar, David Mowlam Tel 01243 812489 or e-mail communar@chichestercathedral.org.uk CHORISTER RUGBY STARS: Durham Cathedral Choristers are not just good singers, they are good rugby players too, The Chorister School First XV (which includes all five final year choristers and is captained by chorister Andy Loch) ended last term with a tally from 10 games of 486-0. Head chorister Henry Pemberton was the top scorer. This almost unbeatable record was reported in Rugby World and Rugby Times, and now in DCOCA Newsletter! MEMORIAL PLAQUES: The Conrad Eden plaque on the Cathedral wall next to the organ loft door is virtually indecipherable. It was expected to mature like the Culley plaque, but it has deteriorated rapidly since it was put in place only a few years ago. Following your concern at the last AGM, the DCOCA committee have approached the Chapter Clerk to look at a way of cleaning it. Various options were investigated, and fortunately the Cathedral has accepted that something needs to be done. The Clerk of Works has been asked to perform remedial work as soon as possible. There is a list of Cathedral organists since the reformation on the organ case in The Cathedral. Some OCs would like to see some modest recognition of the sterling work done by Cyril Maude who kept the Services going virtually unaided during the War, deputising for Conrad Eden. The Chapter was again approached, but in this case felt it could set an unacceptable precedent if deputies were to be honoured along with their principal, and did not want a proliferation of notices. However, the Chapter has asked DCOCA to submit an article for inclusion in the next issue of the Friends of Durham Cathedral annual report, which could server as a lasting tribute in recognition of Cyril Maude’s work. Alan Oyston has offered to write such a report. If you have any reminiscences or opinions about Cyril Maude, why not send them to me for inclusion in a future DCOCA or DCCA newsletter? I can be contacted on Alastair.pollard@ntlworld.com or telephone 01423 886228. 93rd DURHAM GATHERING - 21st October 2006: This year’s AGM and Dinner will be held on Saturday 21st October 2006. The format will include music, tours and lunch at The School. Following last year’s inaugural meeting, Jonathan Hughes and Kit Grier will be hosting an Open Forum for younger members to discuss what they want from DCOCA, so you don’t need to attend the (boring?) AGM. If you can’t attend, you are welcome to contact Jonathan directly on jyhughes@btinternet.com FCOCA News: Durham OCs are reminded that the Federation events are open to all OCA members. If you have not been to a Festival, try one near your home; you meet some great folks! If you subscribe to "Once A Chorister" [by paying our £10 sub] you will get details of AGMs, Festivals and artefacts available by post from David Horner in York. This year’s festival will be in Lincoln on 23rd – 25th June 2006. Full details can be provided by Andrew Orland 01751 460210, email@orland.f9.co.uk THE YOUNGER MEMBERS' OPEN FORUM: On 29th October 2005 the DCOCA held its Annual Reunion. We were once again entertained by the young musicians of The Chorister School under the watchful eye of the Director of Music, Jennifer Tasker, and our thanks must go to all those who were involved. However, whilst the AGM was proceeding in the Song School, the Assembly Hall played host to a dozen or so former pupils (all of whom had left within the last decade) for the inaugural meeting of the DCOCA Young Persons Forum. The Forum provides a vector for our younger members’ ideas to be discussed and developed without disrupting the formalities of the AGM. The Forum was able to discuss a resolve a number of issues, but some matters were passed on to the AGM for referral to the Committee. These included the timing of the Reunion so that it can better fit with school terms (where possible within the terms of the Chorister School). Another key area, which is a problem throughout the Association, is communication between members. Many ideas relating to email-based communication were discussed and developed, including an electronic newsletter which would keep people up to date with details from their peers and events at the Cathedral and School. This is yet to be launched, but anyone wishing to contribute to an article please feel free to email me (and I’m sure Alastair would always be pleased to receive articles for this newsletter too!). Better provision of information through the website has already been arranged, and I am grateful to Simon Tasker and the School for their help with this. All of the attendees found the format of the Forum to be good, and another is planned for next year’s reunion. Hopefully more of our younger members will be able to attend so that we can really sample the thoughts of more of our members. The Forum concluded with a discussion related to the wider problem of fundraising for the endowment of Choristerships. The quantity of money required is scarily