From the Organist & Choirmaster

At this Sunday’s offering of Choral Evensong, the parish choir will sing Healy Willan’s ‘Fauxbourdon’ service, a simple but elegant setting of the evening canticles. Born in 1880 in the United Kingdom, Willan began musical training at age eight at St. Saviour’s choir school in Eastbourne until 1895 when he began working as organist and choirmaster at several London-area churches. The Anglo-Catholic Tractarian movement led to an Anglican revival of plainsong, and in 1910 Willan joined the London Gregorian Association which is when the fauxbourdon service was composed.

Willan spent much of his life in Canada having emigrated to Toronto in 1913 where he served Toronto’s largest church, Saint Paul’s Bloor Street. Willan moved up quickly at the University of Toronto and in 1920 the Toronto Conservatory appointed him as head of the theory department and earned the title of Companion when the order of Canada was established in 1967. In 1956 he was appointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury “Dean of Canadian composers,” becoming the first non-English church musician to hold such a title and honor.

What is ‘Fauxbourdon?’ The word itself is a French word meaning “false base” and represents a 15th century compositional style prevalent in the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance. It is characterized by three voices in parallel motion harmonizing a plainsong melody, resulting in 6/3 chords. Willan’s service utilizes cantors singing solo melodies accompanied by the organ’s softest stops followed by choral sections in the fauxbourdon style. I find it to be a very pleasing and simple arrangement that highlights the text of the songs of Mary and Simeon. While some arrangements could distract with flashy rhythms, organ parts, and loud sections, Willan’s invite the listener to focus on the text free of distraction.

Please make plans to join us for Choral Evensong this Sunday, February 22 at 5:30, with organ prelude at 5:15pm. Bring a friend too!