The Bishop's Welcome

It is a privilege to commend this special Sesquicentennial Anniversary Concert in honour of the 150th anniversary of Christ Church Cathedral in Fredericton. Certainly in recent times excellence in music has been a hallmark of Cathedral life as it is used to the honour and praise of God, and the enlightenment and inspiration of His people.

The Right Reverend William Hockin
Bishop of Fredericton

The Dean's Welcome

Music is one of God's great gifts to his world, and good music is a natural part of Cathedral life. In thanksgiving for this gift, and in celebration of this Cathedral's 150th anniversary of its consecration, I welcome all who are here this evening, audience and musicians alike, to Christ Church Cathedral for this very special concert. Enjoy!

The Very Reverend Keith Joyce
Dean of Fredericton and Priest of Christ Church Cathedral

The Occasion

The early nineteenth century was a time of controversy and renewal in the Anglican Church. Bishop John Medley, who arrived in New Brunswick in 1845, was firmly in the camp of those who sought renewal through a commitment to the Anglican traditions of liturgy, architecture, and music. Not only did he erect the first Gothic Revival Cathedral in North America, but he ensured the maintenance of the tradition by conducting his own choir and even writing his own music. In every sense, Christ Church Cathedral is his legacy: a site to engender awe, and a fitting context for the best in word, art, and music. It was consecrated 150 years ago today.

The Works

O Canada, arr. Godfrey Ridout

Godfrey Ridout's (1918-1984) famous arrangement is a staple at grand occasions. Like a number of the works on the program tonight, it is often performed with only organ and choir. The opportunity to perform and to hear it in all its original glory is a rare one.

I was Glad, Hubert Parry

Parry's monumental setting was written for the coronation of Edward VII in 1902 and has been performed at all of the coronations since then. Also often performed with only organ, the work's full orchestral version highlights the instrumental fanfare and introduction, sometimes called "one of the most arresting in the English choral repertoire."

Zadok the Priest, George Frideric Handel

Like I was Glad, Zadok was written for a royal coronation, that of George II, in 1727 -- and, also like it, has been performed at every coronation since. Zadok the Priest anointed the young king David with the horn of oil from the tent of the Tabernacle of the Arc of the Covenant. The career of King David was often used to compliment British monarchs, and the role of Zadok was often compared to the Archbishop of Canterbury. The dramatic, tense opening of Handel's piece has often been compared to Beethoven in the way it uses simple means to create expectation and suspense before the entry of the choir. Written for performance in the vast Westminster Abbey, it is direct and powerful.

Academic Festival Overture, Johannes Brahms

In 1879 Brahms was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Breslau, and composed the Academic Festival Overture in celebration of the occasion. To everyone's surprise, it was a lighthearted medley of student drinking songs. The finale is based on the song Gaudeamus Igitur ("Come, let us rejoice, scholar"), which at the time served as nearly a universal alma mater for academics everywhere. It is still often played at graduations.

-- Intermission --

Symphony No. 1 for Organ and Orchestra, Alexandre Guilmant

In his lifetime Guilmant was something of a "pop star," making frequent and successful tours abroad as one of the first virtuosos on the newly expanded "romantic" organ. In England, for example, his concerts often attracted audiences of over 10,000. His tours of North America were equally popular, and led to the establishment of the Guilmant Organ School in New York, which survived until 1970. Although not much of his music is often played today, it remains exciting, evoking Widor and Gounod. At the time there was something of a vogue, especially in France, for "organ symphonies," some of which, like Widor's, used the organ as a solo substitute for the entire orchestra. Guilmant called such works "organ sonatas," and only when he expanded to include an entire orchestra did he call his work a "symphony." This work, written around the same time as the Cathedral's Casavant organ was built, is designed to use the broad, rich capabilities of the "king of instruments," while still allowing it to be part of the orchestra. The symphony is in three movements: Introduction and Allegro, Pastorale, and Finale.

The Singers

The choir represents a nondenominational coming together of voices from the Cathedral choir, from other churches in the city and the Fredericton Choral Society, and from as far as Nova Scotia. All of the choristers have given generously of their time in preparing for this evening of celebration.

