Archdiocese of London releases choir videos to share ‘power of worship through music’

CNA Staff October 4, 2024 at 16:15

The Archdiocese of Southwark in London released a series of choir videos this week in the hope that they will help “preserve (the) great tradition” of liturgical music and bring more people to the Catholic Church.

The archdiocese, whose seat is located in central London, at St. Peter’s Cathedral. George in Southwark, said on its website that the cathedral had released the videos “to promote the power of worship through music and song.”

“The musical tradition of the Church is a treasure of inestimable value, and musicians have an obligation to cultivate this wonderful tradition,” said Jonathan Schranz, music director of the archdiocese, in a statement.

“In our own way at Southwark, we are honored to use our voices to lift hearts and minds upward each week through liturgical song,” he said.

St. George’s offers an extensive choral program featuring singers of various ages and skill levels. The Cathedral Church Choir, which dates back to the 1840s, “is composed of choristers and girls aged 7 to 12 and nine professional singers known as Lay Clerks,” according to the cathedral’s website.

The Cathedral Consort, on the other hand, was established in 2019 and consists of “a selected group of teenagers aged 13 and over.”

In turn, in 2022, the Southwark Singing Program was launched as “a diocesan music education program which, in cooperation with schools and parishes, aims to develop the musical offer and sacred singing throughout the diocese.”

This program includes “weekly whole-class singing sessions in primary and secondary schools” that “feed into performances by local after-school choirs that serve parish and school liturgies.”

Archdiocese spokesman Patrick Kinsella told CNA that the choirs are “always performing and practicing.”

“We organize these sessions to promote the power of worship through music by showcasing talented choirs,” he said. “We hope to reach as many people as possible through social media.”

“We want to inspire not only people who go to Mass every day or weekly, but also those who haven’t been there for a while,” he said.

“We pray that as we listen to the beauty of the music, it will lead people to return to church.”

“A special joy of working with children”

Recent performances released by the archdiocese include contemporary songs such as “10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)” and “The Power of the Cross” performed by children from the Southwark Singing Program.

More traditional and ancient pieces are also presented, such as “O nata lux” and “Tantum ergo” performed by the Cathedral Consort and the Cathedral Choir.

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Musical performances published by the archdiocese also include the Gregorian chant “Veni Creator Spiritus” performed by lay officials.

In a statement from the archdiocese, Schranz said it was a “particular joy” for me to work on these recordings with children from our archdiocesan schools.

“Children’s passion for singing and music is a passion that we should not only support, but also strongly encourage,” he said.

On its website, the Cathedral of St. George states that its original choir “was created in 1848, when the cathedral was opened.”

The choir sings every week during Sunday Mass. “and during the most important events of the year, such as Advent, Christmas, Holy Week and Easter.”