The Crucifixion at St. Peter Mancroft Church

On Sunday 24th March 2013 I attended a liturgical performance of The Crucifixion by Sir John Stainer at St. Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich. This performance on Palm Sunday was given by the St Peter's Singers directed by Jody Butler with Julian Haggett - organ, Joseph Denby - tenor and Edward Kay - bass.

The Crucifixion: A Meditation on the Sacred Passion of the Holy Redeemer is an oratorio composed by Sir John Stainer in 1887. It is scored for a SATB choir and organ, and features solos for bass and tenor. The text was written by W. J. Sparrow Simpson, the librettist of Stainer's two earlier oratorios, The Daughter of Jairus and Mary Magdalene. The work is dedicated "to my pupil and friend W. Hodge and the choir of Marylebone Church", who first performed it on February 24, 1887, the day after Ash Wednesday.

Modelled on the great passion settings of J.S. Bach, Stainer’s Crucifixion is amongst the most popular of all English choral works and vividly portrays the events of the Passion of Christ. This was a moving event at St. Peter Mancroft Church to mark the beginning of Holy Week.