Music at St Giles'
Music in April at St Giles’ Parish Eucharist at 10am
6th April 6 Passion Sunday
10 a.m. PARISH EUCHARIST
BCP Service by Grayston Ives
PSALM 126 with chant 121
CHOIR GRADUAL Wilby Wondrous Cross (text at Hymn 127)
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Search me out O God and know my heart; put me to the proof and know my thoughts.
CHOIR COMMUNION Stainer God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son
ORGAN PRELUDE J.S.Bach Jesus Christus, unser Heiland BWV 689
ORGAN POSTLUDE attr. JS Bach Prelude in C major BWV 553 (played by Suri)
HYMNS 499 Crucifer; 308 Saffron Walden (played by Suri); 598 Corvedale
13th April Palm Sunday
Service by Ayres
Common Worship
PSALM 118. 1-2, 19-24 REFRAIN ‘His love endures for ever’
CHOIR GRADUAL Bullard The Feast of Palms
CHOIR COMMUNION Gibbons Drop, drop slow tears… nor let his eyes see sin but through my tears
CHOIR Plainsong Passion Narrative
ORGAN PRELUDE Pachelbel Toccata in E minor (played by Alessandro)
ORGAN POSTLUDE J.S.Bach Valet will ich dir geben BWV 735
HYMNS 128 St Theodulph; 112 Love Unknown; 129 Winchester New (played by Alessandro)
20th April Easter Sunday
10 a.m. PARISH EUCHARIST
Service by Ayres
Common Worship
CHOIR Exsultet; Vaughan Williams Easter … as his death calcined thee to dust, His life may make thee gold, and much more, Just
ACCLAMATION The angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone and sat upon it, Alleluia!!
CHOIR COMMUNION Vaughan Williams Love bade me welcome You must sit down, says Love, and taste my meat
ORGAN PRELUDE Rheinberger Trio (played by Aiqi)
ORGAN POSTLUDE Vierne Final (Symphonie 1)
HYMNS 147 Easter Hymn; St Fulbert (played by Aiqi); 160 Maccabeus
27th April Second Sunday of Easter
10 a.m. PARISH EUCHARIST
Service by Ayres
Common Worship
CHOIR GRADUAL (alto solo) Handel: If God be for us who can be against us?
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Alleluia! Christ who hath redeemed us with his blood is risen and hath appeared unto us.
CHOIR COMMUNION (alto solo) Amanda Dean: Lord, we believe … help Thou our unbelief
ORGAN PRELUDE Handel (arr. Gower) I know that my redeemer liveth …for now is Christ risen from the dead
ORGAN POSTLUDE Willan Chorale Prelude on a melody by Melchior Vulpius
HYMNS 154 O Filii et Filiae vv. 1, 5-9; 491 Metzler’s Redhead (539); 280 Diva Servatrix; 150 Savannah
With a professional quartet of singers at services, regular concerts in the Church, three outstanding pipe organs, a Steinway B grand piano and its use for recording sessions and broadcasts, music is a major part of the life of the Church. Since 1992 this church has been the headquarters of a major movement to recruit and train organists; lessons and classes in organ playing for all ages continue here throughout the year.
The Director of Music
Anne Marsden Thomas
(Director of Music)
Anne has been Director of Music at St Giles' since 1980. She founded St. Giles International Organ School in 1992 and directed it until January 2012 when it became part of the education programme of RCO Academy. For many years she also directed the annual RCO Academy Summer Course for Organists in the City of London which regularly attracted 60-75 students from around the world. She is widely known for her work as organ teacher, concert organist and church musician. Her concert and teaching work has taken her to the USA, Japan, Europe and all over the UK, and she has made several commercial recordings. She has written and edited many books for organists, published by Oxford University Press, Cramer Music and the Royal School of Church Music. She has wide experience of examining grade examinations and diplomas. As well as teaching students of all standards, Anne enjoys training organ teachers.
Elizabeth Day (Organist)
Elizabeth was educated in Scotland and attended Dundee University where she read mathematics as well holding the post of Assistant Organist of Dundee Cathedral. After graduating she trained as a primary school teacher and has taught in schools in Dundee, Edinburgh and Switzerland.
Whilst working in Edinburgh, she started taking organ lessons with Anne Marsden Thomas. She has given many solo recitals including at Oxford Town Hall, St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh, and Lichfield Cathedral as well as at several churches in London.
She lives in South London with her husband and daughter.
Organ Scholarships at St Giles’ Cripplegate
7 school-age organ students of Anne Marsden Thomas join our new Associate Organ Scholar scheme in February 2025, receiving training in liturgical music and contributing to the Sunday morning service on a rota basis.
