music at the Harling United Benefice
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“Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world.” (Isaiah 12)
Music has been a central feature of Anglican worship for centuries, and the music team at East Harling aims to maintain, enhance and develop this great tradition in our benefice. The purpose of the various groups is to glorify God and to encourage ourselves and others to worship Him through our singing and playing of instruments. We try to take the best of traditional and sacred music and in both groups there is a happy spirit and enjoyment of working together.
In our weekly worship music helps to set the mood of the liturgy; to focus the mind on God’s presence here with us; to share with God and each other our celebration of Christ’s victory over death; and to offer back to God the gifts he has given each of us, whether singing or playing of instruments.
Carols from East Harling
A Tender Shoot
Adam lay Ybounden
E'en so Lord Jesus
Jesus Christ the Apple Tree
The Rose of Bethlehem
Choir
The Church has a long-standing choral tradition, and maintains a 4-part robed choir of some twenty members who sing at the 9:45am Eucharist on three Sundays each month, as well as daily services in Holy Week, Christmas carol services, weekday evening festivals and festal Choral Evensongs. On 5th Sundays the choir visits one of our ‘daughter’ Churches at Larling, Bridgham or Rushford to sing for the Benefice Eucharist, and on Advent Sunday each year we join with the Carmelite nuns at Quidenham for an Advent Carol Service in the Monastery Church. In addition to these local arrangements the choir joins the massed choirs for the Thetford & Rockland Deanery Evensong each July, and the Norfolk & Norwich RSCM Choral Festival each June. The choir sings a varied repertoire from the medieval to the work of current composers, and we regularly add new music to our library. The choir maintains an active social life, singing at a number of local events, and organising choir social activities including an annual choir dinner each January. The choir rehearses every Thursday from 7:30 – 9pm except during August. New singers (men, women or children) are always welcome to join us.
Music Group
The music group consists of an instrumental ensemble and a band of singers who lead the music for the 6pm Soul Café service on 1st Sunday of the month, and for 9:45am All-Age Communion on 3rd Sundays. We aim to find the best of traditional hymns and modern worship songs to lead us in our worship, and we aim to introduce new songs as often as possible. The group meets to rehearse on the Tuesday before 1st Sundays at 7:30pm, on 1st Sundays at 5pm, and on 3rd Sundays at 9am. New instrumentalists and singers are again most welcome.
Download Music Sample - Look at the World Sung by the Choir and Music Group at the Harvest Thanksgiving Service on Sunday 19th September 2010 at East Harling
Benefice Choir
On 5th Sundays the Choir invites singers from all over the benefice to join together to form a Benefice Choir to lead the 10:30am Benefice Communion service. Guest singers choose whether or not to robe, but join with us to lead the congregation in the hymns and sung service, and to sing an introit and a communion anthem. Several singers who attend their own Churches throughout the year enjoy this opportunity to sing with the augmented choir on such occasions.
Join Us!
All groups welcome new members at any time. All are welcome – no restrictions on age or experience apply (except for the Youth Choir which is for all those aged between 8 and 18). Come along and hear us ‘in action’ on a Sunday morning, or join in a rehearsal, or contact the Director of Music for more information.
New Music
“Sing to the Lord a new song” (Psalm 149)
All the groups are committed to maintaining the highest standards of music in worship. Part of this commitment includes the filtering of current repertoire to include the best examples of traditional music, while continually adding new compositions to our repertoire, whether choral anthems or worship songs.
Organ
Listen to the organ by clicking on the following link - Marche Triomphale: Nun danket alle Gott, Op.65 - Karg-Elert (played by Tom Hilton on the organ of East Harling Parish Church, July 2010)
East Harling Church history page provides more detailed information. The music at East Harling is supported by a fine 1854 Walker organ brought to East Harling in 1981 – details of the organ can be found at www.npor.org.uk
Organist & Director of Music
Tom Hilton studied the organ under Julian Thomas at Norwich Cathedral. He currently works as Head of Music at Old Buckenham High School and has held the post of Director of Music at East Harling since May 2009. Tom can be contacted by email at tom@walkingwithyou.org.uk