large, but we must start somewhere. Anyone wishing to submit an article or wanting more information, please don’t hesitate to email me: jyhughes@btinternet.com UPDATING THE CHORISTER SCHOOL OC RECORDS. This may be the computer age but records about you when you were at the School, never mind since, are far from good – and memory is fallible! The Headmaster is keen to interest all former pupils in the progress and achievements of the School, and to this end he has asked Brian Crosby to help in compiling a database about Alumni. We hope you will feel able to supply information on yourself or any relative or friend who may be a former pupil. The School will NOT be passing on this information to any other organisation. Moreover we can only take information delivered willingly by individuals, rather than on behalf of friends and relatives etc. You can contact Brian at briancrosby@tiscali.co.uk or I at Alastair.pollard@ntlworld.com Please e-mail either of them with the relevant information as requested below:- Title: Degrees/Qualifications: Forenames: Surname: Known as: Address: Postcode: Telephone: E-mail: When At School (term and years): School House: Chorister / Boarder / Day-pupil: Achievements when at School (e.g.Head of School, Head of Choir, Head of House – and if so for what terms and years. Others such as No 1, prefect, Teams, Captain, colours, school choir, school plays etc: Next School (state if won an award): Brief summary of Curriculum Vitae: Relationship to former/present pupils: ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Autumn Newsletter 2006 - 1st October, 2006
We reproduce here the major text of the Autumn Newsletter, 2006:- THE CHORISTERS IN 2005/06: By JAMES LANCELOT. We opened the year with a strong, experienced team, with five boys in the top year; they lost no time in finding their feet, and were well into their stride by the time we reached one of the term’s highlights – a liturgical performance of Mozart’s Requiem on All Souls’ Day, with Durham Cathedral Consort of Singers and Northern Sinfonia. This was a memorable occasion, as was the Cathedral Choir’s singing of Howells’ Take him, earth, for cherishing at an Evensong later that month. It was a particular pleasure that all five Choristers in the senior year should also have been members of an outstanding School rugby 1st XV, which not only won every match it played but also refused to concede a single point throughout the term! Ably talked through manoeuvres by Andy Loch, the boys demonstrated their skill with the ball to dumbstruck audiences at the eight Sunderland primary schools we visited during the year’s Outreach project. Sadly, Henry Pemberton and Alan Rowland were obliged by the march of time to cease singing treble after Christmas; they made spasmodic appearances singing alto and bass (and occasionally very low treble) from then on. However, the other Choristers, ably trained by Keith Wright during a term in which I was on sabbatical leave, made great progress, enabling the team to regain confidence and laying the foundations for the current year. Highlights of the Epiphany Term were a liturgical performance of Mozart’s Coronation Mass with the Palatinate Ensemble at the Mozart anniversary week-end, and the Outreach concert which culminated that year’s programme. After the choir’s beautiful observance of Holy Week and Easter, there was never a dull moment in the Easter Term, which included a live broadcast of Evensong on 12 July and (the previous month) the recording of a CD of popular anthems; we hope that this will be released in time for everyone to send copies to all their family and friends this Christmas. The recording was funded by the DCCA, to which profits from the venture will go. Recruitment to the front rows of the choir continues to be a challenge; 21st-century parents tend not to think of sending their sons to board at the age of eight except as a very unusual step – not one that is taken as a matter of course as it often was in former times. That is understandable, but we need to continue to put across to all comers the benefits both of boarding and of a Chorister education. Further, boys who do come to us often have no experience of reading music, or of formal worship – and they leave at thirteen whether their voices have changed or not. Under these circumstances it becomes harder to maintain a varied and challenging repertoire to the standard one rightly expects. In Durham we are holding our own, but not without anxious moments and not without the need for as much help in recruitment as we can muster – which is where Old Choristers come in! That said, the choir continues to achieve good things; their singing in the Choir Association’s annual concert in July – after very limited rehearsal time, as so often – demonstrated their ability to move hearts and minds. We said goodbye to Henry, Alan and Andy, and to Dominic Cockburn and James Matthews, in the summer. As I write, we are ten days into the Michaelmas Term. It