CHORAL WORLD NEWS
CELEBRATING 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF CHRIST CHOIR, LAGOS, NIGERIA (1918-2018) GODWIN SADOH organist, composer and teacher
THIS YEAR DENOTES AN UNFORGETTABLE EVENT NEVER RECORDED IN THE ANNALS OF CHURCH MUSIC HISTORY IN NIGERIA. IT CONNOTES LONGEVITY AND CONTINUITY AS WE CELEBRATE THE CENTENARY OF THE OLDEST CHORAL GROUP IN NIGERIA; THE ENVIABLE AND MOST ADVANCED SINGING ENSEMBLE IN NIGERIA IS SITUATED IN THE OLDEST ANGLICAN CATHEDRAL IN NIGERIA, THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF CHRIST, MARINA, LAGOS. The history of the Cathedral Choir began in the late 19th century, 1895 to be precise, when Rev. Robert Coker inaugurated the first Anglican choir in the country. The centenary celebration is rooted in the first choir festival celebrated on November 23, 1918, under the mantle of the progenitor, Thomas Ekundayo Phillips. Since then, it has been celebrated around this period on the Sunday nearest to St. Cecilia’s Day in November of every year. The choir has gone through several metamorphosed phases in the hands of iconic Organists and Masters of the Music, but without losing its standard, tradition, fervor, ethics, and focus on Cathedral liturgical and challenging musical heritage. Singing has always being an integral part of worship at the Church of Christ since its inception in 1867. It is referenced that the first organist of Christ Church, Robert A. Coker, just before his appointment as organist, was first sent to England to expand his knowledge on church music in order to inaugurate a world-class choir suitable for Christ Church, second to none in Nigeria. The choir were expected to be able 50
to sing in a manner worthy of being regarded as a model by other churches. The initial choir set up by Coker comprised of ladies and men. It was later re-organized during the ministry of Rev. Hamlyn, who withdrew the young ladies and replaced them with boys and young men; that tradition of singing has never left the Cathedral to date. Today, the present Cathedral choristers, comprised of several choirboys, together with the gentlemen of the choir who sing alto, tenor and bass respectively, continue this rarified tradition of singing into the 21st century, providing spectacular musical renditions at worship services and many other special occasions throughout the year. The choir also reach out to a wider audience by singing in live broadcasts on radio during Easter and Christmas seasons, and through their CD recording. The basis of the choir’s ministry is the regular singing at Cathedral services, but there are other exciting activities, including choir feasts, picnics, as well as frequent concert appearances in the Cathedral and other venues outside the gothic edifice. The taxonomical table below shows three generations of the Phillips family appointed as Organists and Music Masters. This triad of musical geniuses had an indelible imprint on the choir, the music, and the affectionate congregation. Name
Date of Birth
Years in Service
Thomas Ekundayo Phillips
1884-1969
1914-1962
Charles Obayomi Phillips
1919-2007
1962-1992
Babatunde Sosan
b. 1975
2014 to present
REPERTOIRE
The Cathedral Church of Christ Choir is one of the most respected choral groups in Nigeria and throughout the continent of Africa. It is particularly notable for its wide range of liturgical repertoire, which forms the bedrock of weekly worship in the pristine acoustics penetrating into the naves of the gothic Cathedral. The musical repertoire is similar to that of any typical English Cathedral Choir in England. It primarily reflects the seasons of the liturgical