Herald AV Publications

Careful attention to the truth of the Christmas Feast, a story often reflected in the great music for that season, is the presence of the shadow of the cross. The feast is not about pleasure and facile promises. It is a Child born into our night, to deal with all that is sin even at the cost of his life. This means that the joy and peace promised by the Feast is deep and sure and is promised especially to those who know their need of God and share in the sufferings of Our Lord in the price they pay for their fidelity to him. I am certain this music, recorded in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King in Liverpool, a city which often knew dark days, will bring joy and inspiration to all those who receive this gift of praise of the Son of God born of Mary of Nazareth. With my best wishes to all of you at Aid to the Church in Need.
Archbishop of Liverpool

Terence Duffy was Organist of the Metropolitan Cathedral from 1963-1993 and Liverpool University Organist from 1980-93. He taught in the Music Department of St Edward’s College, the Choir School to the Cathedral from 1971-93, and was Organ Tutor for the University Music Department before being appointed Registrar of the Choir School in 1994. He was Chairman of the Organ Advisory Group of the Society of St Gregory for many years. After retiring from the choir school in August 2004, Mr Duffy was asked to return to the Cathedral in November 2004 as Director of Music. In March 2005 he was appointed Director of Music. He is a member of the Archdiocesan Art & Architecture Advisory Committee and a Council Member of the Friends of Cathedral Music.
Richard Lea, Cathedral Organist and Assistant Director of Music, studied at the Royal Northern College of Music and Christ’s and Notre Dame College in Liverpool. He was Organ Scholar at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral from 1984-87 and then Organist at the Church of St Oswald and St Edmund Arrowsmith, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Lancashire. He was appointed as Organist and Assistant Director of Music at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral in 1999. Richard Lea directs the Cathedral Cantata Choir and also continues to direct local choral ensembles including the Brixi Singers and the Wigan Choral Society. He has recently recorded three CDs for Priory Records of the organ works of Lefébure-Wely.