Sopranos:
Betty Bamford
Justine Blizzard
Madaline Boutilier
Carol Brander
Sabine Campbell
Ellen Capon
Alice Clarke
Robyn Cumming
Lee Marie Dugas
Kathy Edwards
Jean Embleton
Alexis Ervin
Patricia Evans
Margaret Formby
Stephanie Gillis
Anne Hagerman
Marje Harrison
Julie Haynes
Florence Joy
Carolyn Kierstead
Heather Kierstead
Marilyn Lewell
Jill MacDonald
Helen Mann
Gwen McConnell
Alice Meokena
Heather Noseworthy
Heather Perritt
Anne Poirier
Carol Ray
Mary Rogers
Anne Rutter
Rhiannon Stevenson
Rollande Valdron
Debra West

Altos:
Margaret Burbidge
Stephanie Burgoyne
Francis Campbell
Barb Clogg-Wright
Pam Cousens
Rita Cyr-Bonga
Sharon Day
Pat Drummond
Jo-Ann Fellows
Norma Ferguson
Dorothy Frazier
Sandy Gereau
Joan Gunter
Joyce Harris
Anne Hunt
Johanne Jones
Judi Keay
Arlene Landry
Carol Mercer
Elaine Mercer
Carolyn Mills
Bobbi Milner
Ruth Morrison
Jayne Nicki
Carolyn Nielsen
Lolita Smith
Jean Taylor
Sarah Taylor
Lynn Walsworth
Maureen Yeats

Tenors:
Henry Cowan
Carl Ericson
Brian Ferguson
Jim Myles
Peter Pearce
Terry Pond
Gerry Pot
Roger Smith
Bill Turney
Peter Waterhouse
Hank Williams

Basses:
John Ball
Kevin Beattie
Allen Bentley
Michael Blizzard
Gerry Carty
Paul Cormier
Pat Daley
Jack Formby
Bob Jones
Michael Marquart
Jim McKenna
Bruce Noble
Jack Patterson
Chris Smith
George Strunz
Robert Taylor
Don Tompkins

The Players

The orchestra is made up of members of The Fredericton Chamber Players, which was founded in 1975, augmented for the larger orchestration of the works being performed by including additional strings and expanded brass sections. Members travel from as far away as Maine, central New Brunswick and the Saint John area.

1st Violin:
Ron MacDonald, Concertmaster
Ali Johnson
Hok Kwan
Iain MacDonald
David Nielsen
Sephora Tang
Hrvoje Tisler

2nd Violin:
Sabina Horton
Beth Ogden
Sarah Park
Elsa Patterson
Rose Savidge
Aida Tisler

Viola:
Chris Buckley
Meaghan MacDonald
Hannah Park
Sylbie Roy

Cello:
Sonja Adams
Suzanne Burley
Laura Hatfield
Sharon Pond

Bass:
Andrew Miller
Charles Nason

Flute:
David Perritt
Dianne Roxborough Brown
Kelly Waterhouse

Piccolo
Kelly Waterhouse

Oboe:
Karen Arnold
Katherine Riding

Clarinet:
Anna Clarke
Douglas Vipond

Bassoon:
Sam Arnold
Yvonne Kershaw

Horn:
Erin Arnold
Olivia Brayley
Barbara Cooper
Lucy Hughes

Trumpet:
Charles Follini
Adam Gay
Sharon Pond

Trombone:
Ernest Brown
Glen Clarke
Dan Rearick

Tuba:
Richard Riding

Tympani:
Siobhan Hanratty

Organ:
Paul Murray

Michael Capon

Organist and Choirmaster at Christ Church Cathedral since 1997, Michael Capon also directs the Fredericton Choral Society (frequently collaborating with the Fredericton Chamber Players), has directed music for productions by the Fredericton Musical Theatre Company, Theatre New Brunswick's Musical Theatre School, and Fredericton High School, teaches music theory and organ students, has guest-conducted for the Bel Canto chamber choir, and has adjudicated for the Fredericton Music Festival.

Winner of first prize in the Quebec-wide John Robb Organ Competition and second prize in the Royal Canadian College of Organists' National Organ Playing Competition, Capon has recorded for CBC Radio and Vision TV. He often writes original liturgical and other music for performance by the Cathedral Choir.

David Adams

With many scholarships and first prizes to his credit, Adams has gained critical acclaim as a soloist and conductor, and as a chamber and orchestral musician. In New Brunswick he has been Artist in Residence at the University of New Brunswick Saint John, performing Principal Violin with the Saint John String Quartet and Concert Master for Symphony New Brunswick, PEI Symphony and the Arcady Music Festival Orchestra in Maine, USA. Mr. Adams is also the Music Director and Conductor for the Fredericton Chamber Players.

