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ARCHBISHOP’S INTRODUCTION
‘A cathedral in our time’ was how my predecessor as Archbishop of Liverpool, John Carmel Heenan (1957–1963), described the aim of the architectural competition to design a new cathedral for the Roman Catholics of Liverpool. The winning design, by Frederick Gibberd, was consecrated in 1967 and has been referred to locally as ‘Paddy’s Wigwam’ or the ‘Mersey Funnel’.
Since its opening in 1967, Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral has hosted many important events and services, including the joyful visits of HM Queen Elizabeth II (1977) and Pope John Paul II (1982) and a special Requiem Mass organised within hours of the Hillsborough disaster (1989) to mourn those who lost their lives in that tragedy. Of particular importance has been the close relationship shared between the two cathedrals in Liverpool, situated, appropriately enough, at either end of Hope Street.
Owing to its somewhat unusual circular shape, since its planning stages the cathedral has been obliged to think innovatively about its liturgy. It is pleasing that over the last fifty years the cathedral has developed an international reputation for the quality of its liturgical music and choir. The flourishing of this tradition is largely due to the firm foundations laid by Philip and Terence Duffy, respectively Master of the Music and Organist for the first thirty years of the cathedral’s existence.
From the outset, our cathedral musicians have heeded the call of the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council to preserve and promote repertory from the Church’s treasury of sacred music, particularly Gregorian chant and polyphony, and to continue to endow this treasury with fresh compositions. Today we are blessed with strong musical resources at the cathedral, with over one hundred young people and adults regularly involved in leading choral music at our daily liturgical celebrations and regular concerts.
I therefore commend this golden jubilee recording to you and ask you to unite your prayers with those who will encounter the Lord through our cathedral and its music over the next fifty years.
Most Rev Malcolm McMahon OP Archbishop of Liverpool
| TRACK | DURATION | TITLE |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 00:46 | Cathedral Bells |
| 2 | 06:48 | Te Deum laudamus — Colin Mawby |
| 3 | 05:15 | Love is his word — Anthony Milner (desc Philip Duffy) |
| 4 | 03:04 | Send forth your spirit, O Lord — Philip Duffy |
| 5 | 00:35 | Veni Creator — Gregorian Chant |
| 6 | 01:43 | Veni creator — Jeanne Demessieux |
| 7 | 03:49 | Ecce vicit leo — Peter Philips |
| 8 | 03:16 | Tu es Petrus — Lorenzo Perosi |
| 9 | 04:40 | Abide with me — William Monk (desc James Luxton) |
| 10 | 02:52 | Haec dies — William Byrd |
| 11 | 02:42 | Ave Maria I — Mervyn Cousins |
| 12 | 00:21 | Rorate Caeli — Gregorian Chant |
| 13 | 02:30 | Rorate caeli — Jeanne Demessieux |
| 14 | 03:21 | Walking in the garden — Irish Trad arr Timothy Noon |
| 15 | 05:48 | The Lord is my shepherd — John Rutter |
| 16 | 03:06 | Ave Maria II — Mervyn Cousins |
| 17 | 04:06 | Praise to the holiest in the height — Richard Terry (desc Philip Duffy) |
| 18 | 00:19 | Attende domine Gregorian chant |
| 19 | 03:46 | Attende domine — Jeanne Demessieux |
| 20 | 08:19 | Laudes Regiae (Christus vincit) Gregorian chant |
| 21 | 04:35 | Hail Redeemer, King divine! — Charles Rigby (desc Philip Duffy) |
| 22 | 00:46 | Cathedral Bells |
