Choir of Chichester Cathedral

The musical foundation of Chichester Cathedral consists of the Organist and Master of the Choristers, the Assistant Organist and the organ scholar; together with six singing men (called lay vicars), eighteen choristers, six probationers - and including a head chorister and a senior chorister (deputy head) who both wear a notable medallion on a red ribbon according to their office held. The choristers and probationers are all boarders at the Prebendal School, the cathedral's choir school. The lay vicars are professional singers who all have everyday jobs.

During school term, the cathedral has eight sung services a week. As well as singing, choristers learn the piano and an orchestral instrument, spending at least eighteen hours a week on musical performance.

Appearances

Evensong is sung by the choir every day, with the exception of Wednesday. Additionally, on Sunday, Mattins and Eucharist are sung in the morning.

Each year, the choir appears at the Chichester Festival Theatre at Christmas where they sing Christmas concerts alongside local school choirs, including the Bishop Luffa School Choir, and are accompanied by the Band of HM Royal Marines, Portsmouth. They sing a variety of carols and are directed by the organist and master of the choristers. They have been considered the highlight of the show for years. The choristers return to the Prebendal School in the interval and Close Company perform.

The choristers with choir director Horace Hawkins, in 1958

The choir sing at the Chichester Festivities each year in a concert called "Chichester Cathedral Choir By Candelight". The programme normally consists of music by composers who are being commemorated that year. As tradition follows, the choir leave the stage and exit the cathedral, carrying candles and singing a hymn, "The Day thou Gavest Lord is Ended". It is one of the festival’s perennial favourites.^[1] In the concert, there are also solo items played by the Assistant Organist and organ scholar. The ensemble accompanying the choir also performs its own piece.

They also participate in the Southern Cathedrals Festival with the choirs of Winchester and Salisbury. They have taken part in this annual festival since it was first established in 1904. The choir stays at the hosting cathedral's choir school. The choir perform concerts, sing Evensong and participate in masterclasses.

The choir has appeared with many different artists including Petula Clark, Richard Stilgoe, the King’s Singers, the Cambridge Buskers, the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble and Cantabile. Television appearances have included Placido’ Domingo’s Christmas Choice and Rumpole of the Bailey.

In 2009 their recording of Christmas music won the Critics Christmas Choice of the Year award in both Gramophone Magazine and BBC Music Magazine.^[2]

Tours

Each year, the choir visits churches in the diocese and sing Evensong. They also frequently tour other countries with links to Chichester Cathedral.

Choir tours since 1998 include:

Recordings

Recordings since 1976 include:

Close Company

Close Company is the name used by the Lay Vicars of Chichester Cathedral when they sing the men's voices barbershop repertory made popular in the United Kingdom by the King's Singers. As well as being professional singers, most of them work everyday jobs. Every evening they are back in the cathedral with the choristers for Evensong at 5.30 pm. The Lay Vicar who has been in the Cathedral Choir for the longest is given the title of Senior Lay Vicar.

Their duties with the Cathedral Choir also include singing concerts and making concerts in the UK and abroad, but they are perhaps best known for their performances at the annual Christmas Carols, having been part of that tradition since 1993 when they first stepped out in their white jackets.

Throughout the rest of the year, Close Company performs in a variety of venues and recent performances include an evening at the Alexandra Theatre, Bognor Regis, the Assembly Rooms in North Street, St John's College, West Dean College and the Tudor house of St Mary's House, Bramber. On the choir's 2005 tour of South Africa, Close Company had the honour of performing for Archbishop Desmond Tutu.^[3]

See also

• Chichester Cathedral
• Organs and organists of Chichester Cathedral

References