Ave Maria Recital

19 SEPTEMBER 2021 AVE MARIA RECITAL

More than 100 guests spent a pleasant Sunday afternoon listening to an array of classical sacred music, led by St Mary’s Cathedral Director of Music, Jacinta Jakovcevic, as the Cathedral Choir put on a display of musical devotion to commemorate the birthday of its’ Patroness and Mother of the Church.

Jacinta said “Our annual Ave Maria Recital, which is now in its twelfth year, provided an opportunity for 13 musicians take part (including nine of our organists) – representing the numerous streams which make up the Cathedral Music Programme. It was wonderful to have members of our Young Organists Programme take part for the very first time – this programme is quite new and involves young musicians as part time organ scholars. They train and learn about the role of the pipe organ in Catholic Liturgy.

The ensemble comprised of John Beaverstock, Alessio Loiacono, Pia Schelfhout, Xavier Jarvis, Elizabeth O’Callaghan, Ethan Ricafranca, Dominique Douglas-Smith, Alix Hamilton, Susannah Williams, Erin Bussanich, Sian Bussanich, Jacinta Jakovcevic, and (under 18) organist Joshua Crestwell,” she said.

Ms Jakovcevic encouraged more people to join in future events, as bringing the community together for this event serves as a great encouragement for our young musicians who choose to be here and train, dedicating their time and efforts to the Church. “I do hope more people attend this recital in years to come. It is an important event to highlight or Patroness, Our Lady, and to highlight to people the fact that through her and her Immaculate Conception and birth into this world, God’s promise of the Saviour, Jesus Christ came true,” she said.

EDITOR’S NOTE: For music lovers, the pieces presented at this year’s recital included:

• Toccata in G minor by Johann Pachelbel (1653 to 1706),

• Scherzetto by Louis Vierne (1870 to 1936),

• Choral Song by Samuel Sebastian Wesley (1810 to 1876),

• Prelude and Fugue in G minor by Diderik Buxetehude (1637 to 1707),

• Laudamus Te (from ‘Gloria RV 589) by Antonio Vivaldi (1678 to 1741),

• Allegro (from ‘Concerto in F major’) Georg Frederic Handel (1685 to 1759),

• Ave Maria Stella by Louis Couperin (1626 to 1661),

• Menuet (from ‘Suite Gothique’) by Leon Boellmann (1862 to 1897) and more.