St Margaret’s (Westminster) Choir
Posted on Facebook by a friend of the Editor’s recently:
Tonight, amid the gloom of Australia's Melbourne Lockdown2, comes
more sad news - from London, from the church in which Marie-Alice
and I were married 46 years ago: The magnificent choir of St. Margaret's
Westminster has been abolished, it was announced yesterday.
In the 1960's as a choral teenager, I rejoiced in the music under direction
of Organist and choirmaster Martin Neary. In the 1970's my father
was the St. Margaret's Treasurer. As a Parish Councillor he was part of
a team of 3 adjudicators who chose Richard Hickox (later Sir Richard)
as choirmaster and organist to replace Neary when he left for Winchester
Cathedral.
It was Richard's adjunct choral group, the St. Margaret's Singers, along
with a scratch orchestra, that I had the privilege of recording in 1972
(?), with Robert Tear as tenor in Bach's St. John Passion at St. John's
Smith Square. That recording launched Hickox's career at the BBC. (At
the time of his death in 2008 he was contracted as principal conductor
of Opera Australia.) In 1974 we were married to the singing of that
wonderful choir in works by Duruflé, Messaien and exited to Hickox's
fantastic playing of the Widor organ symphony.
The choir has been in place for hundreds of years. In 3 months COVID
has destroyed a superb musical tradition, as it has for thousands of
musicians of all genres everywhere. Tomorrow, if you can, find a local
musician, music group, choir or orchestra and give generously. Music
IS the food of love; But it's the stuff of life that nourishes our souls. I
hope that when COVID is finally under control Music and the Arts overall
will get the support they have so sadly lacked in so much of the
English-speaking world to date, to start the rebuilding that Covid's dark
tentacles have silenced.
Thank you St. Margaret's Choir. So much joy; so much solace. Not forgotten.
St Margaret's, Westminster. Adieu!
Visit this YouTube channel to hear a BBC radio broadcast from 15 October
1967, with the choir of St Margaret’s Westminster, directed by
Martin Neary and accompanied by Richard Armstrong (assistant organist):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=VrQ9YVb_4oM&list=RDVrQ9YVb_4oM&start_radio=1&t=19
- John Swainston
St Margaret’s News 6 July 2020