Le Chemin de la Croix Marcel Dupré

with poetry by Paul Claudel

Organ: Daniel Cook and Joseph Beech Reader: Charlie Hardwick

Sunday 21 March 2021 Passion Sunday 5.30 p.m. available online for one month afterwards Marcel Dupré was born on 3 May 1886 in Rouen, France. He grew up in a house surrounded by music and gave his first organ recital at just 10 years old. He was taught by Alexandre Guilmant and went on to study at the Paris Conservatoire aged 16, where he later became Professor of Organ and taught a whole generation of organists including Jéhan and Marie-Claire Alain, Jean Guillou, Jean Langlais and Olivier Messiaen.

In 1906 he became Charles-Marie Widor’s assistant at Saint Sulpice in Paris. When Widor retired in 1934, Dupré succeeded him as Organist after 28 years as his assistant, and continued in that role until his death on 30 May 1971, aged 85.

Paul Claudel (6 August 1868 - 23 February 1955) was a French poet, playwright, essayist and diplomat. He converted to Catholicism at the age of 18 after attending a Christmas service at the Cathedral of Notre Dame and his devout faith can clearly be seen in many of his works.

Le Chemin de la Croix (Stations of the Cross) was originally a series of improvisations which Dupré performed during a concert in Brussels Conservatory on 13 February 1931. The concert featured excerpts from Claudel’s poem Le Chemin de la Croix, read by Madeleine Renaud, with Dupré’s improvisations providing a “musical commentary” on the text. The concert proved so successful that Dupré spent the following year notating the work and although the piece you will hear today is different from his improvisations, the motifs used and overall mood of each station remains the same.

During Lent, we would normally hold a service of Stations of the Cross with music and readings as we process around the Cathedral. We hope you find this performance reflective as we journey towards Holy Week and the cross. Le Chemin de la Croix

First Station Jésus est condamné à mort Jesus is condemned to death

Pilate speaks to the crowd. The crowd is agitated and their shouts of “release Barabbas” and “crucify” grow increasingly loud and culminate in a deafening roar of “kill him!” The movement ends quietly as Jesus is taken away.

Second Station Jésus est chargé de la Croix Jesus Receives His Cross

The heavy footsteps of the difficult journey to Golgotha are heard in the persistent dotted rhythm. The theme of the cross which symbolises Jesus’s suffering throughout the piece is introduced and slowly overpowers the sound of the footsteps.

Third Station Jésus tombe sous le poids de sa Croix Jesus Falls the First Time

A descending quaver motif and tumbling triplets are heard as Jesus stumbles under the weight of the cross. Jesus collapses from sheer exhaustion but then the hearts of his disciples become filled with quiet hope.

Fourth Station Jésus rencontre sa mere Jesus Meets His Mother

The Virgin Mary is inconsolable as she meets her son. The melody played on the solo flute portrays her inward grief as she silently watches in despair with tears rolling down her face. Fifth Station Simon le Cyrénéen aide Jésus à porter sa Croix Simon of Cyrene Carries Jesus’ Cross

Simon uses all his strength to try to help Jesus carry the cross and his struggles are clearly heard in the music. The theme is heard in a canon between the soprano and bass and eventually is heard in unison as their steps coincide and Simon finally manages to ease some of Jesus’s burden.

Sixth Station Une femme pieuse essuie la face de Jésus A Woman Wipes the Face of Jesus

The disciples’ pity is expressed in the doubled compassion melody which has an ancient and slightly exotic feel.

Seventh Station Jésus tombe à terre pour la seconde foie Jesus Falls the Second Time

The busy crowd surrounding Jesus and the procession means that the second fall almost goes unnoticed. The music accompanying Jesus’s second fall is a more intense version of that of the first fall, with chromatic semiquavers in the key of F sharp minor. The crowd slowly disperses and the movement ends with the quaver motif from the third Station played in unison.

Eighth station Jésus console les filles ’d Israël qui le suivent Jesus Comforts the Women of Jerusalem

The voices of the women of Jerusalem who follow Jesus’s procession are heard in the tranquil melody which acts as their lament. Jesus calmly consoles them and their two voices gently come together. Ninth Station Jésus tombe pour le troisième fois Jesus Falls the Third Time

The agitation of the crowd following Jesus is heard in the relentless and rapid descending figurations. The music grows increasingly dramatic until Jesus suddenly collapses. After a long silence, a few muffled spasms draw the Station to the close.

