Music
INTRODUCTION
Historically, music has played an important part in the life of the Catholic Church, and since 1958 in the Cathedral, when a choir of men's voices was formed by Canon Edward Murphy to sing in the Crypt. In 1960 a Boys' Choir was established under the direction of Christopher Symons and amalgamated with the Mens's Choir. Since then music has been at the heart of the worship in the Metropolitan Cathedral. The oirignal Choir School was The Gables in Woolton. In 1974 St Edward's College became the Choir School. Today, the Cathedral Music Department is responsible for providing music at ten services every week in term time, plus numerous extra services when called upon to mark a particular occasion. This work is shared between the Cathedral's four choirs and four organists under the guidance of the Director of Music.
To find out more, click on the links opposite. To join any of of the Choirs, click on the link Joining the Choirs.
CATHEDRAL CHOIR'S 50th BIRTHDAY
In 2010, on the titular feast of Christ the King, Sunday 21 November, the Choir celebrates its 50th birthday. The Choir of men and boys first sang at High Mass on this feast day in 1960 under the direction of the first Master of the Music, Christopher Symons. To mark the occasion a weekend of events is to take place.
On Friday 19 November a Dinner will be held for current boy and girl choristers and former choristers, former lay clerks and choral scholars, former musicians, current choir parents as well as some invited guests. The following day, Saturday 20 November, a public concert by the Cathedral Choir with a brass ensemble will also feature some former choristers who are now professional singers. See the Cathedral Diary for further information.
On Sunday 21 November the Cathedral Choir and a Choir of baritones formed by former choristers will sing Widor's Messe pour Deux Choeurs et Deux Orgues as well as other music. In the afternoon as usual at Evening Prayer, Choristers who left during the preceding twelve months will be presented with their commemorative bibles as a token of thanks for their years of service.