{"id":12074,"date":"2011-10-31T08:31:13","date_gmt":"2011-10-31T13:31:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/praytellblog.com\/?p=12074"},"modified":"2011-10-31T13:39:55","modified_gmt":"2011-10-31T18:39:55","slug":"visiting-with-the-conductor-of-the-westminster-cathedral-choir","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/praytellblog.com\/index.php\/2011\/10\/31\/visiting-with-the-conductor-of-the-westminster-cathedral-choir\/","title":{"rendered":"Visiting with the conductor of the Westminster Cathedral Choir"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Audrey Seah<\/p>\n

A certain \u00a0sound comes to mind when someone mentions the Westminster Cathedral choir. It is the kind of sound that saturates every corner of a church and washes over the listener. One cannot help but yield to its power and be moved by its beauty. It is the kind of sound and high level of music making that I often romanticize over, as I\u2019m sure many of my colleagues have.<\/p>\n

The day after the breathtaking concert the Westminster Cathedral choir gave<\/a> at the 50th\u00a0anniversary of the dedication<\/a> of the Abbey Church, Saint John\u2019s School of Theology\u00b7Seminary<\/a> had the privilege of hosting Martin Baker, Master of Music at the Cathedral for a lunchtime conversation. This was my chance to get a glimpse of the methods behind the magic.<\/p>\n

Much of the conversation focused on the English Cathedral Choir tradition and Martin Baker\u2019s experience at the helm of Westminster Cathedral choir<\/a>. \u00a0He graciously shared many details of the music program at the Cathedral and choir school. This inevitably raised ideas in my mind for parish level choral programs.<\/p>\n

Here are some aspects that struck me as quintessential to Westminster\u2019s success, and that have possible implications for parishes:<\/p>\n