Saturday 24 December 2016

A successful Michaelmas Term

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Michaelmas Term was a busy one for the Schola Abelis, with a new intake of student singers. As has become usual, they tend to be graduate students. Our numbers at events have been up to ten, which is a lot for a chant schola.

We have this term focused on Oxford venues: the Mass we accompanied in Blackfriars is captured above; the one in St Benet's Hall, below.

Wednesday 5 October 2016

Term Card for Michaelmas 2016

Michaelmas Term
2016


2nd Week
St Frideswide
Wednesday 19th Nov, 6pm
SS Gregory & Augustine’s

3rd Week
Dominican Chant
Saturday 29th Oct Oxford Pilgrimage 11am Blackfriars

6th Week
Requiem
Saturday 19th Nov 11:30am
St Benet's Hall

7th Week
St Sylvester, Abbot
Sat 26th November
11:30am Holy Rood, Abingdon Road

President: Ben Koons, Oriel
Secretary: Jēkabs Jurdžs
Treasurer: Andrew Auty


Thursday 16 June 2016

Schola Abelis in Merton

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Last Saturday evening the Schola Abelis, sang Vespers in Merton College Chapel in Oxford.

Fr Richard Biggerstaff, the Director of the St Barnabas Society, officiated.

We don't often do services in Anglican chapels, but Vespers is a rather different proposition from Mass. It was an opportunity for the Schola to tackle the somewhat different challenges of the Divine Office, compared to Mass, and to sing in the wonderful acoustic of Merton's historic chapel, as well as to honour St Barnabas and beg his interecession for the important work of the St Barnabas Society.

IMG_8964This supports Anglican and other ordained ministers who become Catholic, frequently losing their livlihoods in doing so. Go and support them through their website here.

The Schola Abelis is the only choir in Oxford focusing on Gregorian Chant. And though I say it myself, we sounded very good at Vespers. Anyone, from Town or University, who is interested in singing with us should contact us (). We don't expect previous experience singing chant - or anything else. I should mention that it is an all-male schola.

These days we are being looked after, in the capacity of cantor and trainer, by Will Dawes, a professional singer based in Oxford with an excellent knowledge of chant. Amusingly enough, he also directs an all-female liturgical choir. There is something for everyone in Oxford!

Support the work of the LMS by becoming an 'Anniversary Supporter'.

Saturday 30 April 2016

Trinity Term 2016 Term Card

Events in Trinity Term 2016


Saturday 28th May (5th Week)
Feast of Blessed Margaret Pole in the Archdiocese of Birmingham
Sung Mass in the Dominican Rite, Blackfriars 11am


Friday 3rd June (6th Week)
Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
Sung Mass in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite
SS Gregory & Augustine's, Woodstock Road, Oxford, 6pm


Saturday 11th June (7th Week)
Feast of St Barnabas
Vespers according to the 1960 Divine Office
Merton College Chapel, 8:30pm


Sunday 19th June (9th Week)
Fifth after Pentecost
Sung Mass in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite


SS Gregory & Augustine's, Woodstock Road, Oxford, 12noon

Friday 5 February 2016

The Schola Abelis accompanies Candlemas

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The Schola Abelis accompanied Candlemas - the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary - in SS Gregory & Augustine's, Oxford, on Feb 2nd.

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Wednesday 20 January 2016

Hillary Term 2016 Term Card

Hillary Term 2016


3rd Week

Candlemas, Tuesay 2nd Feb


5th Week

Ember Saturday of Lent: 
LMS Pilgrimage to Caversham
Saturday 20th Feb


6th Week

Annual Mass in Milton Manor House
Saturday 27th February