The anniversary of the dedication of Aberdeen’s St Mary’s Cathedral more than 150 years ago will be remembered with a special Mass next month.
The choir of King’s College will be taking part in a choral mass at the Huntly Street cathedral on Wednesday, October 5 at 7.30pm to mark the 1860 event.
They will be performing Missa O Quam Gloriosum, by Tomas Luis de Victoria, and the motets Locus Iste by Bruckner and Ave Verum Corpus by Mozart.
The choir is the modern-day successor to the ensemble of boys and priests, which was established by Bishop Elphinstone upon the foundation of Aberdeen University in 1495.
He was determined the choral foundation in Aberdeen would be the equal of those south of the border.
One of the singing priests doubled as the organist, and the organ itself was originally situated in a gallery beyond the screen in the nave.
Today’s choir is not so different in size from that of the sixteenth century, although women rather than boys now sing the upper parts.
The choir also tours, visiting cathedrals (such as Canterbury) and giving concerts abroad. The first CD, O Sacrum Convivium, was released on the Vox Regis label last May to critical acclaim.
The master of chapel and ceremonial music, Professor David J Smith, said: “It is a great honour to be invited to sing a Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral on such an occasion as this, and to sing a Mass setting in its proper liturgical context.”
