Choir boy Dom's cathedral carol

5:05pm Thursday 20th December 2007

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A YOUNG choirboy who has written a carol will hear it performed for the first time at Blackburn Cathedral.

Eight-year-old Dominic Chivers composed the song in his head during the summer.

He will now be among the members of the cathedral's choir who sing "That Night" at an evening service on Sunday.

The three-verse song focuses on the night Jesus was born.

It will be performed along with a list of more traditional carols by choristers from all over East Lancashire, includ-ing Burnley and the Ribble Valley. Dominic, a pupil at St Francis' Church of England School, Cherry Tree, Blackburn, developed the words and melody on his own.

He was helped with the harmonies by Dr John Bertalot, the cathedral's former director of music.

"I was just going up to bed one night when the song popped into my head," said Dominic, who lives in Feniscowles.

"I like listening to classical music so I think that helped me.

"I am really excited that the choir will be singing it, but I think it will be a bit weird too."

Dominic's father, Blackburn Cathedral's Canon Chris Chivers, comes from a musical background.

Although he is a composer himself, he said he had let the duo perfect the carol without any help from himself.

He said: "This added Dom's song.

"He plays the violin and is a probationer in the choir, where he has been learning all about singing. He is very musical.

"We were quite surprised when we heard him singing the carol and he told us he had thought it up himself.

"It really is quite beautiful. "I think it will sound amazing at the Christmas service." The service starts at 7.30pm. Everyone is welcome. to attend.