Choir

St Mary’s has a long tradition of fine music at services. The choir of St Mary’s is an affiliated member of the Royal School of Church Music.

The choir is at present going from strength to strength. As well as local members we are proud to provide outreach to students, most notably from Dartington College of Arts.

The main Sunday service is Sung Eucharist in which the choir leads the singing of the congregation and in addition sings the psalm and communion motet.

In addition to the ‘modern’ feel of Common Worship Eucharist, the choir also sings a cathedral-like Choral Evensong once a month.
In September 2008, St Mary’s choir visited Vienna, where it sang in a mass and concert at the 'Haydn' Church and Evensong at the Anglican Church (Christ Church). Plans for the near future involve singing Choral Evensong in Bath Abbey during their resident choir's holiday, and another trip abroad in 2009.

The present Director of Music is Mark Casey who has played in many of the cathedrals in the British Isles. He has been an organ scholar in Liverpool and has conducted choirs in the UK, Ireland and Vienna. He was assistant organist in St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral (Church of Ireland). He has a wide experience of liturgy and especially music in relation to the liturgy within both the Anglican and Roman Catholic faiths.

 

Willis Organ

Laurence Elvin, writing about the organ in the April 1938 edition of Musical Opinion says: "The instrument is of great interest, representing as it does the work of Father Willis at the early part of his career".

The organ's life began in 1861, when it was a two manual with pedal instrument.   It was installed in the west gallery of the Church, but in 1889 was moved into the St Leonard's Chapel (on the north side of the Chancel).   A choir organ was added to it by Ivey.   Later, in 1922, Willis added the swell aeoline.

In 1959 the organ was taken back to its original position in the west gallery.   By 1986 the mixture of pneumatic and mechanical action and the soundboards were in such poor state that a complete restoration was needed.   Following an appeal for £25,000, the action was made entirely mechanical and the two sesquialteras were returned to their original positions (the pipework having 'travelled about' the organ case over the years!).   A Quint mixture was added to the great.   All other voicing was returned as closely as possible to its original state, and a Harmonic Piccolo copied from from an original stop at St John's, Taunton which is about 3 years younger.   The restoration was carried out by William Drake, who also left provision for a pedal 16' Ophicleide should funds ever permit its installation.

The influence of the French organ builders is part of the charm of Willis organs, and this tonality is certainly present in the sound of the organ here.

 

 

 

To contact us:

Phone: 01803 867011 or 01803 865615

e-mail: enquiries@stmarystotnes.org.uk