Inspire! Sunday Service

On Sunday 29th September we are inviting all our congregation members, friends and supporters past and present, and everyone else who loves St Bride’s, to join us in church for a wonderful celebratory occasion – the annual Inspire! Sunday service.

The event is an excellent opportunity to listen to the glories of St Bride’s Choir and Orchestra and also to raise a glass of bubbles after the service to toast all that is special about St Bride’s and its people, and to give thanks to God for his many blessings.

 

Music

We are delighted and grateful that the St Bride’s Orchestra will be accompanying the choir for this service in a liturgical performance of one of Mozart’s most popular masses.

Mozart’s Mass in C major, K220 is a missa brevis – or short mass – in structure but a missa solemnis – or solemn mass – in its festive use of brass, timpani and soloists. It was first performed at Easter in 1776 at Salzburg Cathedral.

Mozart was very frustrated by the recent restrictions at the Salzburg court imposed by the new Archbishop, Hieronymus von Colloredo. These aimed to reduce both the length of the mass and the excessive costs, which had almost brought financial ruin.

Mozart wrote:

“Our church music is very different from that of Italy, since a Mass with the whole Kyrie, the Gloria, the Credo, the Epistle sonata, the Offertory or motet, the Sanctus and the Agnus Dei must not last longer than three quarters of an hour. This applies even to the most Solemn Mass spoken by the Archbishop himself. Special study is required for this kind of composition, particularly as the Mass must have a full contingent of instruments—trumpets, drums and so forth.”

Nevertheless, Mozart successfully rose to the challenge and we hope you will agree!

The nickname Spatzenmesse (Sparrow Mass) is thought to come from the chirping figure that the violins play in the Hosanna section of the Sanctus.

The so-called “Bologna Mozart” was painted 1777 in Salzburg by an unknown painter for Padre Martini

Mozart’s father Leopold commented in characteristic tone about this painting, saying “It has little value as a piece of art, but as to the issue of resemblance, I can assure you that it is perfect.”

Nominate your favourite hymns

We are once again taking a risk on democracy and have decided to invite you to vote for your four favourite hymns. The winning four will be sung at the service.

Either fill out one of the forms available at the back of church or email your four hymn choices to jennifer.spencer@stbrides.com by Sunday 22nd September.

The service launches our busy Autumn period in celebratory mood as we prepare to move through the seasons of Thanksgiving and Remembrance in preparation for Advent & Christmas.