Cathedrals, Chapels, Organs, Choirs

Cathedrals, Chapels, Organs, Choirs
by Sarah MacDonald

The music of the cathedrals, chapels, organs and choirs of English church music—is loved every year at Christmas, and upon the most important public occasions in the United Kingdom: Coronations, weddings, memorials, funerals.

A uniquely English tradition, universal in its appeal, its influence is felt around the world, across generations and genres.

Sarah MacDonald shares how this music is created and how its performers are nurtured. She writes with a gentle sense of humor and deep love for the institutions and people she serves—young children, families, movie stars, students, scholars, choral singers, composers—and so many more.

She shares her insights from her unique perspective as Director of Music at Selwyn College, Cambridge, Director of Girl Choristers at Ely Cathedral, University Organist of Cambridge University, and President of the Royal College of Organists.

This book is the perfect gift for all those who make this music, love this music, and for those who love them.

© August Press, LLC 2025

(photo credit all images: Nick Rutter)

“Sarah MacDonald has a unique relationship with the UK’s cathedrals, chapels, organs and choirs not just as an exceptional conductor, organist and composer, but also as someone who lives within this community (and has done for many years) but hails from a different community (Canada).”

— Paul Mealor PhD, OstJ

“With an insider’s knowledge but an outsider’s perspective she lifts the lid on a choral tradition which is admired worldwide but mysterious in its inner workings to most of those not involved in it.”

— John Rutter CBE

About SARAH

Canadian-born SARAH MACDONALD-organist, conductor, pianist, and composer, a Fellow and the Director of Music at Selwyn College, Cambridge, and Director of Ely Cathedral’s Girl Choristers. She tours extensively both as performer and conductor, and is renowned as a director of choral and organ courses. She has made over 35 commercial recordings, and her liturgical works (over 50 published titles) are performed regularly throughout the world. In 2022 she was appointed Organist to the University of Cambridge, and serves as President of The Royal College of Organists.

Reviews

Andrew Palmer, Yorkshire Times

By highlighting the English choral tradition, Macdonald makes an effective case, and one realises just how special and precious the tradition is and more to the point, what would be lost if it were to disappear.

Jeremy Pound, BBC Music Magazine:

Opinionated but never obnoxious, accessible but never banal…an excellent introduction to Oxbridge choirs in general…plus the skills needed to run a crack choral outfit.

Her affection for her university, college and choirs is infectious.

PATRICK CARTER, Organ CanadA

Composed with an acute appreciation for what readers really want to know, these columns reflect MacDonald’s gift for sharing practical wisdom with a wry sense of humour.

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Ian Loeppky, choral journal

The writing, besides being meticulously researched, is thoroughly entertaining, engaging, and heart-felt.

DAVID FLOOD, CHURCH TIMES

The author's reflections, in her epilogue,on expressing faith through music put into words feelings of a kind that many may find difficult to enunciate.