Wednesday, November 28, 2018

58. Festival of St Cecilia, 21 November 2018


According to legend, Saint Cecilia was a Roman woman of noble birth who was martyred for her Christian faith around 230 AD having previously lived a chaste existence. In 1683 the Musical Society was formed to counteract the Puritan view that music, whether sacred or secular, was dangerous fare and seeking a suitable saint to represent their cause, settled on St Cecilia. Her feast day is marked on 22 November and it has become tradition for a service to be held in one of the big London churches by rotation - Westminster Abbey, Westminster Cathedral and St Pauls - on or around that date. As the latter falls in the City, the Livery were invited to attend and process. And so it was that the Mistress and I arrived at just after 10:15 for the service.

These days the Festival of St Cecilia is organised by Help Musicians UK, the charity for professional musicians in hardship and as such was a wonderful celebration of music and song. While the Mistress found her place in the North Transept, I joined with Masters of most of the Livery Companies to robe and await our instructions. We then proudly processed in order to our seats under the Great Dome.

The service was led by the Dean of St Pauls, the Very Reverend Dr David Ison and the choral music was provided by no less than three choirs; those of Westminster Abbey, Westminster Cathedral and St Pauls Cathedral – a truly extraordinary combination. These choirs sang as they processed down the nave followed by the other dignitaries (regrettably the Lord Mayor was unable to attend).

The First Lesson was read by Graham Sheffield CBE, Chair of Help Musicians UK and the Second by Jane Asher. These were followed by a testimonial from musician and composer Anna Paola who had her own reasons to be grateful to the charity. We were also treated to a stunning guitar recital by renowned soloist Miloš Karadaglić before the Address which was given by the Reverend Richard Coles, Vicar St Mary the Virgin, Finedon (and former pop-star!). And then of course there was the music! What an absolute delight to be in such surroundings and to hear such singing! A true privilege.

The Cathedral was packed and we recessed back to St Dunstan’s Chapel to dis-robe with the organ ringing in our ears!

More information about Help Musicians UK can be found at www.helpmusicians.org.uk




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