The Choir
The professional vocal quartet sings two anthems and leads the congregational singing at the Sunday morning service. The choir is also available for special services (weddings, funerals, memorials, livery and carol services).
Penny Sharpe (soprano)
Penny was born in Tasmania where she trained at the Conservatorium. After singing in the Lyric Opera Company, Brisbane, she joined the Song Company (an a capella ensemble specialising in early and contemporary music) in Sydney. With the Song Company she was involved in festivals, concerts, recordings, children's concerts and live broadcasts on national radio, plus tours of South Korea and New Zealand and throughout Australia. Currently she earns a regular salary working in market research, primarily in wine and spirits, while taking professional singing engagements on a part-time basis. Her clear, warm voice is supported by a flawless technique and perfect intonation
Amanda Dean (alto)
Amanda began singing in choirs as a child, conducted by Ronald Corp and Ralph Allwood. She read Music at Cambridge University where she was a choral scholar at Trinity College.
Since then she has sung mostly contemporary classical music. Stage projects include roles in Stockhausen’s Mittwoch as part of 2012’s Cultural Olympiad (with helicopters and a camel) and Birtwistle’s The Minotaur for the Royal Opera House (drenched in stage blood). Amanda continues to enjoy ensemble and choral singing. She has sung on many film soundtracks with London Voices, including several of the Star Wars and Harry Potter films.
Amanda also has a qualification in tax, and about half her working time is spent writing about tax, and preparing tax returns for clients working in the arts. She is happy with either a music score or the latest tax legislation. She also composes when she has time (so not very much) and runs a girls’ choir at a local school.
Amanda is an impeccable sight-reader and instantly adapts her vocal quality to whatever repertoire she is singing, whether it is Palestrina, McDowall, or anything in between.
Robin Whitehouse (tenor)
Robin studied voice and horn for a year at the Royal College of Music before reading maths at Oxford University. Whilst at Oxford he sang and played with all the major university choirs and orchestras, and continued to sing with the choir of St Mary the Virgin (the University church) until taking up his post at St Giles.
Operatic roles have included Alfredo (La Traviata), Abinadab (world premiere of Sam Hogarth’s David and Goliath with New Chamber Opera and most recently Prince Ramiro (La Cenerentola).
Solo engagements have included Evangelist in Bach’s Passions, Mendelssohn’s Elijah and Britten’s Serenade, Nocturne and St Nicolas, as well as Strauss’s 2nd Horn Concerto and Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No.1. He was recently invited to take part in a public masterclass on Mahler songs with the Oxford University Orchestra, taken by Ian Bostridge. He currently studies with Ann de Renais. Robin has an extraordinary dynamic range throughout his wide vocal compass.
Louis Hurst (bass baritione)
Louis was the Winner of the Audience Prize at the Fulham Opera Robert Presley Memorial Verdi Prize 2019 and a Finalist for the Wagner Society of England's Singing Competition. Selected to participate in ENO’s Opera Works Programme and with British Youth Opera.
Mancunian-born Louis gained his MMus with Distinction from the RNCM. His studies were made possible by the generous support of Michael Oglesby, the Drapers Guild, and the Musician's Benevolent Fund.
Louis joined St Giles’ choir in 2022, a year in which his roles included Don Pasquale for Hurn Court Opera, Escamillo Carmen for Regents Opera and Sciarrone Tosca for Diva Opera. Louis has worked with many prominent companies including English National Opera, Britten Sinfonia, Zurcher Sing Akadamie, and the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.
The Organs
There are three organs at St Giles'. The grand organ and the chancel organ are in the body of the church; the practice organ is in the vestry.
The Grand Organ
The Grand Organ, mounted on a gallery, has three manuals, a radiating/concave pedalboard, mechanical action, 39 speaking stops, balanced Swell pedal and a full range of modern accessories including a sequencer. This organ is ideal for solo work, and for accompanying musicians in the west gallery. Organ history: Jordan & Bridge 1733, Willis 1872, Jones 1902, Mander 1970. It was cleaned and restored in Autumn 2008.
Specification:
.
