Friends celebrate Hough's `Missa Mirabilis'

ON JUNE 10 the Friends of Westminster Cathedral hosted a champagne reception for the musician Stephen Hough following the world premiere of his new composition, Missa Mirabilis, which was performed at the 1030 am Mass.
The Mass, specially commissioned for the cathedral, marked the end of an extraordinary journey for the composer and concert pianist, who wrote part of the score after a horrific car crash from which he emerged miraculously unharmed hence the title.
The Mass must be the first in musical history to have been sketched out in the accident and emergency unit of an NHS hospital.
Friends and music colleagues gathered in the Clergy House Common Room to hear Martin Baker, the Master of Music, thank Mr Hough for the work, which has been widely acclaimed.
Mr Baker said the cathedral was keen to commis sion new music and to add to the great musical heritage that Westminster already enjoys. It was a delight to have Missa Mirabilis commissioned from such a well-respected musician, he said.
He also thanked the Friends for securing sponsorship from The Catholic Herald and explained that the monies received would pay for the costs of rehearsing and performing the new work.
"The cathedral is keen on promoting new music so that the great musical heritage we enjoy can be added to and expanded," he said.
"With the help of The Catholic Herald we were able to get this important commission from Stephen Hough, one of the foremost musicians of our time.
"It is so important that people recognise the value of sponsoring music in this way so that we can expand our repertoire and add to the musical richness of other churches across the country."
Mr Hough took time out from his schedule to sign the music scores of the choristers, who enjoyed the challenge of learning Missa Mirabilis.
Damian Thompson, editor-in-chief of The Catholic Herald, said the Hough Mass was a triumph "fresh, joyous and glowing with subtle colours".
He added that The Catholic Herald was proud to have sponsored the premiere and was delighted by the performance of the choir.
"This was a spiritual and musical event of the first importance," he said.