The Rector's Message for the Week of April 26, 2020

Rector Turner
The Reverend Canon Carl Turner

Dear Friends,

I have invited Fr. Moretz, our Associate Rector, to write to you this week. I am grateful for the many messages of support and encouragement that my colleagues and I are receiving. In particular, as we reach out to those in need – please let us know of anyone who needs practical help. April 23 is St. George’s Day and, as the St. George’s Society is celebrating its 250th anniversary this year, we share a little project of that society to support elders.

Here are some music notes for Sunday:

This Sunday’s Eucharist, again, includes music that you can join in; those who regularly attend the 9am Sung Eucharist will enjoy the chance to sing Healey Willan’s congregational setting of the mass. Healey Willan was born in England in 1880 and was admitted as an Associate of the Royal College of Organists at the age of 17. He became a Fellow at the age of 19. After a short period as an organist in London, he emigrated to Canada in 1913 where he remained for the rest of his life. The mass setting Missa de Sancta Magdalena remains a ‘war-horse’ of Episcopalian repertoire which he composed in 1928.

Willan was Head of the Theory Department of the Toronto Conservatory of Music and Vice-Principal 1920-1936. From 1921 until his death in 1968, he was Precentor of the church of St. Mary Magdalene, Toronto, which became a magnet for church musicians. He was appointed Lecturer and Examiner for the University of Toronto in 1914 and in 1937 became Professor of Music, a position he held until his retirement in 1950. In 1953 he was asked to write an anthem for the coronation of HM Queen Elizabeth II titled, ‘O Lord our Governour’. in 1956 he received the Lambeth Doctorate in Music from Geoffrey Fisher, the Archbishop of Canterbury.

A pious Anglo-Catholic, Willan was humorously described by his colleague Robert Hunter Bell as “English by birth; Canadian by adoption; Irish by extraction; Scotch by absorption!”

In addition, we will sing the Easter Anthems to Anglican Chant, a little bit of plainsong, and Nicolas Haig will play music of J.S. Bach, and Buxtehude. Many of you commented on the insertion of archival recordings and we will hear our Choir of Men and Boys sing two anthems by Palestrina and Tallis.

Dr. Filsell and I are happy to receive requests for congregational music and hymnody, though not everything works with just a handful of us in Church and the organ.

Happy Easter to you all,

Carl,
your priest and pastor.