Holy Trinity, Southport is one of a declining number of churches in the country to maintain an all-male church choir. This church has a fine, long-standing musical tradition and that is one reason I go there on Easter Sunday and Christmas Day. The women of the Chapel Choir join the Church Choir to sing the Eucharist motets, and for special occasions, but otherwise the centuries-old tradition is maintained of having the treble line sung by boys.
For the service today the Church Choir was augmented by the women of the Chapel Choir, and together they made a splendid sound. An unaccompanied Easter motet by E.Bullock before the first processional hymn, sung from the back of the church, rang down the nave beautifully.
As the choir processes down the aisle I’m struck by the diminutive size of the youngest choristers – probably half the height of the tallest ones! These boys are getting a fantastic education in choral singing and music generally, and it was lovely seeing two of the bigger boys being presented with certificates, having passed organ exams. But they are also learning a lot about discipline: not only the discipline necessary to be a serviceable member of a choir, but the requirement for regular attendance at rehearsals and church services. The pity is that there is not the same opportunity for girls.
For one year my son was a member of the choir, and shuttling him back and forth between church and home, I realised all too well how tough that discipline was! He only lasted a year, but others are more committed, probably better motivated, and I have seen the sons of my friends singing in the choir during their school years, returning to sing during university vacations, and still joining in for special occasions after they have grown up and moved away from Southport.
There are strong links between Holy Trinity and the Southport Bach Choir. For a start several singers are shared between the SBC and the Church Choir (men) and the Chapel Choir (women). Besides that, most of our concerts are given in the church, which has a generous acoustic well suited to choral music. Our next concert there will be on 15 June as part of the Holy Trinity Festival, when we shall be singing Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms.
But today my thoughts have been about those boys and the way they have helped the congregation of Holy Trinity to celebrate Easter. I just hope they had time between services to enjoy their Easter eggs!
Choral Singing in Southport 