ANDREW LUCAS, 39-year-old Master of Music at St Albans Abbey, likes to let the music speak for itself.

"When I gave my first organ recital at the Abbey in February this year, shortly after taking up my new post, I was more nervous about the after-dinner speech I had to give to the International Organ Festival Society afterwards, than the actual organ recital itself," he confessed this week.

I had dropped in to Evensong as I have done from time to time since his arrival, and it is interesting to see how well he has settled in and what an excellent rapport he has with his choir, who all seem to be enjoying the singing and in good voice.

It was Monday, so boys only today, 22 of them resplendent in red cassocks with white surplices and ruffs, as they soared up to top notes so effortlessly in the anthem Give Us Wings Of Faith.

I noticed he had great empathy with his choir.

"While at St Paul's Cathedral in my previous post as sub-organist, I had the opportunity to watch Barry Rose working with the choristers before he came to St Albans,' he explained.

"He took such care how they sung each phrase, producing consistency in the sound quality with attention to emotional content, as well as his tremendous emphasis on the importance of the words of the text.

"Now I have taken over from Barry in St Albans, since his retirement as Master of Music, I am naturally trying to carry on the good work."

I'm sure Andrew also has exciting ideas of his own and I have noticed, both with his Abbey choristers and his St Albans Bach choir, freshness of approach and heightened vigour and flamboyance, as one would expect of a man on the threshold of new discoveries in his new role.

So what is a typical day like for him in the new job?

"We started with choir practice as usual at 7.50am this morning," he said, "and then again at 4pm, followed by Evensong.

"The rest of the morning was taken up with administration as I have to deal with all music in the Abbey, whether or not it involves my cathedral choir. After lunch there are all the phone calls to deal with and my evening is usually Bach choir."

What about time for organ practice? "I haven't managed to fit in any so far today but have several organ recitals ahead, such as in Salt Lake City this summer while the choir is in recess for the summer holidays.

"Taking on the post as Master of Music was a career move. My first duty is to the cathedral choir and I realise that means the organ must sometimes take a back seat."

With prestigious organ performances ahead, as in Berlioz's Te Diem in the Abbey this autumn, I would predict that Andrew's position as one of the top organists in the country should continue to prosper alongside his Abbey duties, as with Peter Hurford, the international organ star recitalist who was Master of Music at the Abbey until the late 1970's.

Having being in St Albans since February, does he enjoy living here?

"It's such a nice change after London to be so near the countryside and everyone is so supportive.

"That's one of the best things about living here," he said, as a smile lit up his face.

What about hobbies? "I'm fascinated by architecture so I've been reading a lot about the Abbey.

"And I've inherited a garden from Barry behind my cottage, so I've been discovering gardening too."

At which point the new organ scholar came up with a score. Which part to prepare for choir practise tomorrow?

And so the new Master of Music at the Abbey was immersed in the music once more.

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