Saturday 22nd November is Saint Cecilia's Day when we honour the patron saint of musicians. Henry Purcell composed Hail! Bright Cecilia in 1692 to a text derived from John Dryden's poem A Song for St Cecilia, extolling the birth and personality of musical instruments including the idea that Cecilia invented the organ. Robbie Carroll will be accompanying on the fine organ at St Margaret's Church in Rainham.
Less than 200 years later in 1887 Antonin Dvorak was commissioned to compose a Mass by his patron Josef Hlavka to inaugurate the chapel at his summer residence in Luzany, Bohemia. When Dvorak composed his Mass in D Major he wanted it to be subtitled Faith, Hope and Love. Using folksong-like tunes in rich harmony the work clearly reflects the composer's humble faith, his natural humility and his true joy of life.
