As part of our Lenten journey, the Cathedral Choir will give a performance John Stainer’s ‘The Crucifixion’ together with our Girls’ Choir and Cambiata Boys’ Choir, taking place at St Patrick’s RC Church, Collyhurst, on Saturday 23 March at 4pm.
The performance will be conducted by our Cathedral Director of Music, Alex Patterson, and accompanied by Cathedral Organist, Anthony Hunt.
The piece was written by John Stainer in 1887 setting text by W J Sparrow Simpson and tells the Biblical narrative of the Passion and Crucifixion of Jesus with the story interspersed with choruses, solos and hymns giving some reflection on the narrative, in a similar format to the Passions of Johann Sebastian Bach.
A key element to any performance of Stainer’s The Crucifixion are the five hymns interspersed throughout the piece. Some of these are fairly well known in Christian hymnody, particularly ‘Cross of Jesus, Cross of Sorrow’ and ‘All for Jesus, All for Jesus’.
There will be an opportunity for members of the audience to practice these hymns prior to the performance with an informal congregational rehearsal at 3pm on Saturday 23 March, followed by some refreshments ahead of the main performance.
A poignant centrepiece of the work is the setting of words from John 3:16-17 – ‘God so loved the world’ which the Cathedral Choir will sing during the 11am Sung Mass in the Cathedral’s temporary church on Sunday 10 March.
Admission for this performance is free, with a retiring collection towards the work of the Cathedral Music Foundation.
