Society of Saint Gregory

A copy of Hymns Old and New
I found on the organist's pew
contains that bad line
about bread and wine
and heresies which just aren't true!

A Cinema organist in Ealing
Played music with so much feeling
In the opening bars of "the way to the stars"
The console rose up through the ceiling!

I am tempted to go through a list of swear words to see what is beeped! But I won't. On another thread I referred to the f a g end of effort being rewarded. (Vespers - check it out!) Frankly I hadn't considered the rude interpretation that could be put on the "cigarette" word. The softwar...

SOP wrote: Looking for an avatar I went into Google, . . . there is one there of nudeorganist. Just wondered if anyone knew him? Yes, he was a character in Monty Python's Flying Circus (BBC 2 comedy 1960's). He just played a major chord with a sixth in it grinning all-the-while whenever a spoof qui...

ILRush wrote:Mmmmm, so if I enter the word 'martians' and it is not beeped, then they exist?

Take a look at some of those folk who inhabit the back rows and dark corners of the Church at a Saturday Vigil Mass and you'll be in no doubt at all!

Can't the English be proud to be English? Now here's a problem! There are some well loved hymns that immediately become difficult because they are so specifically English. "Faith of Our Fathers" is a good example. Us kilted ones get round that by changing "England" to "This...

An organist playing at Mass
Had problems with internal Gas
When the Priest at the front
Said "we await the last trump"
Got an answer that wasn't first class!

... DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! It takes a bit of thinking and guts but, believe me, it is worth it in the end. you will at least know where you stand rather than blog the frustration on the SSG forum. I fully appreciate where you are coming from - I've been there but I did something about it a couple o...

Thanks for your words of encouragement. Rather than just a personal moan however this is a widespread problem the Church as a whole must address. None the less - your words of affirmation are most appreciated. Thanks!

The lift itself is one of those ones with a voice: 'First Floor!' etc, but I still think it should have been programmed to say 'The Lord be with you!' and 'Go in peace!' as the doors open and close. And presumably the door will refuse to open unless the correct "and with your spirit" repl...

Perhaps if payment was involved some of the truly dreadful "organists" still around could be pensioned off ! Angela These "truly dreadful organists" are a problem in their own right. By these I exclude those faithful bodies who give of their best but for whom playing in public i...

One of the biggest problems we seem to face is that when an organist offers his services for nothing the Church (by which I mean his fellow parishioners) automatically assume that it is because he is worth nothing and treats and abuses him accordingly. I know of several organists who are Catholics a...

Go look at this document and be informed. I am not sure if a similar document exists in the UK. Read it a few times to absorb its content. Read carefullt the lines mentioning that the guidline fees are for a competent amateur - read and understand what exactly that means! The link is: m Feedback we...

Oh, yes ! The number of times I've been told when things go wrong in a Catholic church, "God doesn't mind". What a cop-out for not trying. Probably if you've really done your best and it still goes wrong He doesn't mind. What gets me is when anything above mediocrity (and I include anythi...

So what makes it "Anglican" chant? - written by Anglicans? (some research needed there!) - sounding "Anglican"? (does that mean sung in those decadent "parts" and more-or-less together?). Could we be forgiven for thinking "sounding Anglican" means sounding as...

nazard wrote:
Can anyone recommend a really good unison setting of the Magnificat (catholic pronunciation please, like agnus)? .

Bernadette Farrell's setting is nice. There is a Benedictus version as well.