Tenth Station Jésus est dépouillé de ses vêtements Jesus is Stripped of His Garments

A rapid, chromatic scherzo with a macabre mood accompanies Jesus having his clothes violently ripped from his body. The Station ends with an expressive section signifying Jesus in his exhausted and weakened state.

Eleventh Station Jésus est attaché sur la Croix Jesus is Nailed to the Cross

The furious rhythm of the nails being hammered into Jesus’s hands and feet dominate this Station, reflecting the intense cruelty of those delivering the blows. The music which throughout the piece depicts Jesus’s suffering is heard over the top of the hammering as he cries out in despair.

Twelfth Station Jésus meurt sur la Croix Jesus Dies Upon The Cross

The voice of Jesus is heard for the very last time: the seven last words are symbolised by the seven solo entries. After Jesus dies, an earthquake starts and the curtain of the temple is torn is two. Once it has died down the grief of the disciples is heard in the reprise of the theme signifying redemption.

Thirteenth Station Jésus est detaché de la Croix et remis à sa Mère The Body of Jesus Is Taken From the Cross

A gentle string of chromatic triplets accompanies Jesus’s descent from the cross. The movement ends with music first heard in the fourth station as Mary cradles her son.

Fourteenth Station Jésus est mis dans le sépulcre The Body of Jesus is Laid in a Tomb

The procession slowly makes its way to the tomb in the style of a funeral march. As the piece draws to a close, themes heard in earlier stations transform in to a celestial calm. Of this station, Dupré said, “This ethereal In Paradisum is a vision of immaterial, transparent delicacy, which opens a gateway to the Beyond and seems to prolong the religious emotions of this ineffable conclusion into eternal peace.”

Daniel Cook is Master of the Choristers and Organist of Durham Cathedral and is recognised internationally as a liturgical and concert organist of the highest order. In addition he is Artistic Director of Mousai, and maintains a busy schedule of recitals, concerts and recordings, both as performer and producer, as well as being in demand as a conductor, teacher and singer.

Prior to this Daniel spent four years as Sub-Organist of Westminster Abbey where he was the principal organist to the Abbey Choir and Assistant Director of Music to James O'Donnell. He accompanied the Abbey Choir for all major services, performed with them in concerts and on tours in Europe and the USA, as well as appearing in their famous series of recordings for Hyperion Records. He also performed with the Abbey Choir in several concerts in London, notably in Buckingham Palace and at the Royal Albert Hall, and was the organist for all of the broadcast services and concerts between 2013 and 2017.

Before moving to the Abbey, Daniel was Organist and Master of the Choristers of St Davids Cathedral and Artistic Director of the St Davids Cathedral Festival, where he was responsible for the maintenance and development of the cathedral’s musical ministry. Under his direction the Cathedral Choir made several broadcasts and recordings for BBC Radio and Television, toured in Italy and performed with the BBC Singers in the City of London Festival. Before moving to St Davids, Daniel spent six years as Assistant Director of Music of Salisbury Cathedral where he was the principal organist. He has worked widely as a choral conductor and has been Music Director of the Dyfed Choir, the Farrant Singers, St Davids Cathedral Festival Chorus and the Grange Choral Society and Orchestra, with whom he directed many major choral works including Bach: Christmas Oratorio, Dyson: Canterbury Pilgrims, Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius, Handel: Messiah and Verdi: Requiem.

Daniel received his early musical education at Durham Cathedral with Keith Wright. Following a year as Organ Scholar at Worcester Cathedral, he moved to London to take up a place at the Royal Academy of Music where he studied with Nicolas Kynaston, James O'Donnell and Patrick Russill and participated in master classes with many of the world’s leading organists including Marie-Claire Alain, Lionel Rogg and Jon Laukvik. While at the Academy, he worked as Organ Scholar at Southwark Cathedral and Westminster Abbey before graduating with first-class honours in July, 2003. He was subsequently Assistant Organist of Westminster Abbey from 2003 until 2005.

