[Ely Announce] Musical premieres for Ely 900

[Owen Spencer-Thomas]

Musical premieres celebrate Ely's 900 years 
 

Two pieces of sacred music have been performed for the first time to mark the nine hundredth anniversary of the Diocese of Ely.  Over four hundred singers were at Ely Cathedral this afternoon (Saturday 16 May) to give voice to a new anthem and new hymn at the annual Chorister Awards.    

The anthem, I am with you always, was composed and conducted by John Rutter, one of the most successful choral composers of his generation.  The words are taken from the Gospels of St Matthew and St John.   

The words of the hymn, Saints of Ely, raise your voices, were written by David Yeandle, Professor of German historical linguistics at King's College London, and Organist of All Saints' Church, St Ives.  Canon David Pritchard, Vice Dean of the Cathedral, composed the music.  The tune is called Precentor which is the office he held at the time it was written.  

Each year the annual Dean's and Bishop's Awards for choristers at the Ely Festival of Church Music attracts singers from across the diocese. 

Three churches were represented in this year's final awards.  Emily Reid from Cambridge St. John the Evangelist won the Bishop's Silver Award.   Edward Ball, Esther Leonard, Sophie Thompson and Florence Zolman, also from St John's, were among the ten recipients of the Dean's Award. The other award winning choristers are Hannah Butson, Heidi Cadman, Reuben Cadman, Abigail Cunningham, and Hannah Palmer, all from Ramsey St Thomas a Becket, and Jessica Stuttard from Whittlesey St Andrew. 

 

  

For more details and information: 

Canon Owen Spencer-Thomas, MBE  

Bishop's Press Officer                                                          

52 Windsor Road

Cambridge

CB4 3JN

 

Phone:  01223 358448         

Mobile: 07801 492151

email: owenst at btinternet.com