The Musicians Benevolent Fund is working with national singing programme Sing Up, the Choir Schools' Association and Faber Music to spread the word about the 2011 Festival of Saint Cecilia anthem. As part of the Fund's 90th birthday celebration we are aiming to reach UK cathedrals, parish churches and faith schools, as well as organisations which support singing. The initiative was launched earlier in the year in Birmingham and the Fund is happy to help Sing Up's objective to place singing at the heart of every school child's life, and at the heart of the curriculum in the belief that singing can change lives and help build stronger communities.
The Festival of Saint Cecilia is the main event in the calendar of the Musicians Benevolent Fund and is a celebration of music and musicians. Held since 1946 as a tribute to The Patron Saint of Music, a highlight of the Festival each year is the bringing together of the choirs of Westminster Cathedral, St Paul's Cathedral and Westminster Abbey, to sing the premiere of an anthem specially commissioned by the Fund, with the support of RVW Trust. Fund trustee and composer Ronald Corp has set Psalm 150, Laudate Dominum, as this year's anthem. It has been written in several versions so that it is accessible to choirs of a wide variety of skills.
The full score is available to download on the Fund's website, as well as a version with only the unison line and piano accompaniment. For these materials, and to hear a recording of Laudate Dominum, please visit: www.helpmusicians.org.uk/anthem2011
A special version of the anthem will be premiered by the combined choirs of Westminster Cathedral, St Paul's Cathedral and Westminster Abbey at the Festival of Saint Cecilia at Westminster Cathedral on 23 November 2011.
As the Fund is 90 years old, supporters are helping us by hosting 90 events throughout the year, all around the country. Please let the Fund know if you plan to perform the anthem so that it can be included in the online events calendar: www.helpmusicians.org.uk/events
The Musicians Benevolent Fund is a unique [UK based] charity which provides essential help to musicians of all ages. The Fund supports music professionals throughout their working lives when a crisis such as an accident or illness can have a devastating impact, and in later life, with the challenges that growing older can bring. It also supports talented, financially needy young musicians to enable them to fully develop their creativity and musical potential, ensuring they enter the profession with the best prospects of success.
Posted: Mon 23rd May 2011