Peter Barley, Organist and Choir Director of St Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick
I feel very fortunate to have begun my journey in church music as a choirboy at St Giles’. Fortunate in a number of respects – not least in having sung under Peter Ward Jones as choirmaster. His musicianship and dedication were obvious, even to a small boy (I was six and a half when I started out at St Giles). He gave us numerous good examples of patience, humility, loyal service, leading by good example and fine musicianship.
What lessons did I learn as a very young choirboy at St Giles?
Being part of a team, having fun, the importance of discipline. But also kindness and thinking of others, learning from others’ good example. Also the excitement and significance of the church’s seasons and ceremonies, and last but by no means least much wonderful music of course.
I am lucky to have a pretty good memory, and so I have many happy memories of my time at St Giles
Carol singing (house to house) – being one of the youngest, I seem to remember that I was delegated to carry the collecting tin! I also definitely remember being lifted up in order to reach one or two of the doorbells!
Playing in the graveyard during the break! (probably I’d discourage, or at the very least not be at all keen on that now that I am a choirmaster!)
Remembrance Day service – going outside to the War Memorial (do you still do that?)
I was very small when I started, so had to stand on a small wooden platform to see over the choir stalls!
Kindliness of several of the men – chocolate bar selection packs at Christmas; 50p Christmas gift – seemed a lot of money then! Also some fine solo singers, and pleasant younger men (some former choirboys I think)
Sense of community – shared lifts with other chorister families etc
Walking with the much older Warren brothers (they were in the back row, nice young men) up St Giles to Mary Mags, where their father and mine sang in the (all-adult) choir – to meet our parents after the service
Super voices of some of the older trebles – looking up to them, a sense of their leadership
Music – definitely remember being excited by Ireland’s Greater Love (both soloists good), Haydn’s Insanae et vanae curae, Dvorak Stabat Mater (in English I think!)
Peter Ward Jones’ organ playing – esp Bach, Mendelssohn and Handel’s Arrival of the Queen of Sheba
Peter Ward Jones giving a harpsichord recital featuring Bach’s Goldberg Variations
Peter used the RSCM Chorister Training Scheme (I still have the progress cards somewhere at home!) – gave a good grounding in all things to do with church and church musicianship
Singing in the choir at Peter and his late wife Shirley’s wedding
Being late twice – mortified – once on Sun am (maybe family overslept or misjudged the time or the car wouldn’t start, I don’t recall) – we crept into the vestry, I was very reluctant to go in as I was late. A second time for a carol rehearsal – I knew the correct time, but my father didn’t believe me/was convinced it was later than it was, so I was late!
Choir Trips – Bristol (travelling on one of the new Intercity 125s, c.1977), Portsmouth (visiting HMS Victory)
When the time came to leave St Giles, I was sorry to leave such a happy community, but I took with me many happy memories and a valuable training and enthusiasm for church (and keyboard) music that has stayed with me throughout my career. I am so grateful to Peter Ward Jones and St Giles for this.