Noël Tredinnick

Dr Noël Tredinnick FRSCM (born 1949)^[1] is a British composer, organist, orchestrator, and conductor, notable for his many contributions to several hymnals, his regular appearances on the BBC's Songs of Praise,^[2] and as the founder of the All Souls Orchestra which annually performs at the Royal Albert Hall under the banner of 'Prom Praise' and 'Prom Praise for Schools.' Tredinnick's organ works have been performed by several respected performers including George Thalben-Ball,^[3] Nicolas Kynaston, and Gerard Brooks. Tredinnick has been involved with the Jubilate Group for many years, which is concerned with updating old-fashioned language in hymnody and for publishing new musical resources for congregations; he is now a trustee for the group.^[4] Tredinnick is currently a Professor of conducting, orchestration and music studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Noel Tredinnick was responsible for much of the congregational music at former Archbishop of Canterbury Dr George Carey's enthronement in April 1991 at Canterbury Cathedral.^[5] Tredinnick introduced a more contemporary language to a service, which up to that point, had primarily embraced a more traditional language. Tredinnick believes that new music is the natural result of faith. He has written that, 'Creativity goes hand in hand with an alive experience of the Lord as Christians express their own love and share their faith in words.'^[6]

Education, Degrees and Awards

Education: Chelwood Nursery School 1951-1953, Goodrich Road Infants School 1953-1956, Rathfern Road Junior Mixed School 1956-1960, Southwark Cathedral 1960-1965, St Olave's and St. Saviour's Grammar School for Boys 1960-1967, Guildhall School of Music and Drama 1967-1970, Institute of Education, University of London 1970-1971

Degrees: GGSM (1st class Hons) - Guildhall School of Music and Drama 1970, PGCE - Institute of Education, University of London 1971, DMus - Lambeth (c/o Oxford Univ) 2002, FRSCM - Salisbury 2009

Susan Owen Medal for Drama 1966, School Organ Prize 1968, Sir August Manns Prize for organ playing 1969

All Souls Orchestra

In 1972 Tredinnick was appointed Organist and Director of Music at the prestigious church of All Souls, Langham Place, in the heart of the West End of London: a post he still holds. He founded the All Souls Orchestra at All Souls, Langham Place, and has conducted the orchestra at a variety of festivals and church services. Peter Aston, writing in The Musical Times in 1989 commented on the orchestra's presence at the Norwich Festival of Contemporary Church Music. He describes the festival as being quite conservative in character, however, he notes that the All Souls Orchestra had provided a departure from the more traditionalist fare, adding a more contemporary 'popular' flavour to the festival. Aston defends the presence of popular music in church music by citing American shaker songs and Wesleyan congregationalist hymns.^[7]

Tredinnick is well known for his expansive, expressive and personal style of directing and coaxing, as well as for his persuasive eye-contact and personable manner. He has conducted the Orchestra alongside several notable singers and songwriters including Cliff Richard, Keith and Kristyn Getty, and Stuart Townend. The Orchestra performed alongside Richard on a BBC Songs of Praise episode entitled 'The Gospel According to Cliff.'

List of Works

Organ

• Brief Encounters^[8]

Hymnody

• Argent
• Come Rejoice
• Enigma
• God whose love is everywhere
• Gracious God
• Jubilate Deo
• Old Yeavering
• Revelation
• Victor's Crown
• Whitsun Psalm^[9]

Discography

• All Souls Orchestra, "Prom Praise 40th Anniversary"^[10]
• Vania Vatralova-Stankov and the Sofia Symphony Orchestra, Operatic Favourites.^[11]

References