Download - INFORMATION FOR VISITING CHOIRS
INFORMATION
FOR VISITING
CHOIRS
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Contents
Section Page
Welcome 3
A Schedule of Services and Services Information 4
B Rehearsals 5
C Music 6-7
D Psalms and Hymns 8-9
E Guidelines for Organists 10
F Orders of Service 11-13
G Additional Information 14-16
H Useful Contact Details 17
Appendix 1: Music List – Notes on house style 18
Appendix 2: Gospel Acclamations and Responses 19-20
Appendix 3: Additional Eucharistic Responses 21-23
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Welcome to Wells Cathedral
We are delighted that you have arranged to bring your choir to sing at Wells Cathedral!
Visiting choirs play a valuable part in the life of the Cathedral, enabling our choral tradition
and musical ministry to continue when Wells Cathedral Choir is on vacation.
We look forward to welcoming you to the Cathedral and hope that you enjoy singing
here, as well as finding time to enjoy what Wells and the surrounding area have to offer.
This booklet is intended to be a complete guide to singing at Wells Cathedral, so please
read it carefully and ensure that your director, organist, administrator, and anyone else
involved in your planning has a copy. If you have any further questions, please do not
hesitate to get in touch.
When you first arrive at the Cathedral please report to one of the duty Virgers, aiming
to arrive in plenty of time. The Virgers’ Vestry can be found on the North Nave aisle, just
before the North Transept. The Virgers will show you to the Song School, where you
can rehearse and store bags and robes. If you are able to let the Virgers know in advance
what time you expect to arrive, that would be very helpful.
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SECTION A
Schedule of Services and Service Information
Weekly schedule of sung services
Monday to Saturday 5.15pm Evensong (BCP)
Sunday 9.45am Cathedral Eucharist (CW)
11.30am Matins (BCP)
3.00pm Evensong (BCP)
All services take place in the Quire with the exception of the Sunday Cathedral Eucharist,
which is held in the Nave. Choirs should be robed and lined up in the South Transept no
less than five minutes before each service.
Size of your choir
Our choir stalls can comfortably accommodate up to 32 singers but can be stretched to
a maximum of 50 if necessary. If you will be bringing more than 32 singers, please let us
know in advance so arrangements can be made to extend the stalls.
Processions
Please see the information within the Rehearsals section for details of procession
rehearsals, and the information within the Orders of Service section as regards timings. The
choir processes in silence during Lent.
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SECTION B Rehearsals
Rehearsal times
These rehearsal times are automatically booked in the Cathedral for visiting choirs:
Monday to Saturday 4.00pm – 5.00pm (in the Quire)
Sunday 9.00am – 9.30am (in the Nave)
2.00pm – 2.30pm (in the Quire)
Unfortunately, we are not able to offer the opportunity for visiting choirs to rehearse in
the Cathedral in the evening.
Rehearsal space
Chorister Practice Room East in the Song School may be used for rehearsals during
Cathedral opening hours on the days on which you are singing services. When using the
Song School, please do not move the choir furniture or remove anything from the
cupboards.
Please do not eat or drink in either the Cathedral or Song School, except for water. In
the Song School, water can be taken from the fountain - please ask a Virger if there is a
shortage of paper cone cups. If members of your choir find it necessary, they may have a
bottle of water in the Cathedral stalls with them.
Processions
All visiting choirs are required to rehearse their processions with one of the duty Virgers
before their first service – this will usually be at 3.45pm. Please bear this in mind when
planning rehearsals and your arrival at the Cathedral. Sunday processions will be
rehearsed on Saturday after Evensong or, if there is a concert on the Saturday night, on
Sunday morning.
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SECTION C
Music
Repertoire
Please do not feel that singing in the Cathedral demands a challenging repertoire. It is
often more effective and fulfilling to perform relatively modest music which is well-known
to the singers. The workload can easily be reduced by performing only one or two sets
of responses. Some choirs choose to sing one or more services with only the front or
back row of the choir.
If you wish to perform a work not from the standard repertoire (for example a piece by
a member of your choir or its director), we ask that you submit a copy of the work for
approval, preferably before you send your completed music list.