Daniel has twice been a finalist in the St Albans International Organ Competition. As a recitalist, he has played across the UK, Europe and Australia. In 2013 Daniel was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM), an award offered to past students of the Academy who have distinguished themselves in the music profession and made a significant contribution to it in their particular field. Joseph Beech took up the post of Sub-Organist of Durham Cathedral in September 2019.

As Sub-Organist, Joseph is the principal accompanist to the Cathedral Choir, playing the organ for daily services in addition to the choir's schedule of broadcasts, concerts, recordings and tours. He also assists the Master of the Choristers in his work conducting the choir, and recruiting and training the choristers.

Prior to his appointment at Durham, Joseph was Assistant Master of the Music at St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral in Edinburgh, where he accompanied the Cathedral Choir in its round of daily services, on a Delphian recording of the choral works of Kenneth Leighton, and on a number of continental tours. He also conducted the choir live on BBC Radio 3 and served as Vice-President of the Edinburgh Society of Organists.

Born in Nottingham, Joseph held the Organ Scholarship at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, before winning a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music. As a prizewinning student of David Titterington, Joseph performed in London's major venues and worked under conductors Marin Alsop, Yan Pascal Tortelier and Trevor Pinnock. Concurrent with his Academy studies, Joseph successively held organ scholarships at the Chapel Royal, Hampton Court Palace; the London Oratory; and St Paul's Cathedral. He graduated with a first-class degree in 2017, also being presented one of the Academy's coveted Regency Awards for 'notable achievement'.

Aside from his work at the Cathedral, Joseph maintains an active performance schedule, with recent and forthcoming concerts across the UK and in Germany, and also enjoys dedicating time to organ teaching.

Charlie Hardwick is a local actor who has worked extensively in television, film, theatre and radio, is best known for playing Val Pollard in Emmerdale and is currently playing a controversial teacher in the Channel 4 series Ackley Bridge. Her association with Durham Cathedral began with Durham Hymns, reading poetry and prose to commemorate the people of Durham and the battle of the Somme, and she also read William Martin’s ‘Durham Beatitude’ for the 150th anniversary of the Durham Miner's Association. Charlie is the matron of Durham Women’s Banner Group and proudly presented the banner to be blessed in the Cathedral during the Gala of 2018.

We are enormously grateful to Charlie for the gift of her time and talent. Holy Week and Easter at Durham Cathedral

Morning Prayer is said each day at 8.30 a.m. and Choral Evensong or Evening Prayer is sung or said each weekday at 5.15 p.m. These services are live-streamed and cannot be attended in person. On weekdays at 12.30 p.m., Holy Communion is celebrated in person only but not on Good Friday or Easter Eve.

Sunday 28 March: Palm Sunday 9.30 a.m. Holy Communion (said with organ music)—online only 11.15 a.m. From ‘Hosanna’ to ‘Crucify’: the road to the cross— online only a Palm Sunday service with the blessing of palms and dramatic reading of the Passion—Preacher: The Bishop of Jarrow 3.30 p.m. Choral Evensong—online only

Monday (29th), Tuesday (30th) and Wednesday (31st) of Holy Week 7.30 p.m. Sung Compline with Address—online only Monday: The Archdeacon of Durham Tuesday: The Archdeacon of Auckland Wednesday: The Archdeacon of Sunderland

Thursday 1 April: Maundy Thursday 7.30 p.m. The Liturgy of Maundy Thursday—online only

Friday 2 April: Good Friday 12 noon The Three Hours—online only Following the Way of the Cross with the Northern Saints—a series of addresses by the cathedral clergy on the lives and witness of the saints of Durham Cathedral from their shrines and altars, concluding, at 2.30 p.m., with Evening Prayer at the Foot of the Cross led by the Bishop of Jarrow

Sunday 4 April: Easter Day 5.00 a.m. The Dawn Eucharist—online only 9.30 a.m. Festal Eucharist—not live-streamed—attendance by ballot only Preacher: The Dean 11.30 a.m. Festal Eucharist—live-streamed—attendance by ballot only Preacher: The Bishop 3.30 p.m. Choral Evensong—online only