Last December, David was playing the organ at St. Thomas Church for Evensong during Advent when the Vicar, Rev Philip Young, was preaching a sermon about the Advent Antiphons.

 

An Antiphon is a short passage, usually from the Bible, recited or sung as a response after certain parts of a liturgical service. 

 

The church uses these Antiphons during the season of Advent on the six days leading up to Christmas from December 17 to the 23. In the antiphons seven different names are used to address Christ, including O Wisdom, O Key of David, O Morning Star and O Emmanuel (God with us).

 

David thought that the anthems could be set to music and over the hot months of the summer he worked hard and finished composing them on July 23. The new anthem has been composed for Mathew Martin and the Choir of St. Thomas’ Heigham.

 

Over the last couple of months the Choir, with their Musical Director, Mathew Martin, has been busy practicing and the anthem was used for the first time at a Special Service of Light at St. Thomas on November 29. They will also be used during the morning service at 10.30am on Sunday December 20.

 

David says the rehearsals have been going very well and he has been enjoying working alongside Mathew and the choir.

 

Vicar Philip Young is very excited that the new work has been written for St. Thomas’ and is hoping that an invitation can be extended to any who are able to come along on December 20.

 

“This new work deserves to be heard by a large number of people and perhaps next year it can be used in the worship of other churches during Advent and perhaps in Norwich Cathedral,” said Philip.