Music at St. Patrick’s Cathedral Parramatta

Music in the life of St. Patrick’s Cathedral began in 1839 in the early colony. From those early colonial days, Parramatta has flourished into a busy metropolitan centre in the western region of Sydney. The cathedral church too, has also expanded to serve the increasing numbers of people in our busy city, both physically in the new cathedral and in the shedule of liturgical services.

The music ministry of the cathedral continues to play an important role in serving the busier-than-ever round of diocesan and parish liturgies which take place throughout the year. Choirs (including St.Patrick’s Cathedral choir, the Cathedral Schola & Gregorain chant schola), and the Tongan Choir) and cantors sing at 4 of the 5 Sunday Masses, as well as Weddings, funerals, and other occasions. The program of liturgical music in the cathedral covers both traditional and contemporary works of the sacred music repertoire. In carrying out the desire of the liturgical documents on sacred music in the liturgy, priority is given to singing the liturgy itself. The Ordinary of the Mass, responsorial psalm and Gospel Acclamation are sung at all Sunday Masses and on solemnities and feasts by the assembly and/or choir or schola. At Solemn Masses

(11.00am Sunday & solemnities), importance is placed on singing of the ministerial chants as well. The chants of the priests and deacons, are answered by the sung responses of the people. In general an entrance hymn and communion hymn are sung for the processions. On solemnities, a chant introit may also be sung after the entrance hymn, during the incensation of the altar. The Preparation of Gifts is usually accompanied by a choir motet or organ music. At the conclusion of each liturgy, an organ

postlude accompanies the departure of the ministers and people. The cathedral is blessed to have a committed team of talented musicians who serve its liturgical life. And the magnificent 1898 Norman & Beard which graces the new cathedral can not go unmentioned, as the principal instrument accompanying the cathedral liturgies. For more detailed information, visit the music pages on St. Patrick’s Cathedral website at www.stpatscathedral.com.au

Personnel v The Cathedral music ministry consists of the Director of Music & Principal Organist,

Bernard Kirkpatrick, Assistant Music Director, an Assistant Organist, a team of 9 cantors, Senior Organ Scholar, Junior Organ Sholar

Director of Music & Principal Organist Bernard Kirkpatrick B.Mus(Syd), B.Ec(Syd), A.mus.A

Bernard Kirkpatrick received his early music training in Tasmania from the Sisters of Mercy, and subsequently the Marist Fathers. In 1984 he moved to Sydney and commenced organ studies with Sydney City Organist, Robert Ampt, later studying organ improvisation with M. Naji Hakim (then Organist Titulaire de Basilique Sacre Coeur) in Paris. Whilst studying for the Bachelor of Music degree at The University of Sydney, he was University Organ Scholar, and Director of Chapel Music at St. John's College.

Before taking up the position of Director of Music at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Parramatta, Bernard was Director of Music at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Paddington in Sydney, (1995 -2006). He has previously held the post of Organist and Choirmaster at St. Patrick's Church Hill (1984-88) and from 1988 - 1999 was the Assistant Organist at St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney, where he also established the St. Mary's Singers, and directed the Cathedral choir on occasion. His interest in liturgical music includes developing ways of incorporating traditional sacred music styles e.g chant & choral polyphony with the contemporary needs of liturgical practice through a synthesis of form, musical language and instrumentation. He has composed numerous liturgical works including 2 festival Mass settings, Music for Holy Week and the Easter Season, musical arrangements of the Prayer of St. Francis, and the Prayer of St. Ignatius, hymns and psalms. A number of his liturgical compositions have been published by the U.S liturgical music publisher, CanticaNOVA and OCP Publications. Bernard has also led workshops for the Royal School of Church Music (Australia) and the Australian Catholic University, and is a member of the Music Advisory Committee of the Archdiocese of Sydney. In 2004 he was appointed a Music Consultant to the National Liturgical Commission of the Australia Catholic Bishops' Conference and is Executive Secretary for a new liturgical music resource being prepared by the ACBC. In 2006, Bernard was appointed Director of Music at the Seminary of the Good Shepherd, Homebush, and Musical Director of the Schola at Campion College. During the World Youth Day celebration in Sydney in 2008, Bernard was invited to be the Organist for the Opening Mass at Barangaroo, and the Closing Mass at Randwick celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI.

Choirs 1) St. Patrick’s Cathedral Choir

The cathedral is served principally by a large cathedral choir, consisting of male and female voices, SATB, with approximately 10 choral positions held by students and professional vocal leaders. St. Patrick’s Cathedral Choir sings at the 11.00am Solemn Sung Mass every Sunday, the services of Holy Week and Christmas, solemnities and feasts throughout the year, and occasional services such as ordinations and other special events. The Choir rehearsed each Wednesday evening from 7.00 – 9.00 pm, and 1 hour prior to each of the sung services. Repertoire is wide and varied, ranging from Gregorian Chant and Renaissance Polyphony, classical and romantic works through to contemporary compositions.

2) St. Patrick’s Cathedral Schola

Selected voices are chosen from the Cathedral choir and other musician contacts to provide smaller vocal ensembles from time to time for such events as Tenebrae in Holy Week, and liturgies of the Divine Office, and weddings etc.

3) The Gregorian Schola

Selected men’s voices who are chosen for their exceptional reading skills of chant notation, and generally whose purpose is to sing the Propers at the 11.00am Solemn Mass on Sundays and feasts days.