Music List submission
Please submit your music list by the relevant deadline (see the table below) using the
provided forms, for approval by the Assistant Organist. Please refer carefully to the notes
in Appendix 1 when filling in the form and check the Lectionary for feast days so your
music is appropriate. It is important to submit your form by no later than the deadline
date noted, as visiting choir music is the start point in the drafting of the Cathedral’s
Services and Music List. Also, we may need to ask you to make changes to the list if there
is a clash, and if you submit in good time it will be less likely that we need to ask you for
alterations, particularly in the summer when we have many visiting choirs. The general
rule is that we do not have any anthem, mass setting, or canticle setting more than once
a month.
Music List deadlines
Date of Visit Deadline
January 1 November
February 1 December
March 1 January
April 1 February
May 1 March
June 1 April
July 1 May
August 1 May
September 1 June
October 1 July
November 1 September
December 1 October
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Anthems
On arrival, please hand a complete set of all anthems to the Virgers, for the Canon in
Residence. And please remember to collect them again before you leave!
Cantor and Collects
Please bring a Cantor (ordained or lay) to sing the responses.
Three collects are usually sung at Matins and Evensong, except in Advent and Lent when
the collect for Advent Sunday is sung as the second of four collects during Advent, and
the collect for Ash Wednesday is sung as the second of four collects during Lent.
On Lesser Festivals, as indicated on the Music and Services List, the Traditional Collect
for the Lesser Festival is sung as the first of just three collects.
The collect at Evensong on a Saturday is that which is set for the next day, Sunday, unless
the Saturday is a feast day.
The Virgers will provide a copy of the booklet containing the required collect, which can
also be supplied in advance by the Liturgy Assistant upon request. Please ask a Virger to
assist you in finding the Collect for the Day if you are unclear, and make sure that your
Cantor sings the Morning Prayer Collects at Matins.
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SECTION D
Psalms and Hymns
Psalms
Portions of the psalms for the day are sung at Matins and Evensong (including Sundays),
as in the following list. We will let you know any proper psalms at the same time as the
hymns. The Gloria Patri is sung after each psalm. Psalms are sung either to Plainsong or
Anglican Chant to the text in the Book of Common Prayer (1662). The usual cuts are
made as marked in most psalters.
Matins
Day Psalms Day Psalms Day Psalms
1 1 12 63 22 107. 1-15
2 11 13 68. 1-10 23 110
3 15 14 72 24 116, 117
4 20 15 75 25 119. 33-48
5 24 16 81 26 119. 105-128
6 30 17 87 27 121
7 36 18 92 28 133, 134
8 39 19 95 29 140
9 46 20 103 30 145
10 50. 1-15 21 105. 1-15 31 146
11 56
Evensong
Day Psalms Day Psalms Day Psalms
1 8 12 65 22 108
2 14 13 69. 1-12 23 114
3 18. 1-19 14 73. 1-14 24 119. 1-16
4 22. 1-18 15 78. 1-17 25 119. 73-88
5 29 16 82 26 119. 145-160
6 32 17 89. 1-19 27 126, 127
7 37. 1-20 18 93 28 137, 138
8 42, 43 19 98, 99 29 142
9 47 20 104. 1-23 30 147, 148
10 53, 54 21 106. 1-12 31 149, 150
11 60, 61
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Hymns
Hymn numbers will usually be sent to you around four weeks before your visit, including
instructions of which tune to use (where appropriate). These instructions must be
followed. If it is not clear, it is crucial that you ask us which tune to use. The Cathedral
uses the New English Hymnal. There may be a small number in the stalls in the Quire,
but it is best if you provide your own copies of the hymns. Amens are sung where printed
in the hymnal.
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SECTION E
Guidelines for Organists
Practice
On weekdays when your choir is singing, the Cathedral Organ is booked automatically
for you from 8.35am until 10.00am (until 9.20am on Wednesdays) and from 4.00pm.
Practice at other times must be near silent and booked in advance of your visit.
Before starting to play please read the instructions on the console carefully, especially
noting the piston allocation, hourly prayers, and volume. No food or drink may be
consumed in the organ loft.