already feels as if we have been back for months, both because of the pressure of work and because of the current boys’ quickness in team-moulding and confidence-building. Come and hear them on 21 October! CORRESPONDENCE: From Stewart Skilbeck (OC 1957 - 1961) Following the letter in the Spring Newsletter, Stewart wrote:- Terry Cordery was almost a direct contemporary of mine and tried very hard to get in the choir. My elder brother, Martin, (1956-60), was head chorister. I've sung with Terry on occasion in recent years in Selby Abbey Choir. Although my musical career at Durham was notably undistinguished - Grade 2 piano was all Conrad Eden got me up to – I picked up the piano in 1998 after a 36 year lapse and now play Sunday morning services at a local mission church at Cliffe, near Selby, and deputise for our regular organist on a rather fine Willis 2 Manual organ at St.Mary's, Hemingbrough. (a splendid 12th Century church which was eyed up by Durham as a territorial acquisition in 1317 and the living of the Parish of Hemingbrough was finally granted to the Prior and Convent of Durham in 1426). Regarding the current rugby records, which are quite remarkable, I recall that John Grove introduced Rugby to the school in my first term in 1957 and soccer went out of the window (lamentable). In those early years Choristers did not excel and Bow School were our arch-enemies under the leadership of Charlie Adamson. There were several individual matches against Bow where the final score-line was perilously close to 486-0 in favour of Bow!! From Tim Trotman (OC 1947 – 1949):- A few recollections from my time as a chorister: I remember being confined to the sick bay by a measles outbreak with Nigel Chappell and Peter Welby. It was on the other side of the wall from Conrad’s bathroom, where he was would uninhibitedly sing WW2 songs – more secular than spiritual. In the savage winter of 1946/47 it was extremely cold and the water in the dormitory jugs froze every night. But the tobogganing from the top of Observatory Hill made up for the discomfort. Mining parents of choristers used to come to Sunday Evensong and drop off a bag of coal for the School, so we probably fared better than many other boarding schools. At some time during the winter of 1947/48, the organ underwent a major service (possibly the first since before the war) and we had a large number of unaccompanied service using the terrifying old single-part scores. I remember miscounting 164 bars rest and coming in a bar early! Incidentally these were the only times we were conducted, unlike the current trend for universal conducting - I still don’t understand why, but maybe it keeps musical directors fit!). I remember being very upset when Mr. “Pussy” Barton was taken ill. My mathematics never recovered, but, more seriously, he and Mrs. Barton were very kind to me, bereft as I was of my family. Other families such as Wigfields, Herberts, Brooks, Hardcastles, Hasties and many others were also most generous. Each Sunday evening I use3d to take my weekly letter home to the Barton’s sitting room, where we would sit and listen to Sunday Half Hour and drink cocoa. I never felt that warmth with Conrad or Gandy. During the visit of the great French organist Marcel Dupre, I was a junior probationer allocated to the organ loft. Sitting crouched in the corner, Conrad suddenly gestured to a large chamber pot. “You’ll have to empty that!” were the only instructions I got. In due course Dupre’s bladder overcame his genius and I dutifully carried the aforementioned pot down the steps, crept out of the dark and gloomy Cathedral, and unceremoniously poured the contents over the grass. My services were required only once more later that evening, but I can still remember being fascinated by the incredible exercises performed on the organ pedals (just next to my allocated spot). Once again in the organ loft, this time for the Miner’s Gala in 1949, Conrad was playing rumbustious music, but had a tendency to elongate the use of 32-foot Double Ophicleid (he told me the name!) He told me, with not a small amount of glee that he would be sure to get a reprimand from the Cathedral Surveyor for rattling the windows. But both of us enjoyed it! OLD CHORISTER NEWS: ANDREW KENNEDY Andrew's numerous awards include the BBC Singer of the World Rosenblatt Recital Prize 2005, the Handel Competition 2002, the Song Prize in the Richard Tauber Competition and the Elizabeth Rosebowl from the Royal College of Music. This year he won the Royal Philharmonic Society's Young Artists' Award. This season his crowded schedule includes Tamino in the Magic Flute, Fenton in Sir John in Love (ENO), Flute in A Midsummer Night's Dream (Royal Opera), Jaquino in Fidelio at Glyndebourne, Mozart Requiem (LPO) Finzi Dies Natalis (BBC Welsh Orchestra) Britten's Serenade for Tenor , Horn and strings (BBC Scottish Orchestra}. Andrew recently wrote to DCCA acknowledging his debt to the Cathedral Choir. We hope to feature him in the