Evensong for St Peter’s Day

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Exeter became a cathedral city in 1050 when King Edward the Confessor came in person to install Leofric as the first Bishop of Exeter. We share with Westminster Abbey, both our founder, and our patron saint, St Peter.

By tradition the festival of St Peter is held each year on June 29th. In medieval times the festival was marked by the lighting of a bonfire on the cathedral green and the making of shields. It has been suggested this may have been for Decani v. Cantoris horseback battles!

Today the festival (without bonfires and battles) is attended by the Friends of Exeter Cathedral. Since 1929 the Friends have assisted the Dean and Chapter in preserving and improving the fabric and furnishings of this wonderful building together with its music and its archives, thereby helping to maintain the long tradition of worship and praise for years to come. This recording follows the traditional order of Evensong according to the Book of Common Prayer but with an added celebratory ‘Te Deum’.

Paul Morgan – is the organist at Exeter Cathedral. In 1963 he was awarded an open scholarship to study at the Royal College of Music, London. Two years later he was awarded the Organ Scholarship at Christ Church, Oxford, where he studied under Dr. Syndey Watson. He became the Organist at Exeter Cathedral in 1999, having previously been Assistant Organist since 1969.

He was part-time Lecturer in the Music Department of the University of Exeter until its recent closure. Since 1991 he has been Organs Adviser to the Exeter Diocesan Advisory Committee. His numerous organ recitals have mostly been in the West Country, but he has also given a number of recitals overseas. He has broadcast for the BBC and several commercial recordings have been issued of him playing the organ in Exeter Cathedral.

Stephen Tanner began his musical career as a chorister in the choir of Coventry Cathedral. During the final year of his degree course at the University of Huddersfield, he was appointed organ scholar at Bradford Cathedral. Appointed Director of Music at Exeter Cathedral School in 1987, Stephen now combines this post with that of Assistant Organist at Exeter Cathedral. He directs the girl choristers section of the Cathedral Choir which he founded in 1994.

In this capacity he has conducted or played the organ for numerous concerts, broadcasts and recordings and has toured with the Cathedral Choir in the USA,Russia, Holland, Cyprus, Italy, Belgium and Switzerland. Under his musical leadership, Exeter Cathedral School enjoys a considerable reputation for the breadth and quality of its music making.