The organ, by Martin Goetze and Dominic Gwynn (1992), stands on the west gallery under the tower. It is based on the early work of ‘Father’ Bernard Smith, between his last work in Holland (at the Grotekerk, Edam, in 1656) and his first work in England (the King’s private chapel at Windsor Castle, 1673). Elements are taken from the organs at Noordwalde, Eenum (1695) and Adlington Hall (circa 1695). As such it is an instrument of great historical interest and it is often used for recitals and demonstrations.
The specification is as follows:

Upper manual (C – g3)

Prestant 8
Holpijp 8
Octaaf 4
*Sesquialter I-II
Mixtuur III
*Trompet 8

Lower manual (C – g3)

Quintadeen 8
Roerfluit 4
*Octaaf 2

Pedal (C – f1)

Bourdon 16
Fluit 8
Couplers (foot pedals): I-II I-P II-P
*denotes stops available on the other manual at half-draw.

Wind is provided by a 2m x 1m single-fold wedge bellows, with a sprung regulator for the Pedal. Wind pressure is 68mm on the manuals and 75mm on the pedals. Manual pipes are made of metal while pedal pipes are wooden. The pitch is a1 = 440; the tuning is a modified meantone based on Roger North’s instructions.

The Choir

We are pleased to announce the release of a new CD of the St. Matthew’s organ, played by Andrew Linn (Director of Music) with choral contributions from Sheffield chamber choir Viva Voce. The recording, on Regent Records, is a fine testament to the versatility and beauty of our Goetze and Gwynn organ.
The programme, arranged in liturgical order tracing the Church’s year from Advent to Easter, offers a study of the organ chorale, following the genre from its greatest exponent J.S. Bach through the romanticism of Brahms up to the twentieth century astringency of Kenneth Leighton. Popular works such as Bach’s Wachet auf! ruft uns die Stimme and In dulci jubilo rub shoulders with the greatest exercise on a chorale melody ever written, the Canonic Variations on Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her. Brahms’ Eleven Chorale Preludes were the last works he wrote and these organ pieces provide a striking contrast to the sumptuous versions of the hymns with which they are married on this recording. Richard Popplewell’s Easter Hymn brings the disc to a triumphant conclusion. Other noteworthy works on this CD are the original versions of the hymns, When I survey the wondrous

Cross and Jesus Christ is risen today, beautifully sung by Viva Voce.

Copies of the CD may be bought in local record shops or direct from Regent Records. Alternatively copies may be ordered by sending a cheque (made payable to St Matthew’s Church) for £12.00 (£10 plus £2 p&p) to:

  Organ CD, St Matthew’s Church, Carver Street, Sheffield S1 4FT

Music

The Organ

If you can...Have a listen

And Buy the CD!

St Matthew’s is justifiably proud of its music, which plays an important role within the rich and varied liturgical tradition for which the church is widely known. The twenty-strong choir of men and women sings at Solemn Mass each Sunday and at Choral Evensong with Benediction once a month, as well as at many of the special services that St Matthew’s holds each year. Notable among these are the Advent Carol Service, the All Souls’ Requiem and the deeply moving services of Holy Week and Easter.

Care is taken to choose music that comments on, reflects and enhances the readings and prayers, and the music is integrated into the liturgy with thought and invention. The choir is privileged to be able to contribute to the church’s worship in this way. Repertoire is chosen from all periods and covers a range of styles, from Renaissance polyphony through Bach and Brahms to the present day.

The organ, a 1992 instrument by Goetze and Gwynn built along mid-seventeenth century lines, makes its own characterful contribution to the worship, and is also used regularly for recitals and concerts in its own right. It produces an extraordinary variety of colours for such a small instrument. It is placed on a gallery at the west end, from where it provides strong and lively support for the singing. Further information can be found below.

The clergy and congregation are supportive and welcoming, and members of the choir find that they quickly become involved in other aspects of the church’s life. There is a strong tradition of fellowship at St Matthew’s which continues into the present day. The church treats seriously its challenging mission to a resurgent city centre and to the thousands of new residents in the parish. Exciting times lie ahead for a church at the very heart of city life.

Choral and Organ Scholarships

Scholarship funding is available to members of the choir. In addition to forming an important part of the choir here at St Matthew’s, many of our musicians are also heavily involved in other musical activities in and around the city, and the funds aim to support them in their musical development through covering the cost of singing lessons and other opportunities. .

The Church also offers the Fr James Wheatley Organ Scholarship, currently held by Mark McCombs. The Scholar’s duties include playing the organ, conducting the choir and assisting with the administration of the music, learning 'on the job' about all aspects of our church's music
.

Would you like to join us?

The choir's regular commitments are a weekly Tuesday evening rehearsal plus one or two Sunday services each week. Enquiries about membership of the choir are warmly invited at any time, and should be addressed to the Director of Music, whose contact details you will find below.

Music Staff

Fraser Wilson, the Director of Music, has worked across England and in Ireland, where amongst other things he was Director of Music at St Bartholomew's Church in Dublin. Now settled in Sheffield and working on an MA, he carries on a busy life of performing, composing, arranging, and manifold other things across Yorkshire and beyond. He is a member of the Irish choral group Anúna, founded and directs the Rivelin Singers, and always has a series of new compositions under construction!

Peter Heginbotham, the Sub-organist, was a music scholar at Solihull School. In 1994 he was appointed to the organ scholarship of Truro Cathedral, and was subsequently organ scholar at Sheffield and Chester Cathedrals and then Assistant Master of the Music at Sheffield, with whom he made six recordings as organist. Each August he plays at Notre Dame, Paris, for the Vierne Singers, and has frequently played for the Commemoration Service for the Liberation of Paris, in the presence of Jacques Chirac. He also performs each year with Sheffield Oratorio Chorus.

Mark McCombs, the Fr James Wheatley Organ Scholar, began his musical career as a member of the nationally acclaimed S.F.X Boys' Choir, Liverpool, and he has been a Choral Scholar at St Matthew's since January 2009. Having achieved a B.Mus from the University of Sheffield he is now embarking on a PhD in Choral & Vocal Composition there. Mark is Student Associate Composer and Conductor of the University's Chamber Choir, who will continue to première his compositions. Recent projects and commissions have also been performed by world-renowned trombonist John Kenny, The Choir of St John's Chapel, South Sea, and soprano Debra Finch. Mark has been Musical Director of Sheffield Hallam University's Drama Society since September 2010, and now holds the same position with The University of Sheffield Performing Arts Society. He has also been involved in the PowerPlus Composition Scheme at a variety of schools in and around the city.

Notre Dame

Photos by Dave Sargent and David Lodge

Peter Heginbotham gathered together a group of singers, some from St Matthew's choir and some from further afield, to sing the International Mass at Notre Dame in Paris.The music was extremely challenging, and bringing together various singers who had never sung together before was risky, to say the least. But Peter is never one to shy away from a challenge and will never accept that the music he has chosen is beyond the capabilities of the musicians in front of him! The music sung at the service was the Magnificat from the 'St Paul's Service' by Herbert Howells, the Truro Service by David Briggs and 'Ave Verum Corpus' also composed by Briggs. If the music wasn't challenging of itself, matters were further complicated by the presence of David Briggs himself who had graciously agreed to accompany the choir on the organ!

Contact us

Music List for early Autumn 2011 - Word Document HERE