next FCOCA Magazine "Once a Chorister". ANDREW POTTER was much in evidence as Chairman of the Association of British Choral Directors, at their Annual Festival in the Sage, at Gateshead in August. This was his farewell appearance as he moves on to Chairmanship of "Making Music" (known formerly as the National Federation of Music Societies). He seems to like a challenge, having in the past chaired (successfully} the Music Publishers Association, the Performing Rights Society and acted as Head of Music for OUP. DUNCAN MATHEWS was featured in photos from the latest Magazine from Westminster Abbey OCA, working on the innards of their Organ, preparing it for a restoration. Harrison and Harrison are enjoying a full order book at the moment with another big job in the Royal Festival Hall. Duncan was quoted in a BBC online article saying "We are reconfiguring the organ so that it can fit a smaller space" We are happy to report that JOHN MOORE has successfully emerged from the operating theatre with one kidney less. John and his wife Maggie are regular attendees at our DCOCA and FCOCA Reunions. John hopes to return to Durham later this year for the AGM. He is also booked to go to New Zealand with a Federation party. This will include SIR DONALD LIMON and Lady Limon, also minus one kidney each! ALAN OYSTON will be going as FCOCA Chairman before handing over the Chain of Office to Gordon Hughes of Christchurch, Oxford at the Gloucester AGM in March 2007. MEMORIES OF CYRIL MAUDE:- From Roger Lord:- My Chorister years were 1934 – 1938, so that I didn’t see as much of Cyril as the war-years boys, but I remember looking forward to him playing, in particular for Evensong when John Dykes Bower was otherwise occupied. The reason is that he used to select one or two of the more exotic solo organ stops during his imaginative preludes and postludes (always improvised) to the service – things like “orchestral oboe” (with tremulant!). My choice of the oboe for my lifetime’s work owes not a little to Cyril. When you couple that with Leon Goossens’ oboe playing in the BBC Salon orchestra on the radio, I was won over! At Durham School, where I started to learn to play the oboe (1940) my teacher came over from Newcastle once a week. Her name was A B Creswell and she used to play for Radio Stagshaw. When, because of the War, she was unable to come to Durham anymore, I wrote to Cyril, to ask if he knew of a local player to teach oboe. He wrote back in a most friendly manner, but wasn’t able to come up with a name – so I struggled on, aided by D M Griffiths, the Durham School music master. Another anecdote I remember relating to Cyril Maude was on the occasion he bravely volunteered to play for the Lay Clerks in their cricket match against the choristers on the cricket ground just over the road from the lodge and gates leading down to Prebends Bridge. We, the Choristers, had a demon-bowler, by name of R A Taylor (Head Boy) and he released a ball which Cyril poked at – it ran up the bat and smacked into the side of the batsman’s face … When Cyril turned up a day or two later with an almighty black eye, we were all very careful to keep very straight faces! He was a sport – but not a sportsman. From Harold Wykes:- When I heard that Cyril Maude was not included in the list of organists on the organ case in The Cathedral, my immediate reaction was that his omission was a considerable injustice. I was a chorister from September 1938 to July 1943. So the larger part of my membership of the choir was under Cyril Maude. He was the de facto organist for several years, and should be recognized accordingly. He was surely a unique "deputy", a term which does not do justice to his service during Conrad Eden's absence. The presentation panel in the beautifully bound book given to me on leaving the choir bears four signatures, the others being those of the Dean, the Custos Puerorum and the Headmaster. That of Cyril Maude is on a line below which is the single printed word "Choragus". I left the choir with a great affection for him. While one might say that his essential part in the resurrection of Durham City Choral Society in or about 1955 had little connection with the Cathedral, his generosity in giving of his talents free of charge to that endeavour tells much of the character of the man. All of us boys who had come to know him daily would not be surprised that to hear that he did so. We loved him. Before he assumed the organist duties on a full-time basis, we looked forward to Tuesdays when he regularly played for the services and conducted choir practices. The transition from Conrad Eden to Cyril Maude was seamless. The Chapter was extremely fortunate in having such a competent replacement readily at hand. I was very lucky in my last year in the choir in being the senior boy of Cantoris. That meant that it was my job after each service to go up into the organ loft and put out the music for the next service. I especially remember one Sunday after evensong when