Society of Saint Gregory

asb, You're beating yourself up about this - don't. Our God of Love accepts what we offer - he doesn't demand that we beat ourselves up when we get it wrong. Allow the Spirit to work in you and accept those times when it goes wrong - it does for everyone - unless there is an obvious way to put it ri...

Speaking of Lent, the GIRM and 'Praying the Mass' state that the organ should be used to support the singing only during Lent, with a dispensation for the 4th Sunday of Lent and Solemnities. Is the church saying that the ideal is us not to play during Lent - after all, if we had the choral resources...

asb, I suspect you are considering resigning your music post and that is a bit more serious than resigning the forum Have you discussed this at all with your Monignor and the cantor? When I foul up I make a point of apologising afterwards. Mistakes happen - big ones sometimes. I can't believe your M...

It's just occurred to me that, if the Society wants a patron, there seems to be precious little choice when it comes to musician saints. In fact I can't think of anyone except St Gregory and St Celia - and I don't think there's much evidence that they were dedicated musicians. Can someone put me rig...

Tongue half in cheek: would the name "Greg's community" create a better kind of image?

I remember trying to accompany this at the age of 13 or so on a Reed Organ at a school music lesson in the early 60's. Imagine a group of about 20 13/14 year old boys giving O Holy Night some welly - (or was it Roses of Picardy?) Someone asked me later what all the screaming was about. I know its a ...

Can you imagine a congregation reaching for that top note - Deviiiiiiiiiiiiiine?

Baptism of Our Lord: Start: Voluntary 12th, S Wesley (p.23 in "Samuel Wesley, Six Voluntaries and Fugues for Organ, ed. R. Langley, OUP) Communion: Ach Gott und Herr, J.G. Walthar (p.20 in Anne Mardsen Thomas, Graded Anthology, Book 3. This was once ascribed to Bach and is in Bach collections u...

'Twas the night before Christmas And in the Cathedral The nave was jam-packed Solid with people. Up in the choir loft, The adrenaline flowing "Tonight we won't sound like some cattle lowing." Clarissa the organist Peered over the rail The structure gave way - She disappeared with a wail. T...

This will contribute to the database for anyone reading this thread next year. I got our list at our rehearsal this morning - church was freezing cold and the organ was supposed to have been tuned in December but wasn't - I'll have to get on to the Tuner after the holidays. The reeds are unusable. T...

I don't normally get the chance to work with our choir and I don't have the time to commit to a weekly rehearsal which I'd want to take charge of. However, but I'm playing for Midnight Mass and the carols before. I think the music is being selected this week and we have a rehearsal on Saturday and t...

I know we're all busy getting ready for Christmas, but here is my Ephiphany post - it's either post now or leave it till after Christmas which is a bit late. This is all Christmas stuff anyway. January 6th - Epiphany Start: (1) Tambourin sur un Noel Provencal by M Corrette (p.2 in 'Easy Graded Organ...

Yes, I think you have to save before you can listen.

http://icking-music-archive.org/scores/franck/fw24/Franck_L_Organiste_II_01_Sortie.pdf Here is a link to a score by a romantic composer (out of copyright), which should give you some idea of how detailed you can be in scoring for organ. The pedal will sound at an octave below written. However, do b...

Christmas Masses - I usually play carols not being used during the service - verses on different registration, soloing out the tune, etc. Alternatively, there is something for everyone in "40 Christmas Preludes" from the Mayhew stable. Holy Family: As we are still in the Christmas Octave, ...