Voluntaries
The Cathedral’s organists tend to play restrained voluntaries on ordinary weekdays,
reserving the loudest sounds for weekends and feast days.
Voluntaries should not be unreasonably long – in particular the voluntary after the Sunday
Eucharist must take no more than four minutes to allow for preparations for Matins to
take place.
We encourage visiting organists to play a pre-service voluntary before extemporising,
although the choir processes in silence during Lent.
If you are playing during Advent or Lent, please ensure that your voluntaries are
appropriate to these penitential times of the year. During Lent, there are no voluntaries
except on Saturdays, Sundays, and festivals and their eves.
The Chamber Organ
If you wish to use the chamber organ in the Quire, please request this in advance.
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SECTION F
Orders of Service
Order of Daily Evensong
• Responses
• Welcome
• Psalm(s) (announced)
• Old Testament reading
• Office Hymn (on Saturdays and at Festal Evensongs only)
• Magnificat
• New Testament reading
• Nunc Dimittis
• Apostles’ Creed
• Lesser Litany, Lord’s Prayer, Responses, and Collects
• Anthem (announced)
• Prayers
• Hymn (Saturdays only)
• Blessing (Saturdays only)
• Organ Voluntary
Order of Festal Eucharist
• Processional Hymn (unannounced; organ cover may be needed if the altar is still
being censed)
• The Greeting, Introduction, Confession, and Absolution
• Gloria in excelsis
• Collect for the day
• Old or New Testament Reading
• Alleluias and Gospel (immediately after the reading; see Appendix 2)
• Organ improvisation (this should stop when the Gospel procession has returned)
• There may be a Homily on certain Feast Days (check the Order of Service)
• Intercessions
• Peace
• Offertory Hymn (unannounced; organ cover may be needed if the altar is still being
censed)
• Eucharistic Prayer, including Sanctus and Benedictus (although if the Benedictus is
particularly long it may be cut - this must be checked at the time the Music List is
submitted), during which the choir and congregation sing the acclamation in the
middle of the Eucharistic Prayer and either Blessing and Glory… or the Great
Amen at the end depending on the Eucharistic Prayer used (check in order of
service): see Appendix 3
• Lord’s Prayer, the Breaking of the Bread, and the Invitation to Communion
• The organist improvises softly from after the Invitation to Communion until the
choir is ready to sing the Agnus Dei
• Communion (choir receives first – please follow the instructions of the Virgers)
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• Agnus Dei and Communion Motet (during the distribution). If the Administration
of Communion has finished by the time the choir finishes singing the Agnus Dei,
then the Communion Motet is omitted
• Prayer after Communion, Blessing, and Dismissal
• Organ Voluntary
Order of Sunday Eucharist
The Virgers will provide your choir and organist with copies of the weekly order of service, which
includes instructions on standing and sitting
• From 9.35am, organ music
• At approximately 9.42am there are notices – please use the pulpit camera to judge
when to stop playing
• Processional Hymn (organ cover is needed when the procession has not finished
at the end of the Hymn)
• The Greeting, Introduction, and Prayer of Preparation
• Confession and Absolution
• Gloria in excelsis
• Collect for the day
• Old or New Testament Reading
• Gradual Hymn (unannounced)
• Alleluias and Gospel (immediately after the end of the hymn; see Appendix 2)
• Organ improvisation (this should stop when the Gospel procession has returned)
• Sermon
• Statement of Faith
• Intercessions (the altar party will remain standing; the choir sit or kneel)
• Peace
• Offertory Hymn (unannounced; organ cover is often needed if the collection is not
complete)
• Eucharistic Prayer, including Sanctus and Benedictus (although if the Benedictus is
particularly long it may be cut - this must be checked at the time the Music List is
submitted), during which the choir and congregation sing the acclamation in the
middle of the Eucharistic Prayer and either Blessing and Glory… or the Great
Amen at the end depending on the Eucharistic Prayer used (check in order of
service): see Appendix 3
• Lord’s Prayer, the Breaking of the Bread and the Invitation to Communion
• The organist improvises softly from after the Invitation to Communion until the
choir is ready to sing the Agnus Dei
• Communion (choir receives first – please follow the instructions of the Virgers)
