Society of Saint Gregory

Sorry, perhaps I should clarify what I meant about the use of a Bourdon 16 on the keyboard of an organ: [1] I did not mean its use in a four-part hymn. As you say, it muddies the sound. [2] What I envisaged was its use for a rapidly moving bass line accompaniment (for example for a baroque figured b...

Concerning the survival - let alone revival - of Pipe Organs, the key point is that organists have to show creative imagination in their use during modern services today. Only then can the horrendous expense of restoring such instruments be justified. In particular they should: [1] Explore the possi...

Yes, lots of churches do this sort of thing up here in Lancashire. I set up a sequence of concerts myself last year - jolly hard work. There are significant financial risks; and my biggest problem was getting my proposals past the PCC. Advertising is a major operation; and really you cannot expect t...

Yes, lots of churches do this sort of thing up here in Lancashire. I set up a sequence of concerts myself last year - jolly hard work. There are significant financial risks; and my biggest problem was getting my proposals past the PCC. Advertising is a major operation; and really you cannot expect t...

At the Anglican Church in Gisburn they do a metrical setting of the Gloria with paraphrase words by myself (follows the main text quite closely). It is sung to Tallis' Canon; so it is very practical as nothing new in the way of music needs to be learnt and it can be sung unison, or with 4 part hamro...

Here are some more possibilities - some very old! I hope I am not duplicating other suggestions: O Bread of Heaven, beneath this veil : Originally in the Crown of Jesus Music. Brilliant tune by Hemy! However it has a tendency to sound a bit slushy and sentimental if it is not performed cleanly and o...

I have glanced through all the responses to this, but not very thoroughly, so I hope what I say does not duplicate what has already been put down elsewhere. As far as I can tell the document is carefully written in generalist language to avoid the accusation that the authors wish -at heart - to retu...

Just a few further remarks: [1] It is impossible to satisfy everyone when producing a liturgy. [2] A more fruitful line might be to go back to first principles and ask (a) what is a liturgy? (b) what is it for? Here are some possible responses: [a] Liturgy is a (more or less) formalised exchange bet...

I have four reactions to all this: [1] Tinkering around with getting the text 'right' is Scribes and Sadducees stuff. The bottom line, surely, is whether the service works for the people who use it locally. A liturgy that does not do this is useless - even if it is liturgically 'authentic'. [2] What...

Following on from the latest remarks: Yes, I certainly would endorse the advice to avoid an Operatic style with a heavy vibrato. On the other hand a 'monastic' style as practiced in Benedictine Houses (including Downside, where Murray was based) is often far too recessive for the sometimes violently...

Yes, I am an enthusiastic supporter of the responsorial psalm. On the other hand I recognise the difficulties you have finding cantors to sing the solo verses. Essentially the problem - and its solution - is circular: If you do not sing the psalm your supply of cantors dries up; if you do sing it, i...

Several off hand reactions to all these posts: [1] If you live in Lancashire and enjoy Pipe Organs why not join the Preston and District Organ Society (PDOA)? [2] Blackburn Cathedral has an excellent series of Organ recitals on most Wednesday lunchtimes on their enormous instrument. [3] Yes, I agree...

Again, should not this entire section be reclassified under 'Core repertoire' or, if this is too incidental, under 'Sounds Off'. Is this not more of a musical subject rather than a liturgical one? On the other hand, if one moves away from repertoire selected on largely musical grounds and looked at ...

Should not this entire discussion be reclassified/positioned under the section 'Core Repertoire'?

Just a little more development of the ideas I put forward in my last post: Cooperation between a local parish and (for example) the local diocesan cathedral. :There tends to be something of a division between the two these days (perhaps there always has been). Yet, if parish resources are to be maxi...