Camerata Trinitati (“for the Holy Trinity”)
comprises three young men who are, or have been, connected to the Roman Catholic
Cathedral Choir in Utrecht, The Netherlands. In spring 2005, during a concert
tour to Vienna, we, being good friends outside the choir, had the idea of
forming a vocal group, specialising in singing church services.
The three singers:
Ardaan Dercksen (1984) (baritone/ precentor) had been a member of the Utrecht Cathedral Choir School since his childhood. Today he is one of the precentors of Utrecht Roman Catholic Cathedral, the See of the Archbishop of The Netherlands. At present he is studying for choirmaster qualifications at the Prins Claus Conservatory in the City of Groningen. Since 2006 Ardaan has also been a member of the well known Roden Boys Choir (RJK). This choir has recently been touring throughout England, singing services and giving concerts.
Maarten Romkes (1984) (tenor/ musical leader), is studying percussion and choir conducting at the Prins Claus Conservatory in the City of Groningen. He is the conductor of a gospel choir in Friesland, a province in the north of The Netherlands and of a Frisian chamber choir.
Trevor Mooijman (1974) (countertenor/ manager of the group) is a primary school teacher. A few Sundays each year he joins the choir of the Anglican Church of St. John and St. Philip, The Hague, where he was baptised and where both his mother and his English grandmother (a British WOII soldier) were long serving choir-members.
Familiarity with the Anglican musical tradition:
All three are members of the Schola Liturgica and Ichtuscantorij in the town of Harlingen, in the province of Friesland, conducted by Mr. Sjouke Bruining and his wife Mrs. Geke Bruining-Visser and join them in journeys to England where they sing all services in various cathedrals during the (summer) holiday, while the cathedral choirs are on leave. With these choirs, they have, in the past few years, sung at St.Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, York Minster, and St.Albans cathedral. Thus they are very familiar with the various orders of service of the Church of England (Matins, Evensong and Eucharist) and the great musical tradition of which they are honoured to be allowed to be a part for one or two weeks every year. Please visit their website: www.scholaliturgica.nl and www.zingeninengeland.nl (singing in England).
We can sing a three-part a cappella Ordinarium (Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus-Benedictus, Agnus Dei) for the Eucharist. For Evensongs we sing a three part set of Preces & Responses, an Anglican chant and the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis. One or two anthems could complete the service. Our repertoire is based on the masters of the old polyphony: Dufay (15th Century), Lassus (16th), Byrd (16/ 17th) Lotti (17/18th). We also perform modern compositions: Moore, Giles (English), Deden en Mul (Dutch), together with harmonisations of hymns and liturgical verses of our own.
Clothing:
We normally wear our own cassocks, but we are happy to
wear the churche's gowns.
Precentor & Organist:
Finances:
We don’t ask a fee, but we would warmly appreciate a contribution to cover our expenses.
References:
- Gerard Beemster Choirmaster, St. Catharina Cathedral, Utrecht; +31(30)2715892
- Jeroen Felix Rector Cantus St. John
Cathedral, ‘s Hertogenbosch; jeroenfelix@hotmail.com
- Chris Farr former Master of Music, St. John
& St. Philip (Anglican), The Hague
- Michael Hedley Choirmaster St.Nicolas Church Amsterdam m.hedley@muziekindenicolaas.nl
Information & Bookings:
T.M. Mooijman - Frieslandlaan 101 - 9642 GN Veendam – The Netherlands - +31(598)622488 - +31(6)40708655 - contact@trinitati.nl - www.trinitati.nl.