Philip Roderick writes: Two weeks after the London bombing on 7th July 2005, I was at St Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation and Peace in Bishopsgate, central London.  This was the day when 12 noon marked the time for Londoners to keep two minutes’ silence, remembering those killed and hurt by the bombing. The whole of Bishopsgate came to a standstill as the bell of St Ethelburga’s rang out. I then went round to the small and reflective garden of St Ethelburga’s to sit before my meeting. I was moved to tears.  Through the tears, I knew that I and others needed to pray for the guarding and guiding of God’s angels, especially for cities and coastal areas. The Angels of the City chant formed itself that day, in words and melody. Since then, I have sung it in different contexts, honouring the call to pray. The extra richness came when Ali and Lucy evolved harmonies around the melody line.
Ali takes up the story: Philip didn't mention this experience to us until we'd already improvised the harmonies. The harmonies to the chant seemed to write themselves. Then he told us the story of composing it in London immediately after the streets were silent to remember those who had died. Then Lucy told us how her cousin was one of the victims of the bombing. That was an extraordinary moment. We recorded this track in the aftermath of the shootings in Paris. Wherever we have sung this chant, we have known God's presence.

Angels

GodHasShone 1

Lucy used to sing "noon songs" when she was little with her family. They were playful, spontaneously made up songs full of joy and freedom, often using scat singing. We won't be imprisoned by the limitations of real words! One person improvises while others hold a stable drone in the background.

NoonSong#2

This is a musical meditation on Isaiah 51.1 "Listen to me, you that pursue righteousness, you that seek the Lord.
Look to the rock from which you were hewn, to the quarry from which you were dug."

LookToTheRock

The world is full of injustice and pain. Maybe this chant is a good one to sing as we wait, long and act for joy? This was a jointly improvised meditation on some words from the Bible (Hosea 12.6 "Hold fast to love and justice and wait continually for your God.")

HoldFast

This is a verse from Psalm 29, which Ali set to music as a chant to sing at a colleague's licensing a few months ago at the chapel at Whirlow in Sheffield.

The Lord Gives Strength

Some chants created by Lucy Bolster, Philip Roderick and Ali Dorey in the spirit of play, prayer and contemplation. Why not try them out yourself? Or make up your own...?

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