Schola Gregoriana
The Association for Gregorian Chant
Having recently drawn attention to the new recording of music for Christmas Matins, Sancta Nox, it seems appropriate to take a look at the evolution of Gregorian Chant recordings generally. I can recommend the survey undertaken by Jerome Weber – A Century of Chant Recordings. For anyone drawn to the spirit of Chant – and to exploring […]
A new recording of chant and polyphony for Christmas Matins by The Seminarians of Saint Peter, Wigratzbad, has almost sold out! There are still a few copies of the CD available in the UK and the tracks are also available as a download. Recorded in the magnificent church St Magnus Abbey, by Christopher Alder for […]
Schola Gregoriana Director, Iain Simcock explains that whilst unaccompanied Chant remains the perfect medium for prayer in the liturgy, it simultaneously weaves its way into much of the wider repertoire of sacred music. The organ – with its almost limitless capacity to sustain and harmonise – provides a means to develop and build upon this […]
Our Director, Iain Simcock, has been busy during the lockdown producing video performances of Bach keyboard works on his own harpsichord. Several of these performances are introduced by Iain himself and they can be viewed on YouTube. He has now turned his expertise to recorded video interviews with Eric Hruska reflecting on his time as […]
It is with regret that we announce that Dr Mary Remnant, a long-time Associate of the Schola, has died in a nursing home on the Isle of Wight. A renowned specialist in the music of the Middle Ages, over the years she gave innumerable lectures and performances in her inimitable style, with slides and live performance […]
The Latin Mass Society reported the death of Mgr Conlon at a nursing home in Reading on Sunday 19 April 2020. Mgr Conlon will be fondly remembered by many Associates of Schola Gregoriana in his role as National Chaplain to the LMS for whom he celebrated countless Masses in London and the south east. He […]
No physical access to the liturgy during the epidemic does not mean that we are entirely excluded from it. Fortunately both sung Mass and the Divine Office are now available on-line. The following sites list churches and religious houses which provide live streaming – video or audio – (retained for a limited period as recorded […]
Followers of church music news will be aware of the recent crisis at Westminster Cathedral, following the announcement that full-time boarding for choristers was to be abolished last year, with the consequent reduction of the full daily choral liturgy in the Cathedral, cut back in rehearsal time and subsequent resignation of the Master of Music, Martin […]
News of a Chant initiative from two young seminarians in Switzerland : read about it here and follow the YouTube links –
Iain Simcock was organ scholar at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle and Christ Church, Oxford, before being appointed Sub-Organist at Westminster Abbey and, for seven years, Assistant Master of Music at Westminster Cathedral. He was the first British prize-winner in the Chartres International Organ Competition, as well as prizewinner in competitions in St. Omer and […]