THE PRINCE ALBERT Te Deum is a nineteenth-century Anglican choral mini-masterpiece which deserves to be better known. Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1819-1861) was, as you may know, the husband of Queen Victoria. Less well-known, though, is that he was also a fine Christian man and a generally multi-talented bloke. His was the genius that drove the Great London Exhibition of 1851, which led to the building of the Crystal Palace and many other London landmarks. And his remarkable talents extended into music.
Holy Trinity Brussels
The Saint Matthew Passion of J.S. Bach
Bach’s Saint Matthew Passion is one of the greatest monuments of Christian and European sacred music. In Holy Trinity, we perform it, or its sister work, Bach’s Saint John Passion, every year. But the Saint Matthew Passion was a flower that bloomed in a particular place at a particular time. And a little knowledge about its background and its native soil will help us to appreciate it better.
Tyndale and the Triumph of the Bible
If you ever visit Brussels, and drive out past Zaventem Airport, then you will come to the pleasant Flemish town of Vilvoorde. The town maintains a Tyndale Museum. It also has a little patch of green called Tyndale Park. There football pitches jostle with a monument erected in honour of the English Reformer William Tyndale, who was martyred at the town’s south gate on 6 October 1536. This is the tale of Tyndale and his triumph in translating the Bible into English.
Johannes Passion Timetable
This is the online rehearsal timetable for Holy Trinity’s Johannes Passion (Saint John Passion). All rehearsals take place in Holy Trinity Pro-Cathedral, Rue Capitaine Crespel 29, 1050 Brussels. Dress code for soli and orchestra is black.
Best-Ever Christmas Carols
Every year, all through the world—from Oslo to Cape Town, from L.A. to Beijing— hundreds of thousands of Christmas Carol services take place. Yet not one of them happens by accident. Behind every one there is a guiding star, someone with the will and the savvy and the energy to draw up a plan, assemble the musicians, and make it happen, someone who works hard to put on best-ever Christmas carols.
Good Friday Bach Passion
Every year, Holy Trinity presents a Good Friday Bach Passion. This takes place during the Good Friday vespers service, just as it was done in Bach’s day. We sing the Johannes-Passion (Saint John Passion) and the great Matthäus-Passion (Saint Matthew Passion) on alternate years.
Rehearsals for Candlemas Messiah
Rehearsals for Candlemas Messiah take place in Holy Trinity, rue Capitaine Crespel 29, 1050 Brussels.
Dress code for everyone is smart-casual in black, white, and dark-grey.
You can read about the story of Handel and his great Messiah here. For all other details of rehearsals for Candlemas Messiah, read on below.