into the organ loft came G.D. Cunningham, then probably the best known organ recitalist in the country, who gave an impromptu recital. I have one special memory of the generosity of Cyril Maude. On the Saturday before I left the choir the next day, as his way of giving thanks, he asked Peter Gibson and me (Peter was then the Head Boy and the senior member of Decani) to come to the Cathedral at 7pm, and he would then play our requests. The first of these was of course the Widor Toccata. For about 2 hours in the Cathedral on a beautiful summer evening, we had a private recital. The emotions generated by the surroundings, the music and the memories of the previous 5 years were very powerful. I have lived in Canada since 1957, but the wonder of that evening is still with me and will remain so for the rest of my life. Cyril Maude deserves full recognition. From Tim Trotman:- Cyril Maude was deputy on Tuesdays, and would rehearse us standing on the grand piano in Song School. He had a wonderful knack of putting us at our ease, without dropping standards. Conrad often attending Evensong on his day off and we thought he was checking up on Cyril. Years later he confessed that he simply liked listening, from his favourite place - about 12 rows back in the nave on the Cantoris side. PRESIDENTIAL LETTER From Alastair Pollard:- I am proud to have served as DCOCA President for the past two years. The Festival last year was definitely a highlight, but so too was the music concert in the Cathedral in March of this year celebrating “twenty years of the School’s Music Department”. I considered it a great honour to be elected President, and was fortunate to have two years service rather than the standard one. I only hope that you felt that I had done a good job. I am keen that officers and members of the committee should be seen to be working for the Association, rather than merely “making up the numbers” or a name on a list of officials. I visited St. Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall, Orkney this summer. When I first saw this magnificent building it felt strangely familiar. When I went inside it was even more recognisable. The Norman arches and pillars, wall arcading, and east rose window make the building feel almost like a mini Durham Cathedral, albeit in a red (and occasionally yellow) sandstone. Not surprising then that the masons employed at Kirkwall were probably trained at Durham. Moving forward almost 900 years, I believe that the training that we received as choristers at Durham has put us in good stead to do our work elsewhere in the UK, and even overseas. Daniel Hyde thinks so, and so do I. DCOCA has to make some difficult decision about our future: such as who do we truly represent? Are we the best association to further the causes of School, Choir and Cathedral, or are we merely serving ourselves. I would hate to think that we were actually an obstacle to furthering these 3 causes. Annual Durham Gathering- 21st October 2006: Annual Reunion Rogues' Gallery: Why not bring photos of your life at DCCS for display at this year's "do"? They should generate some reminiscences and mirth! FCOCA NEWS:- FCOCA Festival Lincoln 24-26 June 2006 The 76th Festival coincided with Lincoln OCA's Centenary and was celebrated in fine style. Durham was well represented, not only in those attending, (Ian Christelow, Brian Daniels, David Gooder, George Hetherington, Margaret Laing, John and Maggie Moore, Alastair Pollard, George and Margaret Thomson, Peter and Sylvia Welby and myself), but also John, Bishop of Lincoln (ex St John's Durham}, Acting Dean Alan Nugent, (former Chaplain of Hatfield College) and wife Wendy, (former Cathedral Steward ), Canon Gavin Kirk, Precentor and President (St Chad's} and, last but not least, Aric Prentice, Organist and Master of the Choristers, (ex chorister of Durham Cathedral!).Bob Henderson was with us too, re-visiting Lincoln where he sang in the back desk thirty five years ago! He was given a special welcome and had a great time reminiscing and looking up old haunts. The whole week-end was very well organised; Andrew Orland and Committee will have been gratified by a good attendance. The format was similar in outline to our own Festival last year, (imitation the best form of flattery!). Highlights on Friday were the Reception and buffet meal in the magnificent Chapter House, still bearing traces of the Da Vinci Code film, followed by Compline in St Hugh's Choir. On Saturday fascinating tours of Cathedral and works Department were followed by Charles Harrison's Organ Recital on the Father Willis Organ of 1898, restored by Harrison and Harrison of Durham! (no relation). At the heart of the Festival were the choirs; Lincoln gained a girls' choir in 1995. Friday Evensong (boys and men) included Daniel Purcell in E minor and Elgar's The Spirit of the Lord. Saturday Evensong was sung by men, boys and girls combined: Responses Byrd; Stanford Beati Quorum Via; Howells St Paul's Service and the