Among US church musicians in the Anglican / Episcopal traditions, England’s Barry Rose, OBE, has long been associated with outstanding choirs, passionate singing, and rather broader tastes in repertoire than what’s heard in the typical English Cathedral. After storied positions from 1960 to 1997 (Guildford Cathedral; St Paul’s Cathedral, London; BBC Religious Music Adviser; St Alban’s Cathedral), Rose left full-time work to become a choral emissary of sorts, traveling the world as visiting clinician and guest-conductor. He continues this work, even at 90, visiting Boston this week to work with the choirs of The Church of the Advent, The Memorial Church (Harvard University), and Church of the Redeemer, Chestnut Hill.
On his forthcoming trip to Boston, the lively 90-year-old will be leading three ensembles. He will lead The Church of the Advent’s 18-voice professional choir at an open rehearsal on February 8th at 10.00-12.30pm and a High Mass on, Sunday February 9th at 11.00am.* Also while here, Rose will be working with the choirs of The Memorial Church, Harvard University, and Church of the Redeemer, Chestnut Hill.
Rose’s path to prominence lies outside the typical UK organist-choirmaster track. The eventual heads of Cathedral and collegiate ensembles usually sing or play as children, then play or sing in a college chapel choir at Oxford or Cambridge. Those positions typically open the gateways to junior positions that lead onward to positions of prominence.
Rose never fitted into that seam. He played harmonium in a church near his East London boyhood home, while his parents arranged some organ lessons at the local parish. While in school, Rose joined the choir of Hampstead Parish Church as a bass. After several years in an insurance office, Rose was accepted, at the comparatively late age of 24, at London’s Royal Academy of Music. In April 1960 — before earning any degree or other official qualification — he was named to lead music at the country’s newest Cathedral, Guildford. Thus at 25, he became the country’s youngest Cathedral organist-choirmaster, and something of a star.
While Rose’s Guildford choir gained quick notice, it became even more widely known through recordings for EMI, several of which earned platinum, gold and silver status. In 1971, Rose was named the BBC’s Religious Music Adviser, in which role he coordinated and produced broadcasts of choral Evensong (a music-rich form of vespers) from locations around the UK. He was appointed to Saint Paul’s Cathedral, London, as Sub Organist in 1974, and in June 1977, Master of the Choir.
His tenure at this most visible of Cathedrals was marked by excellence, populism, and controversy. The recording of “My Way” — the tune made famous by Frank Sinatra — became a gold seller, and choir members were involved in other pursuits outside the Cathedral’s music program. After major disagreements with clergy, Rose left in 1984, moving first to The King’s School Canterbury (on the grounds of the famous Cathedral), and then to the Cathedral and Abbey Church of St. Alban, from 1988 to 1997. In retirement he transitioned to his current international clinical work.
Rose has worked with many US churches, primarily those with active girls’ and boys’ choirs. He has developed a particular role — the returning great-uncle — in which he encourages, cajoles, and sometimes badgers both young and old into singing of greater meaning and expression. He is particularly focused on the text, emphasizing that any singer must first understand fully the words being sung, feeling that fluidity of line and emotional communication follows most naturally from that comprehension. His popularity with directors and choirs alike has established deep relationships with dozens of choirs here, from prestigious venues such as Saint Thomas and Grace Church, New York City, to smaller parishes such as St. Paul’s in Fairfield, Connecticut, whose choir he will direct for the 28th time on this trip, in a joint Evensong with the choir of Grace Church, Providence.
*The Parish of the Advent was founded in 1844 to bring Oxford Movement sensibilities to an Anglican church in heavily Unitarian Boston. Not only was worship in the beauty of holiness,” a founding principle, but also “worship in the holiness of beauty.” Colorful pageantry, excellent music, and catholic ceremony have long been a feature of services at the Advent. Rose will lead the all-professional 18-voice Advent Choir in the Palestrina: Missa Aeterna Christi munera a beautiful piece of Renaissance polyphony with Latin text. He will also conduct “Faire is the Heaven,” a quintessentially English post-romantic piece for double choir by Sir William Henry Harris, a former choirmaster of St George’s, Windsor Castle, with a text by Tudor poet, Edmund Spenser. Rounding out the musical works will be the splendid Latin motet by 16th-century Englishman, William Byrd, his Ego sum panis vivus. These musical offerings take place as an integral part of the High Mass at The Church of the Advent, a 19th-century Gothic revival building which is one of Boston’s hidden gems. Initially designed by John Hubbard Sturgis, and finished by his nephew Clipston Sturgis, the Advent transports its visitors to late 19th century London, with its warm red brick, elaborate stone carving, and beautiful yet austere interior furnishings. by Mark Dwyer
Jonathan Ambrosino is an organ technician, consultant and journalist. With Joe Sloane, he looks after the organs at, among others, Trinity Church, Old South Church, the Church of the Advent and First Lutheran. He consults on organ projects locally and nationally, and is currently completing a tonal restoration of the 1935 Aeolian-Skinner at Calvary Church, Memphis, with Waltham-based restorer Spencer Organ Company.