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REMINISCENCES (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18) (19) (20) (21) |
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He was a good and gentle man and I cannot remember seeing him angry, although no doubt he was tempted on occasion! When he did express pleasure, I was ‘floating on air’ as the saying goes, for if he was pleased then I was very happy! We gradually became more proficient at reading and singing Gregorian chant, as well as polyphonic music. I was particularly fond of the Palestrina Masses and motets. As the months went by we gradually became more accomplished as a choir and the choral work became more challenging. I remember accompanying George Malcolm and a chorister - I think his name was Paul Wilson, to a recording studio for Paul to make a recording. He had a beautiful, rounded, rich treble voice, the best voice in the choir at that time, but I cannot remember what he recorded. Of course this was before the days of cassettes etc, and the recording I presume was on a record disc. I remember going to stay with Paul and his mother at Fordingbridge in the New Forest. They had a small caravan in the grounds, in which Paul and I slept, which I found quite exciting. I was very proud to be told one Christmas that I was to sing a solo in the Cathedral. For those who are unfamiliar with Westminster Cathedral, the Choir stalls are situated high- up behind the High Altar, with the choristers virtually hidden from the congregation. The thought of singing a solo at Midnight Mass with a packed Cathedral, was very exciting - if a little intimidating. As Christmas Day neared, I became more excited but tried not to show it. Two days before I felt unwell, and on Christmas Eve I had to see the Nurse, who confirmed my worst fears - I had mumps! This is highly infectious and I was immediately banished to the sick bay. Needless to say I never did sing my solo! During my stay at the Choir School I regularly suffered from ear-ache, and those who have had the misfortune to suffer this, will know just how painful this can be, particularly for a child. This happened so often that finally I was admitted to the Ear, Nose & Throat Hospital, Golden Square, Soho, for minor surgery. This cleared-up the problem, although I think that like many other children of that era, I was probably rather run down as a result of years of food rationing and shortages, combined with the understandably demanding work ethos at the Choir School. This is not a criticism in any way, for I loved the challenge and the comradeship of the Choir School, and I loved singing in the Cathedral and everything about the Cathedral - but it was hard work. I remember on one occasion, I think it was probably my first Easter there, we choristers had the privilege of having our feet washed during the Maundy Thursday ceremonies, by Cardinal Bernard Griffin. The ‘bonus’ for us boys was that we each received the princely sum of 2/6d (a shiny half-crown piece) as a gift from His Eminence. Since that occasion Cardinal Griffin has always enjoyed a special place in my heart! We enjoyed the occasional outing, I remember a day at the seaside with Fr Wheeler – I think we visited Eastbourne, also a trip to the famous Catholic shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham, and I’m sure there were others. I have to admit to being somewhat homesick at times, and this coupled with my rather poor health and my mother’s wish for me to be at home in Sussex, resulted in my leaving the Choir School after about 2 years. At the time I was quite pleased, mainly I think because I imagined that I would have more freedom and perhaps less hard work, and I had been rather unwell, but later in life I very much regretted leaving when I did. However man proposes and God disposes, and who knows what might have transpired - for better or possibly worse, if things had been different. I am forever grateful to George Malcolm and all at the Choir School, for inculcating in me a love for singing, especially for singing Church music which is uniquely for the glory of God. I have also always retained a special affection for Westminster Cathedral which I have always regarded as the English ‘St Peter’s’. Spiritually I see it as the centre of the English Catholic Church with it’s history of great and famous Cardinals. Sadly the crisis in the Church brought on by Vatican II has meant that the celebration of the traditional Latin Mass of Pope St Pius Vth has been neglected, if not totally abandoned, in the Cathedral over many decades, with great cost to the Faith. Recently, thanks to the courage and spiritual vision of our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVIth, we have had the ‘Moto Proprio’ confirming the absolute right for all priests to offer the traditional Mass at any time and place, and I hope and pray and believe that this return to Tradition will see the re-emergence of Westminster Cathedral as the fulcrum for a great 21st century Catholic revival in our country. I have always loved singing, and we are fortunate in that we are able to sing Gregorian chant on special Feast days, in Our Lady’s chapel on Stronsay, Orkney, where we now live, as well as enjoying the privilege of the traditional Latin Mass celebrated daily by one of the Redemptorist Fathers from Golgotha Monastery, Papa Stronsay. Prior to moving to Orkney 5 years ago, I had been very fortunate over the years, in being able to sing in several excellent choirs performing major choral works in different Cathedrals and churches, and other venues, both in the UK and abroad.. On a lighter note I have also managed to savour the delights of many a Gilbert & Sullivan chorus, great fun! Without my good fortune and privilege as a chorister at the Choir School, I would have missed out on the pleasure and fulfilment of singing both then and later in life. Although I make no apology for these self-indulgent reminiscences, I do ask for your forbearance. I wanted to put down in writing my thoughts and memories of my relatively short time at Westminster Cathedral Choir School, before it is too late! I hope that you will find something of interest therein. It may be that other ‘old boys’ from the Choir School may read this, and perhaps be able to add memories of their own. I pray that God will bless the choristers, past and present, and all the teachers and staff. Above all I pray that the spirit of reverence and devotion to Christ Our Lord, to Our Blessed Lady, to the Holy Catholic Church, and to the sacred and traditional liturgy and ceremonies of the Church, will always reign supreme. To conclude, I have visited the Cathedral many times over the years, although not recently, and a great deal of work has been completed on the interior decoration, both in the body of the Cathedral and in the side chapels. An open paved area has been created outside the main entrance of the Cathedral, and of course the Cathedral Tower continues to dominate, providing a magnificent aerial view of London. I remember as a young man going to the top of the Cathedral tower with my then girl-friend. It happened to be the day of the State funeral of King George VIth in 1952, and whilst we were enjoying the view, the whole of London came to a standstill as a mark of respect for the dead King. It was amazing to look out over London and see virtually nothing moving, it was as though everything was frozen in a ‘time-warp’. This only lasted a few minutes and then everything came to life again, it was a once in a lifetime experience. George Malcolm remained as Master of the Cathedral Music for many years and when he finally relinquished this post the Cathedral Choir had become recognised as one of the foremost Cathedral choirs in the world. Mr Malcolm continued his musical career as a harpsichordist of world renown, and made many concert appearances and recordings over many years. He died in 1997 aged 80 years. Thank you George Malcolm, for everything you taught me. I remember you daily in my prayers. R.I.P. Umblepie (2008) |
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Nonplussed by the monarchy, (Peter Maxwell Davies) has nothing but admiration for the Queen herself. "I think we owe her an awful lot. She is no fool, and absolutely on the ball. I remember when I went to see her the first time after I accepted the position, I took her as a little present, a Hyperion recording of music I had written for Westminster Cathedral. There was nobody else there when we listened to it, just the Queen and myself, and she said: 'Why is it that the choir of the cathedral sounds so different? It's not at all like our choirs at St Paul's or the Abbey.' So I told her about the continental way of voice production for boys. And she said: 'Oh, that's very interesting, I had no idea. I'm very pleased to know that.' There was nobody there to prompt her, and she observed that herself. So you're dealing with someone whose first interest, plainly, is not music, but who is really aware. As she says, she and Philip are 'willing to learn'." |
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