Glory be to God for Dappled Things – Sheffield Cathedral

Sheffield Cathedral will host the northern premiere of Gabriel Jackson’s Glory be to God for dappled things— a new setting of Gerard Manley Hopkins’ poem, Pied Beauty — conceived specifically for cathedral choirs.

Sheffield Cathedral hosts northern premiere of a new piece specially commissioned to celebrate cathedral choirs.

The piece – to be heard for the first time at Choral Evensong next Tuesday (14 Oct) – was commissioned by the Ouseley Church Music Trust to celebrate the 200th anniversary of its founder, Sir Frederick Arthur Gore Ouseley.

The work was conceived for performance by a cathedral choir in partnership with a local school and Sheffield Cathedral Choir will be joined by Year 5 pupils from the Prince Edward Primary School which recently became a Cathedral Choir School as part of the cathedral’s developing network of partner schools.

The piece reflects Ouseley’s vision of nurturing the highest standards of choral music in cathedrals and churches, and it will ago on to be performed by the choirs of St Paul’s Cathedral, Exeter Cathedral, and Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford later this year.

The Dean of Sheffield, the Very Revd Abi Thompson, said, ‘I’m delighted to have the northern premiere of this beautiful piece by Gabriel Jackson sung at Sheffield Cathedral.

‘It’s great that the Ouseley Trust has created this opportunity to celebrate the rapidly growing and flourishing work of cathedrals across the country in schools. 

‘Here in Sheffield it’s at the very heart of our vision to give opportunities to sing at the very highest level for school children across the region in some of our most economically deprived schools. 

‘Glory be to God for dappled things, and for the gift of song!’

The event will also mark the launch of Sheffield Cathedral’s new Music Board, which will help to further guide the future of the cathedral’s musical life exploring cultural partnerships, supporting education, and developing long-term sustainability including plans to commission a new cathedral organ – a long-envisioned project first proposed in 1997!

Last month, choristers were reintroduced into Sheffield Cathedral’s choir marking a significant moment in the cathedral’s musical life and building on the strong foundation of its adult singers and choral scholars.

These young voices are drawn from a growing number of local partner schools, and opportunities remain open to talented children across the region.

Choral Evensong on 14 October will bring together children and singers from across the region, leading figures from Sheffield’s business and arts communities, and the new Bishop of Doncaster, the Rt Revd Leah Vasey-Saunders, who joins the Board.

Choral Evensong, Tuesday 14 October at 5.30pm – performed by Sheffield Cathedral Choir with Year 5 pupils from Prince Edward Primary School.