Music
St Etheldreda’s Choir is one of only a few fully professional Roman Catholic church choirs in the country. The choir’s origins were of men and boys, which Theodore Tanner directed from 1908 to 1948, and in the mixed choir of local singers who continued his work. In the late 1970s, professional singers were gradually engaged and the choir evolved into its present form as a professional octet. The choir sings the Latin Mass each Sunday at 11am and on major Feast Days and Solemnities, with a wide and eclectic repertoire.
Photography by Kerry Morgan Photography
Music staff
Director of Music
Robert Patterson – MA (Cantab) FRCO FRSM
Professional singers:
Maddy Holmes
Iestyn Morris, Lorna Perry
Robin Datta, Ben Thapa
Dan D’Souza, Ben Oakley
Music List
Download the Music List for the Solemn Sung Mass, Sundays 11am (PDF):
The Organ
St Etheldreda’s organ was handmade in Switzerland by Spath Orgelbau, taking ten employees five months to construct. It was inaugurated in 2009 at a special recital by Dame Gillian Weir CBE.
The organ specification is as follows:
| Pedal | ||||
| 1 | Subbass | 16 | ||
| 2 | Octavbass | 8 | ||
| 3 | Bourdonbass | 8 | ||
| 4 | Choralbass | 4 | ||
| 5 | Trombone | 16 | ||
| Great | ||||
| 6 | Bourdon | 16 | ||
| 7 | Principal | 8 | ||
| 8 | Rohrflöte | 8 | ||
| 9 | Viola da Gamba | 8 | ||
| 10 | Octave | 4 | ||
| 11 | Flauto dolce | 4 | ||
| 12 | Nasat | 2 2/3 | ||
| 13 | Superoctave | 2 | ||
| 14 | Tierce | 1 3/5 | ||
| 15 | Mixture | III | ||
| 16 | Trumpet | 8 | ||
| Swell | ||||
| 17 | Bourdon | 8 | ||
| 18 | Salicional | 8 | ||
| 19 | Unda Maris | 8 | ||
| 20 | Fugara | 4 | ||
| 21 | Flute | 4 | ||
| 22 | Flageolet | 2 | ||
| 23 | Mixture | III | ||
| 24 | Oboe | 8 | ||
| 25 | Tremolo | |||
Recordings
If you would like to enjoy the music of St Etheldreda’s Choir in the comfort of your own home, CDs are available to buy online in our shop.