Society of Saint Gregory

Weekly meetings? I don;t recall anything in the Bible about being on endless committees??? An overview meeting for a season well before the time would be really good. And a reflection together on the readings would also be wonderful. I work closely with my vicar and we enjoy our coffee mornings toge...

Dear Precentor you are very welcome - may the debate continue! It is so good to have you involved. For the record the English setting at the Saturday 6 p.m. Mass is St Anne's Mass by James Macmillan. I have a few quibbles about the word setting, use of scotch snaps and pitch but people seem to enjoy...

The modal ones - can't remember the titles

Westminster cathedral music staff are considering having a people's setting composed for their use - something which reflects the chant tradition. I have submitted various ideas notably Alan Rees's settings for their consideration and they are open to discussion. Celtic Alleluia and Paul Inwood's se...

It was great and a big thank you to everyone who worked so hard to make it such a success!

Well I've been losing hearing in my right ear for some years and the thought of going deaf is just too awful! I'm due to get NHS hearing aids in a month but the audiologist warned me they won;t help much with music. Someone did a survey on this problem a few years back and I've lost the information....

I'd like to start a society for the defence of hymn tunes! Slane should be in 3/4 time - it is horrid messed up in any other metre. I blame Songs of Praise. OK I know it's a folk tune and if you were on Iona you'd make it sound new. But weighty percussion working against the metre of the words - no ...

Thanks to Nick and Reginald. In my former parish sung evening Mass on Holy days of obligation was always special and I miss them. I wonder if the bishops will move all of the holy days to Sundays. I do think it is outrageous that some of our schools are pleased that Masses won;t interrupt their purs...

I've given in this year and agreed to conduct this work on Good Friday evening. I like Stanford's comment to the question "What do you think of Stainer's Crucifixion"?
"I think it's a good idea!"
Still I'll give it all the love and care it so badly needs!

Thank you Merseysider for making me laugh at the entendre This is a subject about which I feel really strongly. If we do not teach children songs we love, they will be gone for ever! I was once told by a teacher that "There is a green hill" was too much for children to stand! I pointed out...

And I don't just mean our bishops and Rome I'm thinking Holy Spirit here!

One interesting thought from Thomas's helpful contribution is the amount of music for SATB in old music libraries whereas there has been a marked move towards unison singing. At one Southwark event I attended, we were told at the rehearsal to practise the harmony in our bathrooms as there was no tim...

Thank you VML for your useful comments. I really enjoyed meeting with Martin Baker and he is keen to join the SSG and this forum. A dialogue with him is vital. If funding could be found, the cathedral could commission a congregational setting which would have a plainchant base or a "chant"...

We are saving hard to go on this pilgrimage which we are sure is going to be very special. It is 34 years since I was in the Holy Land for Easter and I expect to see many changes. I can never forget being beside the sea of Galilee and singing "Dear Lord and Father of mankind"; Easter Day e...

A new member of the society has told me about a site where you can find music scores which Can be downloaded as they are out of copyright. Try searching for CPDL.. The index is good and it seems to be easy to use.