Australian Decorative & Fine Arts Society (ADFAS) Fleurieu

ADFAS Fleurieu has been extremely fortunate in having brilliant lecturers in 2021 who have given us a glimpse of awardwinning local architecture, the history of floral art painting and most recently insights into the life and art of Nora Heysen. For our next presentation we welcome Colin Macdonald and his thrilling topic Music and the Church. Colin Macdonald is a Law graduate from the University of Melbourne and for some six years arranged and presented programs on the ABC's classical music network. In his student days he sang bass in a traditional Anglican choir - No Women! - despite his being an agnostic. We all recognize the sound of a traditional hymn, a Christmas carol and many pieces of church music used today for a variety of occasions. The Hallelujah Chorus (Handel’s Messiah) sung at the Last Night of the Proms at the Albert Hall in London is one such highly recognizable piece, as is ‘Amazing Grace’ written in 1772 by John Newton, original slave trader and latterly Anglican priest, and set to a popular melody NEW BRITAIN by William Walker in 1835. But what do we really know about the origins of church music? What a treat to have local lecturer, Colin Macdonald, to take us on this journey and illustrate how music in western civilization developed hand -in-hand with the growing power of the church. The church was by far the major employer of musicians and composers for many centuries. Colin attests that this union of music and church nearly didn't happen and there have been many bitter disputes about the place of music (if any) in religious services; for example, Cromwell's Puritan government in mid-17th century England banned the use of music in church services and removed the organs from most cathedrals and churches. Colin’s presentation will be enhanced by interludes of music.

MUSIC and the CHURCH

Monday 2nd August 2021

ADFAS Fleurieu lectures begin at 10.30am.

Venue: Gospel Centre, 2 George

Main Road, Victor Harbor 5211.

ADFAS Fleurieu is one of 38 Australian Decorative and Fine Arts Societies across the country that organises an exciting, interesting and diverse lecture programme each year on a wide range of topics relating to the arts. It also supports local arts and artists. All lecturers are experts in their fields. For information about membership or lecture bookings email: fleurieu@adfas.org.au or phone 0452556193

The Introit Gaudeamus omnes, scripted in square notation in the 14th–15th century.