• Agnus Dei and Communion Motet (during the distribution). If the Administration
of Communion has finished by the time the choir finishes singing the Agnus Dei,
then the Communion Motet is omitted
• Prayer after Communion
• Final Hymn (unannounced) during which the choir process behind the Cross and
Lights about half-way down the Nave; when the Cross and Lights turn to face the
altar the choir do likewise
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• Blessing and Dismissal, at the end of which the choir face west and the procession
moves back to the South Transept during the
• Organ Voluntary
Differences in Advent and Lent
• Kyrie eleison rather than Gloria in excelsis
• A different Gospel Response is sung in Lent – you will be sent this separately
Order of Sunday Matins
• There is no pre-service voluntary; the organist should just improvise for the procession
• Responses
• Welcome
• Hymn (announced)
• Psalm(s) (announced) (Proper Psalms on Feast Days)
• Old Testament reading
• Te Deum (Benedicite in Advent and Lent)
• New Testament reading
• Jubilate (Benedictus in Advent and Lent; occasionally at other times)
• Apostles’ Creed
• Lesser Litany, Lord’s Prayer, Responses and Collects
• Anthem (announced)
• Prayers
• Hymn (announced)
• Blessing
• Voluntary
Order of Sunday Evensong
• Responses
• Psalm(s) (announced) (Proper Psalms at Festal Evensongs)
• Old Testament reading
• Magnificat
• New Testament reading
• Nunc Dimittis
• Apostles’ Creed
• Lesser Litany, Lord’s Prayer, Responses and Collects
• Anthem (announced)
• Prayers
• Hymn
• Sermon
• Hymn
• Blessing
• Voluntary
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SECTION G
Additional Information
Accommodation
In summer weeks, accommodation is usually available at Wells Cathedral School. The
boarding houses are a range of beautiful medieval and 18th century houses. mostly set
within their own gardens. They are adjacent to the main school campus and very
convenient for Wells Cathedral. Bedrooms are a combination of twin rooms and small
dormitories. There is a lounge area and a kitchen which guests are free to use. Toilets
and showers are mainly shared, although there are a small number of en-suites. Bed linen
and towels are provided during your stay. The dining hall is on the main campus and is
where breakfast and all other meals are served. Please contact Kay Pennycott on 01749
834298 or via [email protected] for further details.
There is a list of further accommodation in Wells available on the Tourist Information
website – wellssomerset.com, or contact Melanie Lawlor for a list of suggestions.
Cathedral Café
The Cathedral’s café is at the West End of the Cathedral, above the shop, and is open
Monday to Saturday from 11.00am-3.00pm, and from 11.45am-3.00pm on Sundays and
Bank Holidays. Please get in touch with the Deputy Catering Manager if you wish to
arrange a meal or other event.
All members of visiting choirs are entitled to 10% discount in the café whilst singing with
us. Discount vouchers are needed for this offer, so please contact the Deputy Catering
Manager in advance of your visit to let them know how many people there are in your
choir, and vouchers will be printed ready for collection from the café on the first day of
your visit.
Day-off
If your choir is singing for a full week and you would like a day-off, we would suggest the
Thursday. Please speak with Melanie Lawlor to arrange this.
Lunchtime concerts
Occasionally a visiting choir will wish to perform an informal lunchtime concert. We
would be delighted to accommodate your request – please contact Matthew Minter via
[email protected] for more details.
Parking
Unfortunately, the Cathedral is unable to offer any parking although unloading directly
outside the West Front of the Cathedral is possible by prior arrangement, via St Andrew
Street. There are several well-signposted public car parks in Wells.
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Recording
Discreet audio recording is permitted only with the advance written permission of the
Chapter, for which you need to apply at least four weeks in advance. Please e-mail your
request to Melanie Lawlor, who will liaise with the relevant Chapter member(s). If granted
permission, arrangements should be made with the duty Virger when you arrive. Audio
recordings made must be for non-commercial use only. Photography and video recording
are not permitted during services.
Risk Assessments
We will send to you copies of our visiting choir and organ loft risk assessments. Please
share these with the relevant members of your choir.
