Society of Saint Gregory

I expect most people know that the Londonderry Air has been applied to two hymn texts: 'I Cannot Tell' and 'Lord of the Church'. Offhand I think they can be found in Mission Praise. The former would certainly justify its performance at a funeral. In any case I think the tune is pretty good, not leas...

Several 'off the cuff' reactions. [1] Organists are more likely to be paid at funerals than in regular services - and usually they are paid more. The going rate was about £70 a few years ago. In such circumstances 'he who pays the piper should call the tune'. In such circumstances I also think it en...

I think there was an article about its replacement by the digital organ by Martin Barry in Music and Liturgy some 10-15 years ago

Sorry to be slow responding: Just some quick reactions: I take it you are working in an Anglican church, if your congregation is used to Anglican chant, so here are some of my 'Anglican' experiences: [1] The church where I currently work uses Anglican Redemptorist service sheets with modern Anglican...

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...