Often heard on regional and national CBC radio programs and Maine Public Radio as a chamber musician, Adams' recordings include two well received CDs with the Saint John String Quartet. Along with his active performing schedule in New Brunswick he frequently tours throughout the Maritimes, Central Canada, and represents Canada in the United States and abroad in Japan, China and Hong Kong.

The Memorials

In memory of my parents, Robert & Muriel Baird
Heather Perritt

In memory of Louise Burbidge

In memory of Harold Craig & Sonya Lovely
Juanita C. Fowler

In memory of Marie Perritt
Douglas & Pamela Baird
Roger & Viva Baird
Gerry & Kim Boucher
Bill & Anne Fairlie
Tom & Lorraine Hickey
Clifford & Barbara Marks
Mary McMulkin
David & Carolyn Nielsen
John & Anne Rutter
Rhiannon Stevenson

In memory of Alan Murray Sinclair, Q.C.
The family

In memory of Colan Stevenson
Rhiannon Stevenson

In memory of Betty Swanton
The family

In memory of Gerald Ward
Christ Church Cathedral Choir

In memory of Mr. and Mrs. R. T. Woollard
Keith and Elinor Joyce
 

The Supporters

This event could not occur without the support of many people, in raising funds, organizing, supporting, and contributing time and imagination. Among those who supported this concert are:

Don Bossé
Jeff Hart
Richard Hornsby
Russ Hunt
William and Margaret Jones
Dalton London
Carol Maurey
Carolyn Nielsen
Paul Murray
John Rutter
Donald and Ruth Smillie
Donna and Sterling Wallace

Accesstec, Inc.
The City of Fredericton in support of the Chamber Players
Fredericton High School
Pilgrim House Christian Retreat
UNB Music Department
Deep River Symphony Orchestra
Prince Edward Island Symphony Orchestra
New Brunswick Choral Federation
Nova Scotia Choral federation
Amadeus Choir

The Workers

An event such as this always brings out the best in volunteers, working to make sure all the practical matters are organized to make things run so smoothly they're never noticed. Among the people who've helped tonight are:

Percy Bamford
Jeremy Biden
Nathan Cutler
Eric Hadley
Tim Ross
John Rutter
Jamie Yeamans

The Tradition

It is no accident that a Gothic Cathedral should be a wonderful venue for music, and particularly so with a Cathedral built by Bishop John Medley. Medley was not only the major force behind the creation of the first Gothic revival Cathedral built since the middle ages, he was also a dedicated musician, directing and conducting the choir at the Cathedral for over forty years, and composing original liturgical music.

His vision in arranging for the design of the Cathedral - based on St. Mary's in Snettisham, England, adapted to New Brunswick and the character of a Cathedral by Frank Wills - was to establish in New Brunswick a truly Anglican tradition of worship and governance, reinvigorating the ancient traditions of liturgy, music, and architecture which many thought had been diluted over the preceding century. An important role of the Cathedral building in the middle ages and Renaissance had been to serve as the people's main access to art and music, and Bishop Medley's church was to continue that mission as well as serving as a centre for the diocese, setting the tone for its service.

That tradition has continued for a century and a half. Cathedral musicians - organists, choirmasters, choir members - have consistently supplied a model of liturgical and public music making, and Medley's Cathedral has housed them all in its resonant, receptive, and supportive confines, from Medley himself through Alexander Ewing (composer of the well-known hymn, "Jerusalem the Golden"), to Michael Capon today.

This tradition survived the destructive fire of 1911, which led to the rebuilding of the Cathedral's tower, the replacement of the organ, and the establishment of a choir room under the Cathedral. The new organ, designed and built by the Casavant organization and dedicated within two years of the fire, represents one of the achievements underlying that firm's world-wide reputation. With extensive refurbishing in 1957 and 1981, it continues to offer support both for congregational worship and for more vibrant, dynamic and demanding works for solo organ and for public concerts.

For a hundred and fifty years, the grey stone of Christ Church Cathedral has echoed to the sound of the finest in music. This anniversary concert is dedicated to the continuation of that tradition.

The Program

O Canada
arr. Godfry Ridout
Choir and orchestra
Conductor: Michael Capon

I was Glad
Hubert Parry
Choir and orchestra
Conductor: Michael Capon

Zadok the Priest
George Frideric Handel
Choir and orchestra
Conductor: Michael Capon

Academic Festival Overture
Johannes Brahms
Orchestra
Conductor: David Adams

-- intermission --

Symphony No. 1 for Organ and Orchestra
Alexandre Guilmant
Orchestra and organ
Organ soloist: Michael Capon
Conductor: David Adams