CHORAL TRADITION:
Choir - Our choir welcomes new singers in all voices, to join their friendly & committed group. They sing at the 11am Solemn Mass on Sundays,
on Holy Days and at Choral Evening Prayer on the 3rd Sunday of the month.
Music ranges from Plainsong through Polyphony, to quality contemporary
music. They rehearse on Wednesday evenings. Basic sight-reading skills are
helpful but not essential. If you are open to developing your musical ability, vocal tuition forms part of rehearsals.
You don’t need to be a Catholic, there are already Christians of other denominations who are members.
They just ask you take on the ethos of what they do in leading music in worship.
If this interests you or someone you know, please speak to David after the
11am Mass or contact him via the parish office. Without parishioners & friends committing to this
valuable tradition it will disappear. Your choir needs YOU!
'Gaudete', The
Choir Association supports the choir and music in
the parish. New members very welcome.
Monthly Choral Evening Prayer - Usually 3rd Sunday, see newsletter for
dates.
Listen to Music
for the Triduum (an archive made for
listening during Covid-19 restrictions on singing)
THE ORGAN:
The
Organ in our Penzance church was built by Mr. George Tucker of the Octagon Organ Works, Plymouth at a cost
of £300, all of which had been contributed. It was inaugurated on
23rd of September 1884.
For information on the
organ's current specification see record D05160 in
the National Pipe Organ Register
Original
specification:
SWELL: Violin Diapason,
8ft; Lieblick Gedact, 8ft; Dulciana, 8ft; Vox Angelica, 8ft;
Gemshorn, 4ft; Dulcet Mixture, 2 ranks; Horn, 8ft; Oboe,
8ft.
GREAT: Principal, 8ft;
Salicional, 8ft; Open Diapason, 8ft; Hohl Flute, 4ft; Harmonic
Flute, 4ft; Fifthteenth, 2ft; Lieblick Bbonvoon, 16ft; Clarionet,
8ft.
PEDAL: Bourdon, 16ft; Sub
Bass, 16ft;
COUPLERS: Great to Pedal;
Swell to Pedal; Swell to Great Octave; Swell to Great
Unison.
COMPOSITION PEDALS: Two acting on Swell
and two acting on the Great.
later history: From
1884 we had not found any record of whose care the Organ was in or
what was done to it until a tuning book dating from 1956, was
found. From 1956 to 1974, the Organ was in the care of Hele and Co. of Plymouth. The Organ was then tuned four times a year. There
was an overhaul in about March 1967 and around then, a new
pedalboard and balanced Swell Pedal were fitted.
From
1975, the Organ was in the care of Lance Foy of Truro. It was
tuned about three times a year until 1980. The Organ was damaged during the Church
redecoration in 1982. In 1986 it was
cleaned and overhauled and made more accessible for tuning and
repairs, at a cost of £3000.
In 2010 the
Organ underwent a major restoration by David Gridley (full details given in
the CD mentioned below).
Some
photos are available via our Gallery
page.
'Tryptych',
a CD of organ recordings, played by Bramwell Bourne on the three mainland organs
of The Holy Family Parish churches, including 'St Joseph The Worker' in Hayle,
and also 'The Sacred Heart and St. Ia' in St. Ives **, is available price £10
in Penzance or from 'Gaudete', the Choir Association via the parish
office.
**
For information on the organ at St.
Ives, visit record
number N11274 at the National Pipe Organ Register
To be
continued.
Penzance Catholic Church website -
The Holy Family Parish > "music" < || sitemap
