The
Father Prefect of Music and the Director of Music write:
Given the unique nature of the Oratory’s
liturgy and the distinction of its Choir, the Oratory’s music is sadly
under-represented in recordings. Frequent pleas for a recording of some
familiar musical landmark in the Church’s liturgical year, as heard in our
church, have (sadly) to be disappointed more often than not. This
is a situation we would like to change, since the special apostolic work of the
Oratory could be immensely enhanced by readily available recordings on CD –
were he alive today, St Philip would surely be the first to insist these
possibilities should be energetically harnessed! But the current realities of
the recording industry mean that sponsorship, private or corporate, is vital.
Three years ago, the
Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) sponsored the entire cost of
the Oratory Choir’s CD ‘Totus Tuus sum, Maria’ which
was critically acclaimed: Organists
Review said, ‘If this does not bring your to your knees, nothing will’. ACN
now wants to support a companion CD with the planned title of ‘Jesu, Pastor bonus’ but the Oratory needs to find further sponsorship
from private or corporate sources to help cover essential costs.
The most
frequent request relates to that much-loved LP ‘Holy Week & Easter’ recorded 25 years ago. We plan to remake
this with the current Choir and using the greater playing-time of the CD format
for a fuller programme. And we would like an active CD policy to continue
beyond that. By this means the London Oratory’s special mission can have an
international outreach. If there is any way you can help, please contact the
Father Prefect of Music at the Oratory House (020 7808 0900) or the Director of
Music on 020-7808 0911 or at russillmail@aol.com.