The Cathedral Organs

The cathedral is served by two organs. The main cathedral pipe organ was built by Norman & Beard in 1898, and formerly located in St. Saviour’s Anglican Church, Walton, Place, London. The restoration and installation was undertaken in 2002 by Peter D.G. Jewkes Pty Ltd.

This large three manual instrument is noteworthy for the brilliance and cohesiveness of its choruses, which are immense-loud, rather than aggressive-loud, its superb reeds (including the splendid high-pressure Tromba and Swell

reed chorus), and the kaleidoscope of tone colours available in the array of flutes and strings.

The full history and specification details of the organ can be viewed at http://home.vicnet.net.au/~ohta/Sydney_conf/STPATRICKSCath.html

St.Patrick’s Cathedral Parramatta. St Patrick’s was gutted in a fire that was set by an arsonist on 19 February 1996 and the Holroyd & Edwards instrument was totally destroyed. There began a lengthy process to raise funds and develop designs for the rebuilding of the 1936 church (to serve as the Blessed Sacrament Chapel) and the provision of a modern new cathedral to adjoin it. The state government provided a multi-million dollar grant to assist the

project. The firm of Mitchell, Giurgola and Thorp (best known for its design of Parliament House in Canberra) was successful in being awarded the design contract and the completed building was opened on 29 November 2003. The Pope's special envoy for the occasion, Cardinal Edward Cassidy, presided at the Mass. 1) The old St. Patrick’s Cathedral – now refurbished as the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. The new cathedral viewed from Victoria Road. © Pastor de Lasala 2005

The Norman & Beard 1898, Pipe Organ (3manuals, 37 speaking stops In 1998, English organ expert Stephen Bicknell posted to pipe organ mailing list piporg-l about the 1898 Norman & Beard once installed in St Saviour's, Knightsbridge, London, possibly to the design of Edwin Lemare. In 1998 the organ was destined for destruction and Bicknell posted details on piporg-l that year. This was read by Fr. Peter Williams, of Parramatta, Australia after St Patrick's Cathedral had been destroyed by fire in 1996. The organ has since been dismantled, shipped to Australia, restored by Peter Jewkes Pty, and now sits in a new case in the stunning new cathedral, The instrument is noteworthy for the brilliance and cohesiveness of its choruses, which are immense-loud, rather than aggressive-loud, its superb reeds (including the splendid high-pressure Tromba and Swell reed chorus), and the kaleidoscope of tone colours available in the array of flutes and strings. The console: Organ Stops

Norman & Beard 1898, Peter D.G. Jewkes 2005 (3/37 electric)

*A number of additions are due to be added in June 2014; PEDAL Major Bass 16’ Double Open Wood 32’ Contra-Ophecleide 32’ Swell Reeds on Pedal (transfer switch)

GREAT Double Diapason 16 Open Diap. (large) 8 * Open Diap. (small) 8 * Claribel Flute 8 Corno Dolce 8 Principal 4 Harmonic Flute 4 Fifteenth 2 Mixture 3 Rks Tromba 8 + SWELL Bourdon 16 Open Diapason 8 Stopped Diapason 8 Echo Gamba 8 Voix Celeste 8 TC Gemshorn 4 Piccolo 2 Mixture 3 Rks Oboe 8 Vox Humana 8 Double Trumpet 16 + Horn 8 + Clarion 4 + Tremulant CHOIR Open Diapason 8 Rohr Flöte 8 Viol di Gamba 8 Dulciana 8 Suabe Flute 4 Flageolet 2 Clarinet 8 Tremulant Tromba 8 ¶ PEDAL Open Diapason Metal 16 A* Open Diapason [Wood] 16 Bourdon 16 Quint 12 A§ Violoncello 8 Trombone 16

COUPLERS Swell to Pedal Great to Pedal Choir to Pedal Swell to Great Choir to Great Swell to Choir Swell Octave Swell Unison Off ¶ Swell Sub Octave Choir Octave Choir Unison Off ¶ Choir Sub Octave Swell Reeds on Choir ¶ Great and Pedal combinations coupled ¶ Electro-pneumatic action (2005) Compass 61/30 6 thumb pistons per manual division ^ 6 toe levers to pedal ^ Swell pistons duplicated by toe levers ^ 12 general pistons ¶ 6 reversibles ^ Sequencer with + and – pistons ¶ Set and cancel pistons ¶ 16 divisional memories ¶ 96 general memories ¶ 2 balanced swell pedals

No. of pipes = 2,212

Pitch a1 = 446 Hz at 200 C

Wind pressures:

Tromba, Trombone, Violoncello, Swell chorus reeds and action = 165 mm (6 ½ ”) Remainder of organ = 82 mm (3 ¼”) + On separate high-pressure chests

* New façade in tin comprises 2 dummy pipes and bottom octaves of Open Diap. (large) , Open Diap. (small) – 24 pipes – and Open Diapason Metal - 30 pipes. This replaced assorted zinc façade and internal originals, 2005 ¶ Additions by solid-state switching, 2005 § Originally prepared-for. Now 10-2/3’ for C-B; 32’ for c0- f1; taken from Open Metal ^ The 1898 console had 5 pistons to Swell, 4 pistons to Great, reversibles for Swell to Great, Swell to Pedal and Great to Pedal and various compositions pedals Composition of Great and Swell Mixtures: C - f#0 : 15.19.22 g0 - c4 : 8.12.15