The Churches of St. Mary's, with St. Faith's and St. Francis

St. Mary's Choir & Organ

 
Information is given below under the following headings:

 


ST. MARY'S CHOIR

Sings regularly at most Sunday Services throughout the year.  The choir has also performed at least two major choral pieces each year since 1990, with guest professional soloists and accompanists under the direction of 

Paul Pilott.

Works performed in recent years include:
Haydn's Little Organ Mass and Creation (Parts 1&3), Elgar's Dream of Gerontius (Part 1), Handel's Messiah (all sections at different times), Faure's Requiem, Durufle's Requiem, Berlioz' Te Deum, Bach's St. Luke and St. Matthew Passions (excerpts), Stainer's Crucifixion, Purcell's O Sing unto the Lord and G Minor Evening Service, Britten's St. Nicholas and Ceremony of Carols and Beethoven's Mass in C, Howells’ Requiem, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Charpentier’s Messe De Minuit, Mozart's Vespers.

 

Recruitment is ongoing and includes annual Voice Trials in Local Schools. Musical adults and children may apply to join at any time.  For children who join the choir, there are opportunities to pursue Training Schemes devised by the Royal School of Church Music, where progress and achievement are recognised by the presentation of special coloured ribbons and medallions

 

To Enquire about joining 

St. Mary's Choir

Please contact the Organist and Director of Music

Paul Pilott LRAM ARCO

023 9252 6255

paul@pilott.free-online.co.uk

 


ST. MARY’S JUNIOR CHOIR

sings with the full choir and occasionally performs pieces on its own, such as Michael Hurd’s ‘Jonah Man Jazz’ and ‘Swinging Samson’ which are more suited to children's voices. Recruitment takes place through ‘Voice Trials’ which are conducted in the Junior Schools of the Parish each year but prospective new members may also apply to join at any time. A training scheme devised by the Royal School of Church Music is followed in which progress through the choir is recognized by the presentation of various coloured ribbons.


CONCERTS AND RECITALS IN ST. MARY’S

There are numerous musical concerts and recitals in St. Mary’s each year, including the ever popular ‘NOT THE LAST NIGHT OF THE PROMS’ which usually takes place on the last Saturday of September as part of the Annual Michaelmas Fayre celebrations.  Organ recitals take place every Friday Lunch-Time during August and on other occasions.  Recitalists since the organ refurbishment of 1998 have included David Sanger, Professor Ian Tracey, Stephen Farr, Geoffrey Morgan, Nigel Stark, Sarah Baldock, Mark Wardell, David Price, Rosemary Field, Simon Lole. In 1999, St. Mary’s was given a 1900’s Beckstein grand piano which was featured by Carey Humphreys in a Lecture Recital on the ‘Keyboard Works of JS Bach’ marking the 250th anniversary of the composers’ death in July 2000.

For forthcoming events please see 'Music At St. Mary's'.


THE ORGAN OF ST. MARY'S, ALVERSTOKE

by HILL NORMAN AND BEARD

Installed 1929
Cleaned and Restored 1972
New Action and Tonal Modifications 1998

Specification 2000 AD

3 Manual 58 Keys 30 Pedals    
6 Pistons per department    
6 Duplicating toe pistons to Swell    
8 General pistons    
General cancel    
Great to Pedal reverser (toe)    
Great to Pedal reverser (thumb)    
Swell to Great reverser (toe)     
Swell to Great reverser (thumb)    
Swell to Choir reverser (thumb)    
Great and Pedal combinations coupled    
     
SWELL
   
1 Tremulant    
2 Oboe 8  
3 Horn 8  
4 Contra Fagotta 16  
5 Mixture III New
6 Fifteenth 2 New
7 Principal 4  
8 Echo Salicional 8  
9 Voix Celeste 8  
10 Gamba 8  
11 Rohr Flute 8  
12 Open Diapason 8  
13 Octave    
14 Sub Octave    
15 Unison off    
     