GREAT
Double Open Diapason 16
Open Diapason 8
Stopt. Diapason 8
Principal 4
Flute 4
Twelfth 2 2/3
Fifteenth 2
Larigot 1 1/3
Mixture lll
Fourniture lV-Vl
Mounted Cornet V
Trumpet 8
Clarion 4
Great Reeds on Choir
Swell to Great
SWELL (enclosed)
Open Diapason
Stopt. Diapason 8'
Viola 8
Principal 4
Fifteenth 2
Mixture lll
Contra hautboy 16
Cornopean 8
Clariaon 4
Tremulant
PEDAL
Open Diapason 16
Bourdon 16
Octave 8
Flute 8
Gemshorn 4
Mixture lll
Trombone 16
Trumpet 8
Swell to Pedal
Choir to Pedal
CHOIR (unenclosed)
Stopt. Diapason 8
Dulciana 8
Principal 4
Nason Flute 4
Nazard 2 2/3
Spitz Flute 2
Tierce 1 3/5
Mounted Cornet V (from Great)
Cymbel lll
Cremona 8
Tremulant
Swell to Choir
COMPASS
Key compass C to a3 (58 notes)
Pedal compass C to f1 (30 notes) Radiating Concave
ACCESSORIES
8 general pistons, arranged above the Swell manual, with 16 memories
5 department pistons to Swell, Great, Choir.
5 combination pedals to Pedal department (right of centre)
5 combination pedals to Swell department (left of centre)
All couplers available as reversible pistons
Swell to Great, Great to Pedal also available as reversible coupler pedals
Rocker switch for Great and Pedal Combinations Coupler,
Rocker switch for Generals on Swell Combination Pedals
Independent sequencer, with three 'Next' pistons, one 'Next' pedal, and one 'Back' piston General cancel piston
Fully adjustable bench
Independent lights for manuals and pedals.
Mechanical action to manuals and pedals, with electrical stop action and electrical assistance on Swell to Great.
The Chancel Organ
The chancel organ was installed 2008, has two manuals, a straight/concave pedalboard, mechanical action, 15 speaking stops, a balanced Swell pedal and a full range of modern accessories including generals and a stepper. This organ is ideal for accompanying musicians on the large chancel, to which it is adjacent. There are unique carvings on the woodwork
Specification:
GREAT
Open Diapason 8
Stopped Diapason 8
Principal 4
Fifteenth 2
Mixture IV 11/3
Trumpet 8
Swell to Great
SWELL
Gedackt 8
Principal 4
Chimney flute 4
Recorder 2
Sesquialtera II 22/3
Oboe 8
Tremulant
PEDAL
Bourdon 16
Principal 8
Trumpet 8
Great to Pedal
Swell to Pedal
COMPASS
Key compass C to a3 (58 notes)
Pedal compass C to f1 (30 notes) Straight Concave
ACCESSORIES
6 divisional pistons/toe pedals and 8 general pistons served by 66 memories
Stepper
Gt and Ped combinations coupler
Generals on Swell toe pistons
Adjustable toe pedal to give Swell to Pedal/Stepper Advance/Stepper Reverse
Fully adjustable bench
DISABLED-FRIENDLY FEATURES
Adjustable music stand
Talking stops device
Rings on the stop shanks to aid identification of tonal families
Mechanical action to all departments
The Practice Organ
Organ by Kenneth Tickell 2008 situated in the church office. For the exclusive use of students of Royal College of Organists Acredited Teachers. Please email AMT@organschool.com for details of how to book and pay for practice on this organ.
Specification:
MANUAL I (LOWER)
Stopt. Diapason 8
Principal 4
MANUAL II (UPPER)
Chimeny Flute 8
Spitz Flute 4
PEDAL
Open Flute 8
TOE PEDALS
Tremulant
Manual 1 to Pedals.
Direct suspended action to the upper manual.
Balanced action to the lower manual.
COMPASS
Key compass C to a3 (58 notes)
Pedal compass C to f1 (30 notes) Straight Concave
DISABLED-FRIENDLY FEATURES
A single ridge on the stop shank to identify the Principal stop by touch.
An adjustable bench with an exceptionally wide range of positions.
St Giles Associate Organ Scholar Team
Instead of appointing a single organ scholar, we now have a team of seven young organ scholars who will contribute to Sunday services on a rota system. On Sunday 16th February all but one of them attended the Sunday morning service. Here they are below, from left to right: Chup Hei, Bea, Aiqi, Suri, Gabby and Alex. We look forward to welcoming Victoria, too, who was unable to attend on that occasion.
The Steinway B Grand Piano
We have a beautiful and well-maintained Steinway B Grand Piano. If you would like to use this piano please contact, Jake Kirner the
Bookings and Events Co-ordinator, Buildings Supervisor
Phone 07766 202731 or
The Bells
There is a ring of twelve bells hung for change ringing with a tenor weighing 34cwt and tuned to C-sharp. They are augmented by a sharp-second which provides a light ring of eight, tenor 11cwt in G-sharp. Full details of these bells, and their predecessors, are published at St. Giles' Cripplegate Ringing is arranged by the Ancient Society of College Youths and details are on their website ASCY. Visiting ringers are very welcome. To arrange a visit please contact the Tower Secretary Richard Pullin grandsirerich@googlemail.com