The story of the Billingshurst Mass (1995 – 2000)

With an unwritten policy of trying to do something innovative each season, the concept of a commissioned work was first considered by Billingshurst Choral Society back in November 1995. The Society had just performed Elijah in Chichester Cathedral as its contribution to the NFMS (National Federation of Music Societies) Diamond Jubilee, raising the most of any choir in the UK, and the committee decided to set money aside in a separate account for a special ‘millennium concert’.

An NFMS ‘Adopt a Composer’ scheme in October 1996 gave the opportunity to pursue this idea, but the Society’s application was placed in the ‘runner up’ category. On receiving this news in September 1997 the committee decided to explore the possibility of ‘going it alone’. A date in 2000 had already been booked with Chichester Cathedral and the concept of a ‘millennium commission’ remained an objective, so both the Chairman and Vice Chairman undertook to contact composers known to them.

Vice Chairman David Lowe had been a chorister under Dr Stanley Vann at Peterborough Cathedral from 1954 to 1961 and had kept in touch with Dr Vann during the ensuing years – old choristers do enjoy their annual reunions – so contacted him in late 1997 to ask if he might be interested in writing something for the Society. Dr Vann’s reply was both enthusiastic and constructive – “How does The Billingshurst Mass appeal to you as a possible work – for soli (?2), chorus and orchestra? It could be for 20 to 30 minutes in length …”.

Although both David and Musical Director George Jones had some knowledge of the style of Dr Vann’s composition, and his setting of the Gallery Carol (Come all you good people … ) had featured in the Society’s Christmas Concerts, others were less familiar. Study of his Missa Sancti Pauli, written for St Paul’s Cathedral and premiered in June 1997 (OUP/Church Music Society) convinced the Committee this was an offer too good to miss.

Dr Vann’s commitments to publishers were to keep him busy until June 1998. Details of the commission were finalised in early July and the Society embarked into the uncharted waters of commissioner, impresario and fund-raiser. An application to South East Arts for a grant under the ‘Creation of New Work – Music Commissions’ was decreed ineligible, but through some very generous donations, careful stewardship and innovative fund raising, the cost of the project gradually became achievable.

Dr Vann was left alone to work on the manuscript – all beautifully hand-written, perhaps unusual in these days of electronic composition. It must have consumed most of his creative energies for over eighteen months and it is known that the score travelled with him when visiting his family in North Yorkshire and Berkshire. He took the opportunity to visit Billingshurst for the spring concert in 1999 and completed the work precisely to schedule in March 2000.

Several publishers had been approached, but none felt able to justify the cost of publishing The Billingshurst Mass at this stage. The Society therefore had the task of producing a full set of printed vocal and orchestral parts from the manuscript. A recommendation from the President led to Pete Hurt, a professional copyist who completed this task ready for rehearsals at the beginning of September 2000. The cost of this was again met by donations and fund raising.

Not a particularly remarkable story? Then consider;

 a village Choral Society formed a mere 14 years ago

 a pupil / master relationship spanning almost half a century

 a major new work from a composer in his nineties

 a world premiere in Chichester Cathedral

© DAVID LOWE