GREAT
   
16 Tromba 8  
17 Mixture II  Ex swell: re-scaled
18 Fifteenth 2 New
19 Harmonic Flute 4  
20 Principal 4  
21 Dulciana 8  
22 Hohl Flute 8  
23 Open Diapason II 8  
24 Open Diapason I 8  
25 Double Diapason 16  
     
26 Swell to Great    
27 Swell Octave to Great    
28 Swell Sub Octave to Great    
29 Choir to Great    
30 Great pistons to Pedal pistons    

 
CHOIR (Enclosed)
   
31 Octave Tromba 4 From 16
32 Tromba 8 From 16
33 Clarinet 8  
34 Sesquialtera 12:17  
35 Piccolo 2  
36 Flute 4  
37 Lieblich Gedact 8  
38 String Gamba 8  
39 Bourdon 16  
     
40 Swell to Choir    
     
PEDAL
   
41 Contra Fagotta 16 From 4
42 Bass Flute 8 From 45
43 Octave 8 From 25
44 Echo Bourdon 16 From 39
45 Bourdon 16  
46 Open Diapason 16  
47 Trombone 16 From 16
48 Acoustic Bass 32 46 + 45
     
49 Choir to Pedal    
50 Swell to Pedal    
51 Great to Pedal    
THE PAST:

St. Mary's Organ has stood at the centre of a cherished musical tradition in this church during most of the twentieth century In 1996, after some years of steady decline in the condition and reliability of the instrument, the Parochial Church Council decided to embark upon a comprehensive refurbishment scheme.  In order to accomplish this, St. Mary's needed to raise over £70,000, and an Appeal was launched in October of the same year. 

Various fund raising activities were initiated in the Parish, including a 'Sponsor a Pipe' campaign, a 'talents' scheme, prize draw, concerts, exhibitions etc. and the fund quickly grew.  Members of St. Mary's Junior Choir raised the staggering sum of £2000 in a few months by doing odd jobs such as cleaning cars, gardening, fence repairs etc. etc. 

Successful Grant Aid applications were lodged with Hampshire County and Gosport Borough Councils.  In addition, a request for funding through the Lottery was submitted to the Arts Council of England.  Then on 11th December 1997, came the news which everyone involved with the project was hoping for, an Arts Council Lottery Grant of ‘up to £51,000’ had been awarded.  By this time, St. Mary's own Appeal Fund had passed £20,000, and Griffiths and Cooper (Organ Builders) Limited of Portsmouth were invited to proceed with the work.  Just over a year later, the scheme was completed and the organ was rededicated to the glory of God in a special ceremony conducted by the Rector of Alverstoke Rev. Ted Goodyer.  A memorable inaugural recital was given by the internationally renowned organist David Sanger in January 1999.  

 

Since then, the improved instrument has enhanced our regular worship and numerous renowned recitalists have performed here including: Professor Ian Tracy, Stephen Farr, Simon Lole, 

Alan Thurlow, Geoffrey Morgan, Philip Scriven, Sarah Baldock, David Price, David Thorne, Mark Wardell, Rosemary Field, Nigel Stark, Carey Humphreys, Adrian Bawtree, Roger Blough, Clive Driskill-Smith and David Halls.

THE FUTURE:

Any item of machinery as complex as a church Organ with over 1600 pipes will require overhaul and attention every few decades.  Therefore the organ fund continues in order to secure the long-term well-being and use of this fine instrument within the rich musical heritage of St. Mary's.  Anyone may donate gifts, legacies, bequests etc., and any donor may nominate a loved one for inclusion in the attractive 'In Memoriam’ book which is on permanent display near the organ.  Click here if you wish to give a donation or make a bequest.  Thank you for your support.  

ST. MARY’S ORGAN SCHOLARSHIP

A two year scholarship is offered to a young musician with suitable keyboard skills.  The current Organ Scholars are:

Owen Morgan and Amy Eggbeer

Future Events

This page last updated on 15/07/04