LONDON - 17 September 2007 - 460 words
Boyce & Stanley: music for all ages
Jo Siedlecka
The London launch of Boyce & Stanley's new album: Age to Age took place at All Hallows on the Wall in London on Thursday. The day before it was released in the duo's home town of Birmingham.
Jo Boyce and Mike Stanley are supported by excellent musicians, including guitarist Carl Stanbridge, who has just finished a tour with Jason Donovan and worked with Sting and Paul Weller and saxophonist and flute player Mike Haughton who works with Cliff Richards.
The album featuring beautiful new arrangements of many of the best-loved, classic Catholic hymns. My own particular favourites were a calypso version of Sweet Heart of Jesus and a stunning Salve Regina - sung by Mike, with solo lines on flute and tenor sax.
This is music that will appeal to people of all ages.
Recently the Archbishop of Birmingham, Most Rev Vincent Nichols, endorsed the album, particularly for use in schools. He said: "I think sometimes schools look to music and the words of music which is age-related and I understand that, but I think what you are doing with these traditional hymns demonstrates that singing is as much a matter of the heart as of the intellect.
The Archbishop said he thought "What you're doing is giving a youngster a foundation and an expression of faith that they will grow into. ... I would love to see schools expand the repertoire of the music that they use so they are giving children something that will stand those children in good stead for the rest of their lives - and not simply expressing the faith of a six-year-old or an eight-year-old. I think this music is beyond doubt the kind that will do that because generations have tested it and they're still with us. They're the pearls as it were, many others have fallen away but these still shine brightly. It would be a great gift to children if schools would help them to learn these enduring treasures of our faith."
Boyce & Stanley begin a UK-wide tour this month. The dates so far are:
Sutton Coldfield
Friday 28 September pm
Holy Trinity RC Church, Lichfield Road, Sutton Coldfield, B74
2NU
Penshaw
Saturday 29 September 7.30pm
Our Lady Queen of Peace RC Church, Station Road, Penshaw. DH4
7JZ
Middlesbrough
Sunday 30 September, 6pm
St Andrew's RC Church, Bondfield Road, Teesville, Middlesbrough.
TS6 9BA
Harrow
Friday 5 October, 8pm
All Saints RC Church, Salehurst Close, Kenton, Harrow. HA3 0UG
St Albans
Saturday 6 October, 8pm
St Alban & St Stephen's RC Church, Beaconsfield Road, St Albans.
AL1 3RB
Ashford
Sunday 7 October, 7pm
St Teresa of Avila RC Church, Maidstone Road,. TN24 8TX
St Helens
Friday 12th October 8pm
St Mary's Lowe House, St Helens. WA10 2BE
Cardiff
Saturday 13 October, 7.30pm
St Brigid's RC Church, The Crystals, Heath, Cardiff. CF14 5QN
Bristol
Sunday 14 October, 6pm
St Teresa of the Child Jesus RC Church, Filton, Bristol. BS34
7PL
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