-----Original Message-----
From: Bernadette Forbester [mailto:b4b.singer@...]
Sent: 23 December 2005 12:30
To: Mike Forbester
Subject: 2006 and all that!

Late in 1995, during an ad hoc chat in the prison where they both worked (not as inmates!), the idea was formed between Fr Richard Aladics and Mike Forbester, to have a Traditional Latin mass, with music.  Little did they know what they were starting...

In June 1996, at Scarthingwell, near Tadcaster, gathered 25 singers and a complement of priests and servers for a missa cantata (sung Latin Mass), followed by lunch at a local hostelry, followed by Benediction back at the church.  We sang, among many items, Palestrina's Missa Papae Marcelli and Monteverdi's Ave Maris Stella. 

It was supposed to be a one-off occasion J, but as many of you know, we still have more invitations than we know what to do with and, despite the odd hiccough, we are as strong as ever. 

To celebrate our 10th anniversary, we are marking the year with three fantastic pieces of music (which Mike has already informed many of you about via e-mail); however, for those of you who haven't seen the e-mail, here's the menu:

25 March        North-East England              Haydn’s Missa Sancti Nicolai (SATB) + Bruckner motets

                        (poss Barnard Castle or Gateshead)

10 June          York Area       Palestrina’s Missa Papae Marcelli (SATTBB) + motets (Anniversary Mass)

4 Nov              Holy Souls, Scunthorpe     Duarte Lobo's Requiem à 8

[Date to be confirmed by Fr Cahill – so this could change]

Mike is taking care of co-ordinating the venues and orders of service and I am responsible for putting together the choirs and rehearsals for these occasions.  So ............ would you like to sing at these services!? 

We have no limitation on the size of the choir (other than having a sensible balance) and would love as many people as possible to come along and sing.  Obviously, my first priority is to get a choir for the March service and I would like a definite commitment by Sunday, 15 January, for this, since I would like rehearsals to take place from end Jan, if possible.  We need at least four good rehearsals for the Haydn.  If you don't know this piece (why not?!), I can give you the name of a great CD recording.  (If you would like to commit to [either or both of] the other two services at the same time, that would be great as I can build up a list.)

When people committed to the Carol Service (which was a lovely occasion), it was enormously helpful to know when people could/could not attend rehearsals, either regular times, or certain dates, and I would ask that people do the same this time.  It makes it all the more feasible that the whole choir rehearses together, and not just on the day of the service!

Unmissable as the above occasions undoubtedly will be, we intend also to have a party to celebrate.  This will take place on Saturday, 10 June, after our Mass that day.  It is likely to take place in York (we have a venue in mind), and we will be asking for a donation towards this, either financial or edible!  Information about this will be issued in due course. 

I look forward to being inundated with offers to sing! Replies please to b4b.singer@...

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all, and here's to the next 10 years! 

Bernadette 

ps Just to whet your appetite, we are planning to do the Frank Martin 8-part Mass in 2007!

Additional comments by Mike - cos I get to edit this before it goes out!

Many thanks to everyone who took part in yesterday evening’s Carol Service, singers, readers, providers of refreshments & above all, Fr Mark.

As well as the major Masses above, some of us will be singing for David O’Neill’s Wedding on 25^th February. Other services already confirmed [some for the Schola only] are:

23^rd July            Barnard Castle   Third Annual Founders Day Requiem [Gregorian Chant Requiem Mass]

October             Leeds or Doncaster. Second Annual Yorkshire Pan-Orthodox Service.

                        Not sure yet whether it will be a Divine Liturgy or Vespers.

December         St Mary’s Bishophill, York. Carol Service