Music at St.

Patricks Cathedral Parramatta

Music in the life of St. Patricks Cathedral began in 1839 in the early
colony. From those early colonial days, Parramatta has flourished
into a busy metropolitan centre in the western region of Sydney. The
cathedral church too, has also expanded to serve the increasing
numbers of people in our busy city, both physically in the new
cathedral and in the shedule of liturgical services.

The music ministry of the
cathedral continues to play an
important role in serving the
busier-than-ever round of
diocesan and parish liturgies
which take place throughout the
year. Choirs (including
St.Patricks Cathedral choir, the
Cathedral Schola & Gregorain
chant schola), and the Tongan
Choir) and cantors sing at 4 of the
5 Sunday Masses, as well as
Weddings, funerals, and other occasions.

The program of liturgical music in the cathedral covers both traditional and contemporary
works of the sacred music repertoire. In carrying out the desire of the liturgical documents
on sacred music in the liturgy, priority is given to singing the liturgy itself. The Ordinary of
the Mass, responsorial psalm and Gospel Acclamation are sung at all Sunday Masses and
on solemnities and feasts by the assembly and/or choir or schola. At Solemn Masses
(11.00am Sunday & solemnities), importance is
placed on singing of the ministerial chants as
well. The chants of the priests and deacons,
are answered by the sung responses of the
people. In general an entrance hymn and
communion hymn are sung for the processions.
On solemnities, a chant introit may also be sung
after the entrance hymn, during the incensation
of the altar. The Preparation of Gifts is usually
accompanied by a choir motet or organ music.
At the conclusion of each liturgy, an organ
postlude accompanies the departure of the ministers and people.

The cathedral is blessed to have a
committed team of talented musicians who
serve its liturgical life. And the magnificent
1898 Norman & Beard which graces the new
cathedral can not go unmentioned, as the
principal instrument accompanying the
cathedral liturgies.

For more detailed information, visit the music
pages on St. Patricks Cathedral website at
www.stpatscathedral.com.au




Personnel

v The Cathedral music ministry consists of the Director of Music & Principal Organist,
Bernard Kirkpatrick, Assistant Music Director, an Assistant Organist, a team of 9
cantors, Senior Organ Scholar, Junior Organ Sholar

Director of Music & Principal Organist

Bernard Kirkpatrick B.Mus(Syd), B.Ec(Syd), A.mus.A

Bernard Kirkpatrick received his early music training in Tasmania from the
Sisters of Mercy, and subsequently the Marist Fathers. In 1984 he
moved to Sydney and commenced organ studies with Sydney City
Organist, Robert Ampt, later studying organ improvisation with M. Naji
Hakim (then Organist Titulaire de Basilique Sacre Coeur) in Paris. Whilst
studying for the Bachelor of Music degree at The University of Sydney,
he was University Organ Scholar, and Director of Chapel Music at St.
John's College.

Before taking up the position of Director of Music at St. Patricks Cathedral in Parramatta,
Bernard was Director of Music at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Paddington in Sydney, (1995
-2006). He has previously held the post of Organist and Choirmaster at St. Patrick's Church
Hill (1984-88) and from 1988 - 1999 was the Assistant Organist at St Mary's Cathedral,
Sydney, where he also established the St. Mary's Singers, and directed the Cathedral choir
on occasion.

His interest in liturgical music includes developing ways of incorporating traditional sacred
music styles e.g chant & choral polyphony with the contemporary needs of liturgical
practice through a synthesis of form, musical language and instrumentation.

He has composed numerous liturgical works including 2 festival Mass settings, Music for
Holy Week and the Easter Season, musical arrangements of the Prayer of St. Francis, and
the Prayer of St. Ignatius, hymns and psalms. A number of his liturgical compositions have
been published by the U.S liturgical music publisher, CanticaNOVA and OCP Publications.

Bernard has also led workshops for the Royal School of Church Music (Australia) and the
Australian Catholic University, and is a member of the Music Advisory Committee of the
Archdiocese of Sydney. In 2004 he was appointed a Music Consultant to the National
Liturgical Commission of the Australia Catholic Bishops' Conference and is Executive
Secretary for a new liturgical music resource being prepared by the ACBC.

In 2006, Bernard was appointed Director of Music at the Seminary of the Good Shepherd,
Homebush, and Musical Director of the Schola at Campion College.
During the World Youth Day celebration in Sydney in 2008, Bernard was invited to be the
Organist for the Opening Mass at Barangaroo, and the Closing Mass at Randwick
celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI.








Choirs

1) St. Patricks Cathedral Choir

The cathedral is served principally by a large cathedral
choir, consisting of male and female voices, SATB, with
approximately 10 choral positions held by students and
professional vocal leaders. St. Patricks Cathedral Choir
sings at the 11.00am Solemn Sung Mass every Sunday, the
services of Holy Week and Christmas, solemnities and
feasts throughout the year, and occasional services such as
ordinations and other special events.

The Choir rehearsed each Wednesday evening from 7.00
9.00 pm, and 1 hour prior to each of the sung services.
Repertoire is wide and varied, ranging from Gregorian Chant
and Renaissance Polyphony, classical and romantic works
through to contemporary compositions.




2) St. Patricks Cathedral Schola

Selected voices are chosen from the Cathedral choir and
other musician contacts to provide smaller vocal ensembles
from time to time for such events as Tenebrae in Holy Week,
and liturgies of the Divine Office, and weddings etc.





3) The Gregorian Schola

Selected mens voices who are chosen for their exceptional
reading skills of chant notation, and generally whose purpose
is to sing the Propers at the 11.00am Solemn Mass on
Sundays and feasts days.






