CHOIR AND ORGAN
CHOIR
Choral music is a vital and valued part of the life of St Bride's. Our services involve the singing of a Mass setting every Sunday, together with motets that reflect the seasons of the Church's year. Hymns, psalms and various shorter liturgical items are also important parts of our services.
The choir is a friendly, dedicated and talented group of voluntary singers, together with up to six choral scholars. Singers come from a range of backgrounds and are drawn together by a love of singing sacred music in its liturgical context.
What do we sing?
We sing at the Sung Eucharist every Sunday and for a service of Evensong and Benediction on the third Sunday of every month (except during July and August). Occasionally we sing for weekday services (such as Ash Wednesday and Ascension Day) and we also sing for carol services at Advent and Christmas. Our repertoire covers Renaissance Masses and motets by Byrd and Palestrina to Viennese Masses by Mozart and Haydn and more modern settings by Darke and MacMillan. Our liturgy also involves the singing of plainsong and Anglican chant week by week.
Rehearsals
Rehearsals take place at 9:45, before the 10:30 Sunday morning Eucharist, and again after the service, for around 30 minutes, to look ahead to the following week's music. Once a month we sing Evensong and Benediction on a Sunday at 3:30pm, with a rehearsal beforehand at 2pm. Extra practices take place at busy times of the year, such as Holy Week and Christmas.
Social Life
The choir of St Bride's is a sociable group, and enjoys a healthy (but by no means compulsory) social life. Members of the choir often meet for a drink after Sunday services, and extra rehearsals and services are invariably followed by a trip to one of the many local curry houses.
Choral Scholarships
There are currently 4 choral scholarships available, up to a value of £500 per annum, for those under the age of 25 and in full-time education. We are always delighted to hear from young people who are interested in joining the choir and contributing to our wonderful musical tradition.
Joining
Entry to the choir is via a short informal audition. We are looking for people with a clear voice who are reasonable sight-readers. Anyone interested should contact the Organist and Choirmaster, Mark Browne, (stbridesglasgow@googlemail.com) or speak to a member of the choir after one of our services. We hope to hear from you soon.
Follow us: @StBridesChoir
ORGAN
This instrument is of particular historic interest, having been the first organ to be lawfully installed and used during worship in a Scottish presbyterian church - its original home was Anderston Established Church (later Anderston and St Peter's Parish Church).
As a result of the union of the Church of Scotland congregations in the Anderston district, the Anderston and St Peter's building became redundant, and the organ was removed to storage in 1969. It was re-erected in its present home in 1972, replacing a nine-stop three-manual and pedal Peter Conacher chamber organ, which had been in the church since 1916.
See the Table below for the Specification
Organ by Hill (1865), Mirrlees (1882), and MacKenzie (1972)
| Hill (1865) | Mirrlees (1882) | MacKenzie (1972) |
|---|---|---|
| Pedal (1+1 stops) | Pedal (2+2 stops) | Pedal (2+2 stops) |
| Open Diapason 16 | Open Diapason 16 29 | Open Diapason 16 30 w |
| Bourdon 16 29 | Bourdon 16 30 w | |
| Great to Pedal | Great to Pedal | Great to Pedal |
| Swell to Pedal | Swell to Pedal | |
| Great (9+1 stops) | Great (9+1 stops) | Great (9+1 stops) |
| Open Diapason 8 56 | Open Diapason 8 56 | Open Diapason 8 56 z+m |
| Stopped Diapason 8 56 | Stopped Diapason 8 56 | Stopped Diapason 8 56 w |
| Dulciana (TC) 8 44 | Dulciana (TC) 8 44 | Dulciana (TC) 8 56 m |
| Principal 4 56 | Principal 4 56 | Principal 4 56 m |
| Wald Flute 4 44 | Wald Flute 4 44 | Wald Flute 4 44 w |
| Twelfth 2+ 56 | Gamba 8 56 | Twelfth 2+ 56 m |
| Fifteenth 2 56 | Fifteenth 2 56 | Fifteenth 2 56 m |
| Mixture (3 rks) 1+ 168 | Clarionet 8 44 | Mixture (3 rks) 1+ 168 m |
| Trumpet 8 56 | Trumpet 8 56 | Trumpet 8 56 m |
| Swell to Great | Swell to Great | Swell to Great |
| Swell (6 stops) | Swell (8 stops) | Swell (8 stops) |
| Bourdon 16 44 | Bourdon 16 56 | Bourdon 16 56 w |
| Open Diapason 8 44 | Open Diapason 8 56 | Open Diapason 8 56 m |
| Stopped Diapason 8 44 | Stopped Diapason 8 44 | Stopped Diapason 8 56 w |
| Principal 4 44 | Principal 4 56 | Principal 4 56 m |
| Fifteenth 2 56 | Fifteenth 2 56 t | |
| Mixture (3 rks) 1+ 168 | Sharp Mixture (3 rks) 1+ 168 y | |
| Horn 8 44 | Horn 8 56 | Horn 8 56 m |
| Oboe 8 44 | Oboe 8 44 | Oboe 8 56 m |
| Accessories | Accessories | Accessories |
| 3 compo.pedals to Great | 3 compo.pedals to Great | 3 compo.pedals to Great |
| Level swell pedal | Level swell pedal | Balanced swell pedal |
| Tremulant (c.1903) | Tremulant | |
| Mechanical action | Mechanical action | Mechanical action |
| Hand blowing | Hand blowing | "Discus" electric blowing |
| Hydraulic blowing (c1903) | Humidifier | |
| Electric blowing (1927) | ||
Pipework Materials
z = zinc, m = plain metal, t = 75% tin / 25% lead, w = wood