Robing
Visiting choirs robe in Chorister Practice Room East. There are hooks on the wall but
you will need to bring your own hangers. Please do not disturb the Cathedral Choir’s
robes or music. Robed choirs should wear their cassocks (not surplices) for all rehearsals
in the stalls. Unrobed choirs are expected to wear formal clothes for rehearsals as well
as services. Shoes should be flat and quiet.
Safeguarding
Wells Cathedral is committed to the safeguarding of all its visitors, volunteers, and staff.
Please carefully read and complete the Safeguarding Form provided and return it no fewer
than two weeks before your visit. If this form is not completed, then your choir will not
be allowed to sing at Wells Cathedral. All choirs are required to submit the form
regardless of whether they have under-18s singing with them.
The Bishop’s Palace
The Palace Trust have very kindly agreed that visiting choirs singing at Wells Cathedral
can visit The Bishop’s Palace at half-price. If you wish to take advantage of this offer, please
contact Moira Anderson in advance via [email protected] so she can
ensure the staff at the gate know to give the discount.
Tours of the Cathedral
We are pleased to offer your choir their own ground level tour of the Cathedral. Please
contact the Visitor Services Team at least two weeks in advance. Members of your choir
are also welcome to join the regular daily tours of the Cathedral floor, which are open
to any visiting members of the public.
Additionally, tours of the Cathedral Library, with its collection of rare and ancient books
can be arranged. Again, a minimum of two weeks’ notice is required.
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It is vital that tours are booked ahead of your visit as volunteer guides need to be arranged
in advance, and the tours ned to be scheduled in with other activities in the Cathedral’s
diary.
Donations are welcome, but there will be no charge for visiting choirs for tours of the
ground level of the Cathedral or the Library.
If members of your choir would like to take part in a High Parts tour, for which there
would be a charge, please visit wellscathedral.org.uk/your-visit/tours/high-parts-tours.
Bookings for these are taken on-line.
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SECTION H
Useful Contact Details
PA to the Director of Music
Melanie Lawlor 01749 832204
Melanie is the first port of call for all enquiries related to visiting choirs
Liturgy Assistant
Jim Moretti 01749 832216
Head Virger
Simon Rose 01749 832206
The Virgers’ Vestry is located off the North Nave Aisle, near the North Transept
Wells Cathedral Catering
Marianne Carter, Deputy Catering Manager 01749 676543
Visitor Services Team 01749 671663
The Music Foundation
The Revd Canon Nicholas Jepson-Biddle, Precentor
Jeremy Cole, Director of Music
Alexander Hamilton, Assistant Director of Music
Wells Cathedral Music Office
Chain Gate
Cathedral Green
Wells
BA5 2UE
wellscathedral.org.uk
Wells Tourist Information Centre 01749 671770
wellssomerset.com
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Appendix 1 Music List – Notes on house style
Please read the following instructions carefully and follow them closely when filling in your
music list form. This will save you and us time! Please ensure that the capitalisation is
accurate when completing the forms.
Introits
Note that the majority of services do not have introits at Wells Cathedral. If you are in
any doubt, please check with us.
Responses
Please give only the composer’s name, not the title.
Canticles and mass settings
Unlike many other places, Wells Cathedral prints the title of the canticle setting on the
music list as it is printed on the title page of the score, for example:
Stanford Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in C
Leighton Second Service
Elgar Te Deum and Benedictus
Darke Communion Service in E
Byrd Mass for four voices
Palestrina Missa Aeterna Christi munera
Anthems and motets
The same instructions apply as for canticles. Please take care with pieces which are known
colloquially by other things, such as Greater Love, which on the music list should read (also
noting the capitalisation, for which you need to refer to the relevant place in the score):
Ireland Greater Love hath no man
Composers’ names
For clarity, please provide the full names of all composers along with their dates of birth
and death (if applicable).
Gospel Acclamations and Responses
If it will result in a stronger performance, please note that it is perfectly acceptable to sing
just the ‘Congregation’ line (in unison) in the Gospel Acclamations and Responses, and in
the Additional Eucharist Responses.
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Appendix 2
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Please note that if you are singing during Lent there are different Gospel Responses.
We will send these separately.
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Appendix 3
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