Dear Friends,

Some welcome rain and cooler weather have announced the arrival of winter, and once again we find ourselves at the mid-point of another

year. This year is a particularly important one for St Francis’ Choir as we honour the music of Joseph Haydn on the 200th anniversary of his death. By happy accident, a few weeks ago Pentecost Sunday fell on 31 May, the actual anniversary of the great composer’s death. On that occasion we sang Haydn’s last Mass, the Harmoniemesse; so named because of its generous use of wind instruments (Harmonieinstrumenten in German). Two weeks later for Corpus Christi we sang the glorious Creation Mass with our friends from St Paul’s Choir, Geelong. Given this busy schedule the choir has not had time to ‘hibernate’! We hope that you will continue to enjoy the remainder of the Haydn celebrations this year.

On a more sombre note, we mourn the tragic death of Christine Sommerville (née Daffy) last March. Apart from being a stalwart member of the choir for many years, Christine was very active in helping Barbara Marron run the Friends of the Choir in its early days. A significant number of present and former choir members attended Christine’s funeral in Colac, where she was a well respected and loved member of the local community. Our deepest sympathy goes to Rowan, her husband; her family and many friends.

We also gratefully note that Shirley Dennehy, a former friend of the choir whose death we noted in the last

newsletter, has been posthumously awarded an AM in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. Shirley was given the award ‘for service to education, particularly to children with a hearing impairment, and to the community as a legal practitioner’.

Both Christine and Shirley were passionate about education and about the power of music to shape young lives for the better. In August our annual Schools’ Mass will once again allow two secondary choirs the opportunity to experience a full orchestral Mass as part of the living liturgy of the church. This year on the feast of St Peter Julian (2 August) we will sing the Theresa Mass of Haydn. Then on the feast of St Francis (4 October) we will be joined by the choir of Australian Catholic University for the ever-popular Nelson Mass. The choir remains committed to engaging with both the secondary and tertiary sectors of education to provide students with uplifting experiences of good liturgical music.

Alas, the cost of providing these great musical liturgies is increasing. We are very grateful for the considerable generosity of the friends in these difficult times, but as we approach the end of another financial year we ask you to consider whether you could support us with a tax-deductible donation. Such support will enable the choir to continue its mission of reaching the community with inspiring music to the glory of God.

With renewed thanks and every best wish,

Tony Way, Director of Music

Friends Newsletter St Francis’ Choir Inc. 326 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne 3000 Ph. (03) 9663 2495

Vol. 18 No. 2. June 2009

Director’s Report

As Tony noted in his report we are halfway through the year and hence at the midpoint in the wonderful Haydn Festival of Great Masses. Congratulations to Tony and the Choir for staging such a demanding program. All this comes at a cost and on average each major Mass costs between $6000 and $8000 to stage. Costs cover the soloists and the orchestra.Thankfully our wonderful Choir are volunteers and continue to give of their time and talents freely, so that we can all experience this liturgical music in the proper setting. The purchasing of music scores is another expense and can cost upwards of $1000 for one Mass. I am noting all of this to illustrate how important the Friends are in giving as much financial assistance as possible to the Choir. As we approach the end of the financial year and tax returns are due, some of

you may consider making a special donation to the Choir. You can be assured that every little helps and that any support would be greatly appreciated.

I was very sad to hear of the passing of one of the original Friends Christine Sommerville. I know how much she contributed to the establishment of the Friends and how Barbara Marron valued her support in those early years. On behalf of the Friends, may I extend to Rowan and her family and friends our deepest sympathy. Our prayers and thoughts are with you at this sad time.

Marilyn Jamieson, Coordinator Friends of the Choir

In Brief

The choir was deeply saddened to hear of the sudden and tragic death of Christine in a car accident near her home in Colac last March. For many years I had the great joy of counting this charming and gentle lady among my closest friends in the choir when she was known to us as Christine Daffy.

Christine was educated at the Brigidine Kildara College in Malvern. We were in the same age category and both took up teaching as a profession. Our similar background and interests ensured that we soon became great mates. Her interests were all encompassing and she delighted in a great sense of humour which she inherited from her father although she did not have much time for the pretentious and self-important. She was involved in the Kildara past pupils association and had a great interest in geneology. She completed part of the degree in Church Music which was founded at Australian Catholic University by our past Director of Music, Roger Heagney.

Christine was one of those amazing people who was never hurried or rushed, yet she had time for everyone

who came to her, was always totally organised and ran a classroom which was a miracle of efficiency.

During the choir’s first tour of Europe, as well as being a delightful travelling companion, Christine’s miraculous and capacious handbag became a source of great humour. No matter what was required, when the call would go out for a piece of chalk, a needle and thread, an asprin, or anything at all, the response

would come from the back of the bus, ‘Just a minute’, and the required item would appear.

Mention must also be made of her connoisseur’s appreciation of the delights of chocolate.

Following her marriage to Rowan Sommerville, a long-time friend, and her removal to Colac, we saw less of Christine but she always had a firm place in our hearts. Her letters may have been infrequent but many choir members remember her with both affection and great respect. She was a gentle and wise lady who was a constant source of joy and humour for the many years that she sang with us in the alto line. We will miss her deeply and our thoughts, prayers and memories are with Rowan at this sad time.

Christine Sommerville (1952 - 2009) John Byrne

St Francis’ Church: www.stfrancismelbourne.orgSt Francis’ Choir: www.stfrancischoir.org.aue-mail: stfmusic@blessedsacrament.com.au

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