The Sound of Stillness: Music for Lent

“During Lent, music is not an embellishment of worship, but rather a means to help you to focus.”

As we enter the period of Lent and prepare for the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ, we took a moment to sit down with Revd Ellie Launders-Brown, the Succentor here at York Minster, to find out more about music during this special time of year.

What is the significance of the music we hear during Lent?

“Music during Lent is completely different to other seasons in the year. Lent is a time of preparation and reflection, and the music that accompanies our worship mirrors these themes. For the pilgrimage that is Lent, we are led by the music that we hear, and it helps us to understand the themes of the season. The music we hear is atmospheric, contemplative and often monastic sounding, helping to build expectation as we move towards Good Friday and Easter Sunday.”

What pieces of music are you most looking forward to?

“There are two things that I love about Lent and look forward to.

“The first one is specific to York Minster and that is the performance of Messiah. Handel’s Messiah is often associated with Christmas, but it was actually composed for the Lenten period and was first performed during this time. Here at York Minster, we honour Handel’s intention, and it has now become one of the most beloved traditions in the York Minster calendar that I always look forward to.

“The second thing I look forward to during Lent is the Compline services. Compline is one of my favourite services, because it takes place at night-time, which creates such a gentle feeling of stillness. It is so simple yet intertwined with classic Renaissance-style music from composers such as Tallis, Byrd and Victoria and is a spiritual service that roots us in our connection to Christ.”

Why is the music of Lent so important?

“Music invites you into the atmosphere of what the season is about. For Lent, a contemplative, reflective and spiritual time when we prepare for the trials of Jesus, the music is more stripped back and simple; it lacks the big sounds that you might associate with Advent and Christmas for instance. The Gospel narrative that is sung is beautiful and invites us to prepare for the sufferings of Christ. During Lent, music is not an embellishment of worship, but rather a means to help you focus. It is a time when we slow down the pace and encourage stillness in both heart and mind.”

What can people expect from worshipping at York Minster at this time?

“Lent invites us to step away from the commercialisation of our secular lives into quiet and contemplative worship. By observing Lent, you can enjoy the celebrations of Easter in a more special way, for you have walked alongside Christ in his suffering. Observing Lent helps us to understand that death and darkness have no hold over us and we can overcome them.

“Lent draws us together in communal prayer and worship. And we invite everyone to be a part of it this year at York Minster.”

You can find out more about our Lent and Easter services by visiting our What’s On Page.

Life as a York Minster chorister

York Minster has one of the UK’s leading cathedral choirs; its mastery of the English choral tradition is one of the cathedral’s crowning glories. Life as one of our choristers is busy and exciting with opportunities to take part in recordings, live TV and radio broadcasts, and international tours. The cathedral was among the first to introduce girl choristers, who share the singing equally with the boys at eight sung services each week during term time.

We spoke to Joy and Bertie about why children should join our choir (and whether Mr Sharpe’s jokes are actually funny!).

Rosalind, one of our youngest, yet longest serving, members of staff began her journey at York Minster as a chorister. She explains her relationship with the cathedral and why it remains such an important part of her life today.

Delivering December’s seasonal music

Advent and Christmas is a busy time for the York Minster choristers and wider music team.

Throughout the year the 20 boys and 20 girls, who range in age from seven to 13, spend an hour rehearsing before school and then alternate singing at four Evensong and four weekend services at the cathedral.

But add in two sell-out Carol Concerts, an orchestral performance of Handel’s Messiah, two hugely popular carol services and two choral performances on Christmas Day, and December becomes an exceptionally demanding time for the whole team.

Leading the seasonal programme is Robert Sharpe, who has been Director of Music at York Minster since 2008.

“It’s undoubtedly hard work, but the choristers seem to thrive on the challenge and the atmosphere in the cathedral during this amazing season,” he explained.

For Robert, bringing the whole musical programme for Advent and Christmas together is one of the highlights of the year.

“Evensong is always a highlight in its own right, particularly at this time of year when we’re doing some really interesting music.

“The performance of Handel’s Messiah is a very special occasion – it’s a great opportunity for the choristers to sing with an orchestra and internationally renowned soloists in the cathedral’s Nave with its wonderful acoustic. And the Christmas Carol Concerts with their focus on popular, seasonal music is always great fun for the choir to take part in.

“The really special occasion for me is when we get to Christmas Eve and the building is as full as we ever have it in the year for the Nine Lessons and Carols Service. The service opens with a solo chorister singing the first verse of Once in Royal David’s City – the chorister doesn’t know who they are until the moment just before when I point at them. It’s always quite a nerve-racking moment for me and for them but the idea behind it is that they don’t have time to get worried about it – it’s just “it’s you and off you go” – that’s quite a special moment.

“At the end of the service we process down the building and, with the place absolutely full, it’s a magical moment before the services of Christmas Day itself.”

All York Minster Advent and Christmas services are open to all to attend, with no booking required, but please arrive early as the main services are very popular. For full details visit our What’s On section.

The performance of Handel’s Messiah takes place on Saturday 7 December at 7pm and tickets are available online here, via 01904 557256 or on the door.

Dismantling the Grand Organ

Take a look behind the scenes as specialists remove one of the largest cathedral organs in the country for the first time in more than 100 years.

Since 1903, York Minster’s Grand Organ has been at the heart of daily worship at the cathedral. But this constant use combined with the heavy footfall in the Minster which throws up dirt and dust, and the building’s temperature changes and humidity, mean it is now in need of a major refurbishment to ensure its reliability into the next century.

The first stage in this two year, £2m project is to completely dismantle the organ, and during October 2018 this mammoth task is being carried out by a team of eight people from organ specialists Harrison and Harrison.

The team has been on site since 8 October and during the next three weeks will be carefully removing 5,379 pipes, which range in length from the size of a pencil to 10m long. This includes the 100 decorative case pipes which have been silent since the last major refurbishment in 1903 but will be returned to voice as part of the current project.

The case pipes date from the early 1830s and have a high lead content, meaning that the soft metal has bent and bowed in places under the weight of the pipes. Harrison and Harrison will reshape the pipes and line them with zinc to strengthen the structure, before graining and marbling specialists Robert Woodland and Son clean, repair and restore their decorative surfaces returning them to their original splendour.

Other work during the three week period includes removing the enormous organ console and lifting the blowers stored beneath the floor of the North Quire Aisle. The instrument will be transported to the team’s workshop in Durham for cleaning and repair works to be carried out, before work to reinstall the organ starts in spring 2020.

Learn more about the fiery origins of the organ under our Stories section, or to support the project see our donations pages.