Quarr Abbey Newsletter Autumn 2017 6/12/17 10:16 Page 1 Quarr Issue 18 Abbey Autumn/Winter N E W S L E T T E R 2017 A Deeper Look Anyone who approaches the Crib of Bethlehem is invited to a deeper look. A simple gaze, or one which is only superficial, cannot see what all this is about – the sheep and the camels, the shepherds and the magi, the couple and the Child, the angels and the star. All these are parts of a well-known scene. They form a picturesque and lovely vision. They Friends of Quarr figure a world at peace, focussed on the Child in the cradle, who seems to be a child like any child, you and me as a child, in the beauty and peace It is a great pleasure to report that The of an ideal time and space. Walled Garden Project was completed on the 8th July 2017 when The Lord Only take a deeper look, though. You might need a moment of silence Lieutenant, Major General White and for this; or the peaceful melody of, say, a Carol, or Gregorian chant. The Mrs White, joined the Friends and the Child, of course, is the centre, and everything revolves around him in a Community of Quarr and guests to movement that no other child, not even an ideal one could generate. All celebrate its completion. The move towards Him who seems the only one fully at rest. When finally Celebration was held in a marquee on the lawn in front of the church. The they are resting beside Him, in silence, and adoration, and loving Friends worked together to make this kindness, they begin to perceive a movement in Him: not only the event an enjoyable and convivial peaceful breathing of a baby fully asleep, but the great movement of a occasion. The specially made ‘Wall cake’ Child who has come to us from so high a Father. His journey is by far was donated to the Friends by the longer than ours. He came from God. He is God coming from God, the owners of the Old Smithy, Godshill. Son sent by the Father and coming into the world; God coming to our On behalf of the Friends of Quarr, I humanity in order to become one of us; the Word of God becoming would like to thank Freestone flesh; the Glory of the eternal Being travelling down to the dust we have Stonemasonary for the restoration been created of. work on this important project within the Abbey and completing it well under It is impossible now to look at you – and at myself – as I used to. Only a the original estimated cost. Our thanks deeper look can reveal to me who each of us is. Christmas makes us the to all those who helped raise funds for gift of a renewed way of looking at the world, and especially at ourselves, the project and to the Island companies men and women. We are given to look at reality as God looks at it. The who have supported the Friends during Father of this Child, this Child Himself look at us with an amazingly this project. profound look. They do not stop at our limited capacities and modest The next Retreat, organised by the achievements. They look ahead of us: towards our future, our vocation. Friends is planned for Saturday 2nd They see us as they call us to be. They invite us to the very journey they December 2017. Details of the Retreat made. God travelled to man, so that man might learn to travel to God. will be posted on the Friends’ page of This Child is the way. the Quarr Abbey website and the Friends’ noticeboard in the Teashop. May this Chrismastide be a time when we take the time to look at Him Our next project is to “Improve the who looks at us. We shall then begin to look at the world and people Accessibility of the paths at Quarr”. around us with a deeper look: a more understanding and more loving one; a more divine and more human one. That could change a few Fundraising has already begun for this project with a calendar for 2018 “Images things, do you not think? The Quarr community wishes you a Happy Christmas. +Abbot Xavier Continued on next page 1 Quarr Abbey Newsletter Autumn 2017 6/12/17 10:16 Page 2 he was always ready to rouse us, his choir at hand, to sing the chants under Quarr discussion, demonstrating by his skill as a choir director, that his learning was not merely academic. Abbey On the Thursday of the week, everyone went down to St. Cecilia's Abbey in Ryde Chronicle for the day. After joining the nuns for the conventual mass, we pursued the day's Recent events in the programme in the Great Parlour. Sister Bernadette, the choirmistress of St. life of the Abbey Cecilia's gave a complimentary series of talks to those of Giedrius. Whereas he concentrated on the Mass Chants, she JULY 8th This afternoon, Quarr was spoke of the Office Chants of the martyrs, delighted to welcome the Cammerata the, at times, very short antiphons sung at Chamber Choir for another concert of the Day Hours of the Church's Prayer. As sacred choral music in the Abbey Church. usual, Sister Bernadette brought all the The programme was chosen by its wisdom of a long experience in praying talented director Jurgita Leistrumaite, and the chant to her conferences, instructing organ accompaniment was provided by the hearts of her hearers and not just their Victor Lawrence, who also played a minds. Talk by Andrew Cooper during the Organ Weekend number of solo pieces on Quarr's newly And the chronicler cannot pass over the restored organ. daily talks of his own Fr. Abbot, who set chant. It is little wonder that so many left followed a relaxed and most enjoyable The concert started with pieces by Tallis the cult of the martyrs in its spiritual and Quarr on the Friday talking about the meal. As fitted the occasion talking was and Byrd and proceeded by way of Bach theological context as well as leading the next Forum due in 2019. permitted and the chronicler spent most and Bruckner, but the main body of the practice of the chants the choir would sing of his time with one of the Island's The Garden Wall before restoration Friends of Quarr programme was taken up with twentieth at the next day's conventual mass. JULY 26th A neglected, but ancient ordinands, preparing for the permanent century French and Eastern European But a simple narration of the classes and tradition was given new life today when diaconate. Permanent deacons, who are continued from first page composers. The chronicler was especially conferences cannot suffice to account for the community entertained the Island often married men, do not ordinarily go drawn by Poulenc's haunting “Tenebrae the success of the Chant Forum. Over the clergy to lunch. After joining the monks on to be ordained to the priesthood, but of Quarr “. The calendar has been post, please contact Dr Rebecca Ashton. factae sunt”, and by the work of week, a group of people from places as far in choir for the office of Sext, all processed provide valuable assistance to a parish sponsored by the chairman, using All the proceeds from the calendar sales composers he had never heard of before; apart as Lithuania and the United States together to the Scriptorium where a priest in his ministry of building up a photographs by Vanessa Bird and Dr will be go to the project. Morten Lauridsen, Eriks Esenvalds and discovered the heart of Christian buffet lunch was served. Fr.Joseph, the parish community in the service of God. Ola Gjeilo. Camerata Chamber Choir Dean of the Island, said grace and then Paul Goffin, and are on sale at £10 each If you would like to join the Friends fellowship through a shared love of the proved that the Western tradition of JULY 29th – 31st This or £12 by post, to include post and please contact me, Dr Rebecca Ashton packaging. The calendars can be sacred music is alive and flourishing. weekend marked the purchased from the Teashop and the Email: [email protected] or culmination of many years of Monastery shop. To buy a calendar by telephone 01983-882420 ext. 209 JULY 17th – 21st This week, Quarr dreaming, of generosity and of rejoiced to hold the bi-annual Chant much hard work. For so many Forum, devoted to encouraging the years, the restoration of Quarr singing and understanding of Gregorian Abbey's historic Mutin Chant in both monasteries and parishes. Cavaille-Coll organ seemed The number of representatives of lay only an impossible dream, but parish choirs was most marked this year. the generosity of many donors The main speaker was Dr. Giedrius and the enthusiasm and Gapsys, a Lithuanian musicologist who commitment of organist currently teaches Gregorian Chant at the Hamish Dustagheer enabled University of Paris. In his daily classes he Father Abbot to approach took us through the repertoire of Mass Organ builder Andrew Cooper Chants for the Martyrs. He showed us to set the restoration work in how the corpus was built up over a motion. This weekend saw the considerable period of time, how some inaugural concert, a recital and chants composed to honour obscure an illustrated talk which in saints were transferred and became their different ways showed associated with the cult of other, more what a great deal has been universally renowned heroes of the faith, achieved.