specially commissioned Anthem "And Thou Child shalt be called" by John Joubert who was in attendance. At Sunday's Eucharist the full choir sang Palestrina's Missa Papae Marcelli. Mattins at 1115 involved men and girls. Their performance of Tallis's O Sacrum Convivium and, especially Britten in C, was stunning, the latter giving the lie to a commonly held view that girls voices cannot adequately penetrate a rich organ texture. For the excellence of both choirs full credit is due to Aric Prentice and his colleagues. It was especially gratifying for me to round off my five years stint as FCOCA Chairman in two such outstanding Festivals, last year in Durham and this year in Lincoln, Cathedrals which enjoy such dominant sites, Durham with its Norman strength, Lincoln with its Decorated grace. More FCOCA News: The next "Once a Chorister" Magazine will feature an account of the BBC Choral Evensong series with special reference to the recent Durham broadcast. We hope to have a picture of the Choir on the front cover. … P.S. …. Dean Alington: Alan Oyston has been asked to write a short biography of Dean Cyril Alington for the Durham County Local History Society, to be published in Vol IV of their Durham Biographies. Any affectionate anecdotes from contemporaries will be most welcome: (alanoyston@lineone.net). We hope to welcome CHRIS TOTNEY as an associate member in October if he can get away from his post as Assistant Music Master at Dauntsey's School, near Salisbury. After acting as Organ Scholar, Chris proved an invaluable support to the music in DCCS when training as a teacher. WE REPRODUCE HERE AN ARTICLE FROM DANIEL HYDE FIRST PUBLISHED IN THE DCCA NEWSLETTER 18, 2006. I’m fortunate to have had two incarnations as a member of Durham Cathedral Choir; initially as a chorister from 1987 -1993, and then as an organ scholar for the academic year 1999-2000, before taking up the organ scholarship at King’s College Cambridge. James and Sylvia Lancelot, Keith Wright, Jenny Tasker, Ian Shaw, Jean Woodward and many others were all instrumental in nurturing and developing my love of music, and instilling me the lessons of self discipline, teamwork and musical perception, all of which have provided the bed-rock for a varied and enjoyable career in music ever since. Ironically, things really took off when my voice broke, and I began organ lessons with the then organ scholar, Ralph Woodward, and later, Keith Wright. Amazingly, I was allowed to accompany the School choir in their annual Cathedral service, and by the end of my time, I was playing hymns and voluntaries for the odd weekday service, as well as at Shincliffe Parish Church on Sunday evenings. Had I not been at Durham, I would not have discovered these passions for music in general and choirs and organs in particular; things would have turned out quite different. Also, having not done so well in the School’s entrance exam (so my mother tells me), I do feel that DCC took a chance with me that I have been paying back ever since. As Director of Music at Jesus College Cambridge, I run two choirs; one with men and boys, and the other with men and women. Not a week goes by when I don’t think of some insight gained or experience had whilst at Durham. I am often asked by prospective choir parents exactly why they should send their child away to sing, and in defending and explaining the tradition, it is only relatively recently that I have realised the extent of what a chorister’s education entails. For example the daily singing of the psalms and the regularity of BCP worship instilled in me a subconscious appreciation for language – the meaning, shape and sounds of words – and how they mould the musical phrase. There was far more to learn than just the nuts and bolts of music theory. Indeed the team spirit and deep cultural awareness that we were taught as choristers ally instinctively with other dramatic and visual arts. At the time, we lapped everything up without question, and it is only now that I am beginning to realise quite how unique and beneficial such an education was. In recent years I have crossed paths with numerous Durham people. Ralph Woodward is a friend and colleague in Cambridge, Andrew Kennedy and Richard Butler were just a few steps ahead of me through the gate of King’s College, and Richard Lloyd is a former organ scholar and great supporter of Jesus College Choir. With many happy memories, it is apt that I am writing this whist en route to Durham for a weekend of celebrations with Jenny Tasker and many other people associated with DCS. No doubt when I walk into that great Norman Cathedral, the sight, smell and sound of the place will conjure up many more thoughts and memories, to say nothing of the old friends and familiar faces I shall see. When the time comes to return home, I know I’ll leave Durham feeling refreshed in mind and spirit. There really could not have been a better start in life for me nearly twenty years ago, and for that I am extremely grateful.