After much planning and coordination, the sum of the parts came together on 20th June to create a whole greater than the sum of its parts in the form of St Francis Xavier Cathedral’s first ever Orchestral Mass.
Alongside our own Cathedral Choir, we were delighted to have the Geraldton City Band take part with local students and singers from the wider Geraldton community. It was also a privilege to have the exceptionally talented singers, cantors and violinists join us from the Perth based Camerata de Immaculata: a musical line-up of over 50 musicians!
The repertoire included pieces by Sir John Rutter; All Creatures of our God and King paying special tribute to Servant of God John Hawes with its text adapted from the writings of St Francis of Assisi; Hail Queen of Heaven which pays tribute to the Mother of God as well as a modern classic: Taste and see written by American gospel composer/singer James E Moore jnr.
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- Geraldton City Band arriving
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- Geraldton City Band at SFX Cathedral!
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- The instrumental forces included organist Ethan Ricafranca
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- Bird’s eye view of the conductors’ podiums!
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- The richness of our Church’s liturgical/musical heritage!
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- Fr Robert gives the homily
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- The Geraldton City Band
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- Our instrumentalists
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- Cantor Nathan de Fonseka leads the Responsorial Psalm
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- Cantor Tiana Purba-Barnard leads the Gospel acclamtion
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- The combined choir
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- Our instrumentalists
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- Fr Robert and Fr Gerard celebrating the Mass
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- Cantor Sholto Foss
