Music News December 2025 

The Choir enjoyed a trip to St Edmundsbury Cathedral at which they sang a beautiful setting of the text “If ye love me,” immortalised by Tallis. This version was written by the Leeds-based composer Philip Wilby.

For now, there’s an endless cycle of rehearsals. The Christmas Fair on the 29th November will see participation from all the music groups at the church. The brass ensemble will open the fair, followed by a sparkling Christmas medley on the piano, given by Oliver King. Jack will demonstrate his amazing progress on the organ, followed by the choral scholars who are also responsible for enlivening attendees with mulled wine and mince pies. The morning is due to finish with the combined forces of Joyful Noise, the Junior Choristers and Brownies, in a rousing rendition of well-known carols. The Junior Choristers will also be running a craft stall.

The Christmas season opens with the Advent Carol Service, starting in darkness as the Advent Antiphons by James MacMillan rang through the church. There are some notable organ voluntaries this month. After the Sunday morning service on the 14th December, we have Bach’s Toccata in D minor (known as the Dorian – not the one played endlessly on Classic FM) and on the 21st Buxtehude’s Passacaglia in D minor. The choir will sing at both services on the 21st and in the morning there will be a chance to hear the lovely setting of Adam Lay Ybounden by the former Director of Music at King’s, Boris Ord. In the evening it is the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, featuring many of the most popular congregational carols and John Gardner’s foot-tapping setting of “Tomorrow Shall be my Dancing Day,” On Christmas Eve at Midnight Mass, anyone feeling sleepy will be awoken by a fantastic voluntary: Garth Edmundson’s joyful toccata on “Vom Himmel Hoch.” Well- worth a listen!

The SMMA hope you have a wonderful Christmas and our thanks go out to Oli and Jeremy and all the musicians at St Mary’s, for all their hard-work and commitment in this, their busiest month.

Philip Sunderland

Photograph by Peter De Vile