Music at The East Church
Music - all types of music are important in Worship at the East.
We use a wide variety of music in our worship. Most weeks the 4-part choir leads the singing from the chancel, but week by the styles and instruments used vary, guitars, violins, flutes, saxophones, drums and solo singers all have their place in worship at the East. Anthems, introits or songs by the choir alone are chosen to reflect the theme of the service, the music ranging from medieval to modern. We have a fine Wadsworth pipe organ, restored in 2008, and a Roland digital piano. A large and diverse range of other groups and soloists regularly add to the variety of our music including: The string orchestra led by Ruth Haworth. John and Ann, a duo who lead a variety of mainly more contemporary worship songs frequently written by John himself. The Edge Band of the Banchory Joint Youth Project. Recently we invited a guest preacher to speak about how aspects of faith can be highlighted through musicals like The Sound of Music and carousel. |
For more details or if you'd like to join our choir, e-mail us at [email protected]Banchory-Ternan East Church Choir - There are one or two missing in this photo but we will have a photo-shoot soon, with all of us present.
Watch this space! KEEP WATCHING - IT WILL HAPPEN! |
Banchory East Church Organ |
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In 1878 the Kirk Session minutes tell us that a "first-class cabinet organ" was purchased for the sum of 125 guineas with a “liberal discount in case of early payment”. It was replaced when our present organ was erected in 1887 by the respected Manchester firm of organ builders Wadsworths at a cost of £321 10s. The firm did much work in NE Scotland, and had an Aberdeen branch at that time. This was run by John Wardle who personally supervised the building of the organ. |
In 1932, the organ was rebuilt by Ernest Wadsworth.
The addition of a chancel to the church in 1932 required that we move the organ from its position in the centre of the previous north wall. A small side chamber was included in the new chancel, and the organ placed there, in its present position, facing across the chancel.
The rebuilding of the organ enabled it to be converted from mechanical to pneumatic action, which at that time was considered beneficial (see comments from more recent rebuild).
As time passed and decade followed decade, the condition of the organ gradually worsened, in particular the windchests from the original 1887 construction began to warp and leak. Restoration was contemplated for some years, and with faults becoming more frequent a decision to restore was made in 2007.
As well as restore the organ, the kirk session decided to change the action back from pneumatic to the once again favoured mechanical action. Why change the action? Simple really, by 2007 it was held to be the best musically and the most long-lasting type of action.
The contract for rebuilding work was awarded to A.F. Edmonstone, Dunning, and the organ dismantled in January 2008. It was partially reassembled by September 2008 when first played again, and the work was successfully completed in November 2008.
Over the years since 2008 a number of recitals on the restored organ have been given.
Click here to find further details of the organ.
The addition of a chancel to the church in 1932 required that we move the organ from its position in the centre of the previous north wall. A small side chamber was included in the new chancel, and the organ placed there, in its present position, facing across the chancel.
The rebuilding of the organ enabled it to be converted from mechanical to pneumatic action, which at that time was considered beneficial (see comments from more recent rebuild).
As time passed and decade followed decade, the condition of the organ gradually worsened, in particular the windchests from the original 1887 construction began to warp and leak. Restoration was contemplated for some years, and with faults becoming more frequent a decision to restore was made in 2007.
As well as restore the organ, the kirk session decided to change the action back from pneumatic to the once again favoured mechanical action. Why change the action? Simple really, by 2007 it was held to be the best musically and the most long-lasting type of action.
The contract for rebuilding work was awarded to A.F. Edmonstone, Dunning, and the organ dismantled in January 2008. It was partially reassembled by September 2008 when first played again, and the work was successfully completed in November 2008.
Over the years since 2008 a number of recitals on the restored organ have been given.
Click here to find further details of the organ.
Our musical history at the East goes back to 1857 when......
The first choirmaster Thomas Davidson, a plumber, was appointed in 1857.
The Kirk Session paid him a salary of fifteen pounds a year. In addition to “leading the psalmody in the Church” and training the choir, Mr. Davidson was “held bound to teach classes” in order that the “parishioners generally should cultivate Church music” (Kirk Session Minutes). Over the years since Thomas Davidson many choirmasters and organists have led the worship in the church. Possibly, one of the most devoted and noteworthy of these was Victor Mackieson, who was organist from April 1928, until his death in December 1972. He was followed by Mr Gill, Margaret Smith and Kyle McCallum. The present organist and musical Director is Muriel Welch. Under her leadership a broad range of styles and musicians continue to enhance our Worship Sunday by Sunday. |