The Cathedral Organs

The cathedral is served by two organs.
The main cathedral pipe organ was built
by Norman & Beard in 1898, and formerly
located in St. Saviours Anglican Church,
Walton, Place, London. The restoration
and installation was undertaken in 2002
by Peter D.G. Jewkes Pty Ltd.
This large three manual instrument is
noteworthy for the brilliance and
cohesiveness of its choruses, which are
immense-loud, rather than aggressive-
loud, its superb reeds (including the
splendid high-pressure Tromba and Swell
reed chorus), and the kaleidoscope of tone colours available in the array of flutes and
strings.
The full history and specification details of the organ can be viewed at
http://home.vicnet.net.au/~ohta/Sydney_conf/STPATRICKSCath.html

St.Patricks Cathedral Parramatta.

St Patricks was gutted in a fire that was set by an
arsonist on 19 February 1996 and the Holroyd &
Edwards instrument was totally destroyed. There
began a lengthy process to raise funds and
develop designs for the rebuilding of the 1936
church (to serve as the Blessed Sacrament
Chapel) and the provision of a modern new
cathedral to adjoin it. The state government
provided a multi-million dollar grant to assist the
project. The firm of Mitchell, Giurgola and Thorp (best known for its design of Parliament
House in Canberra) was successful in being awarded the design contract and the
completed building was opened on 29 November 2003. The Pope's special envoy for the
occasion, Cardinal Edward Cassidy, presided at the Mass.

1) The old St. Patricks Cathedral now refurbished as the Blessed Sacrament Chapel.
The new cathedral viewed from Victoria Road.












Pastor de Lasala 2005



The Norman & Beard 1898, Pipe Organ (3manuals, 37 speaking stops
In 1998, English organ expert Stephen Bicknell posted to pipe organ mailing list piporg-l
about the 1898 Norman & Beard once installed in St Saviour's, Knightsbridge, London,
possibly to the design of Edwin Lemare. In 1998 the organ was destined for destruction
and Bicknell posted details on piporg-l that year. This was read by Fr. Peter Williams, of
Parramatta, Australia after St Patrick's Cathedral had been destroyed by fire in 1996. The
organ has since been dismantled, shipped to Australia, restored by Peter Jewkes Pty, and
now sits in a new case in the stunning new cathedral,

The instrument is noteworthy for the brilliance and cohesiveness of its choruses, which are
immense-loud, rather than aggressive-loud, its superb reeds (including the splendid high-
pressure Tromba and Swell reed chorus), and the kaleidoscope of tone colours available in
the array of flutes and strings.





The console:


















Organ Stops










Norman & Beard 1898, Peter D.G. Jewkes 2005 (3/37 electric)







































*A number of additions are due to be added in June 2014;

PEDAL
Major Bass 16
Double Open Wood 32
Contra-Ophecleide 32

Swell Reeds on Pedal (transfer switch)
GREAT
Double Diapason 16
Open Diap. (large) 8 *
Open Diap. (small) 8 *
Claribel Flute 8
Corno Dolce 8
Principal 4
Harmonic Flute 4
Fifteenth 2
Mixture 3 Rks
Tromba 8 +

SWELL
Bourdon 16
Open Diapason 8
Stopped Diapason 8
Echo Gamba 8
Voix Celeste 8 TC
Gemshorn 4
Piccolo 2
Mixture 3 Rks
Oboe 8
Vox Humana 8
Double Trumpet 16 +
Horn 8 +
Clarion 4 +
Tremulant

CHOIR
Open Diapason 8
Rohr Flte 8
Viol di Gamba 8
Dulciana 8
Suabe Flute 4
Flageolet 2
Clarinet 8
Tremulant
Tromba 8


PEDAL
Open Diapason Metal 16 A*
Open Diapason [Wood] 16
Bourdon 16
Quint 12 A
Violoncello 8
Trombone 16
COUPLERS
Swell to Pedal
Great to Pedal
Choir to Pedal
Swell to Great
Choir to Great
Swell to Choir
Swell Octave
Swell Unison Off
Swell Sub Octave
Choir Octave
Choir Unison Off
Choir Sub Octave
Swell Reeds on Choir
Great and Pedal combinations coupled
Electro-pneumatic action (2005)
Compass 61/30
6 thumb pistons per manual division ^
6 toe levers to pedal ^
Swell pistons duplicated by toe levers ^
12 general pistons
6 reversibles ^
Sequencer with + and pistons
Set and cancel pistons
16 divisional memories
96 general memories
2 balanced swell pedals
No. of pipes = 2,212
Pitch a
1
= 446 Hz at 20
0
C
Wind pressures:
Tromba, Trombone, Violoncello, Swell chorus
reeds and action = 165 mm (6 )
Remainder of organ = 82 mm (3 )
+ On separate high-pressure chests
* New faade in tin comprises 2 dummy pipes and
bottom octaves of Open Diap. (large) , Open Diap.
(small) 24 pipes and Open Diapason Metal - 30
pipes. This replaced assorted zinc faade and
internal originals, 2005
Additions by solid-state switching, 2005
Originally prepared-for. Now 10-2/3 for C-B;
32 for c
0
- f
1
; taken from Open Metal


^ The 1898 console had 5 pistons to Swell, 4
pistons to Great, reversibles for
Swell to Great, Swell to Pedal and Great to Pedal
and various compositions pedals
Composition of Great and Swell Mixtures:
C - f#
0
: 15.19.22
g
0
- c
4
: 8.12.15