Schola Gregoriana Sancti Nicolai
Gregorian Chant Course in Portsmouth
Final Workshop date will be 11 June 2011
More than 100 different people have attended one of the current series of Chant Workshops organised at St John’s Cathedral in Portsmouth by the Schola Gregoriana Sancti Nicolai (chant choir in Portsmouth).The Workshops are part of a pioneering Course in Gregorian Chant which continues at the Cathedral until June 2011.
Each Workshop introduces a new theme. At the January Workshop, Abbot Cuthbert Brogan, the Benedictine Abbot of St Michael’s Abbey in Farnborough - who co-directs the Course with Christopher Hodkinson of the Schola Gregoriana of Cambridge - gave a fascinating introduction to the Divine Office (the daily prayer of the Church) and Vespers. This was followed by practical instruction in singing Vespers which the participants then sang together with Benediction in the Cathedral.
Up until now, participants have learned to sing the Chant without any accompaniment. At the workshop on Saturday 19 February we welcomed the organist Neil Wright, who introduced us to the organ and its use in conjunction with Gregorian chant. There was also an opportunity for a small group of participants with keyboard skills to study chant accompaniment with Neil in more detail.
The March workshop saw further exploration of the use of instruments in plainchant performance, as we celebrated the feast of St Joseph. Players of melody instruments (strings, brass,woodwind etc.) were invited to bring their instruments to both the February and March workshops to participate in this. Players of low-register instruments (cellos, trombones, bassoons etc.) were especially welcome. Instrumentalists were requested to bring a music stand.
The Gregorian Chant Course continued on Saturday 16 April at John's Cathedral Portsmouth. This was the penultimate Workshop in the series and ran from 1000 to 1600. The programme included an introduction to the development of chant notation and psalmody in the Divine Office. Participants sang the chant for Mass and Vespers.
Every effort has been made to keep the Course fee as low as possible. For those who haven’t yet signed up, the individual Workshop fee is £15 and the course book (Parish Book of Chant) is available at discounted price of £10. Reductions on the Workshop fee are available for students, children and groups. Bursaries are also available on application. Please contact the organisers, the Schola Gregoriana Sancti Nicolai, as soon as possible, as follows:
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Telephone: 023 92862384
Neville McNally
