AC C O R D No. 55, November 2015 NEWSLETTER OF THE NATIONAL NETWORK OF PASTORAL MUSICIANS Meet Frances at HANDING IT ON: NNPM 2016 Conference, 29-31 July: Introducing the High Leigh, Hertfordshire Barnet, where she played flute, and led next generation music for Mass from the piano. She Some young musicians introduced by Frances Novillo •Frances leads music for worship in her church in High Barnet and nationwide, training others to do likewise. He directed music in parishes around the Diocese of Westminster, where he was school chaplain at the Salvatorian College in Harrow. He covers music from across the stylistic spectrum as both a capable organist and a charismatic worship leader. He has led music for the National Justice and Peace Network at the Greenbelt has a particular gift for nurturing other Festival. people’s musical talent in worship, Dan Antonio’s training is in music and is sensitive to the demands of theatre which particular liturgies, making musical Matthew Johnson is a composer and has equipped adjustments throughout to match the organist specialising in liturgical music him well for changing moods of worship. for small parish choirs. Erstwhile r e l a t i n g t o Jennifer Ballentine holds one of cantor and chorister at the Birmingham musicians and the Edwin Fawcett Youth Music Schol- Oratory, he has led music in several congregations arships in the Diocese of Westminster. churches in the Archdioceses of a l i k e , She is still at school, but already Salford and Birmingham, and at o r g a n i s i n g confidently Diocesan pilgrimages. m u s i c f o r leading con- His church music ministry is w o r s h i p gregational integrated into parish life, most recently e f f i c i e n t l y music at St at the beautiful church of the Sacred a n d w i t h Teresa’s in Heart & St Catherine of Alexandria in diplomacy! B o r e h a m - Droitwich Spa (pictured). Matthew is He is experienced as a stage wood, Hert- currently based in Kidderminster, and manager and production assistant for f o r d s h i r e . works as a researcher at the University large-scale worship events including S h e i s a ... answers, please* of Birmingham. Flame 2 at Wembley Arena, and gifted cantor national events of the Salesian and anima- community, for whom he composed tor, enthu- the Mass of St Dominic Savio in s i a s t i c a l l y Good news we have a new rep for Hallam 2015. Dan worked as music director leading worshippers and choirs of Diocese in the parish of St John’s Wood in all ages. She cantored at this year’s London, and is now based in Preston Mass for Migrants in St George's Ca- Trish Stafford [email protected] where he is a secondary school thedral, Southwark, drawing together chaplain. He’s a talented cantor and participants from the three Dioceses engaging workshop leader, drawing on of Southwark, Brentwood, and West- music from across the broad Catholic minster. She recently led a packed spectrum. church singing at Mass celebrated Maura O’Sullivan is a member of by Cardinal Vincent Nichols (pictured the Catholic chaplaincy’s music team overleaf), and will be one of the lead Henry Balkwill is a student in at the University of Nottingham where musicians at Westminster’s Diocesan formation with the Missionaries of the she’s studying medicine. For many Youth Mass in December, celebrating Sacred Heart, training at St Patrick’s years she was involved in the Family young people in liturgical ministry. College, Maynooth, Ireland. Mass choir at St Gregory’s Church in One of the adults in Jennifer’s Follow us on and - details at www.nnpm.org • A C C O R D No.55 November 2015 music group told me: ‘Young In your church, discovering and people make great church drawing in talents and skills from the music leaders, given the right next generation may involve looking in support and encouragement.’ new places and adapting to new ways Adults of all ages (also younger rather than expecting young adults to children, and clergy) accept fit into well-established patterns. Yet in and encourage leadership prayer, worship and shared Christian exercised by Jennifer and life, whatever age we are (or feel!) other young people involved we walk the pilgrim way together, in music in the church. hopefully, towards fruitful pastures. Church music - the scene in Scotland Nicola Lawrence Scotland is a diverse country with about 5.2 million inhabitants and covers an area of 30,414 square miles. This includes six large cities - Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee, Stirling A 'Singing the Mass' workshop in Girvan organised and Inverness - and of its 800 islands, 130 are inhabited. It by Galloway Music Network (Catholic). We meet in a is not surprising that such a multifaceted country has many parish for lunch on a Saturday, and spend the afternoon different expressions of Christianity - and as a result - many preparing the music (which we lead) for the evening different styles of church music are on offer. In my own Diocese of Galloway, the best attended event we organised was In writing this article, I can only comment to experienced professionals . .’. an evening of music led by Ian White, on what I am aware of, but I have tried Content is organised by musical genre who grew up in Ayrshire. Ian completed to include all the major strands and (classical, contemporary, community, a divinity degree at Aberdeen University influences. Some of these thoughts come children) and by resource type (easy before embarking on a ‘career’ as a from my own experiences and impressions keyboard, instrumental arrangements, Christian singer and composer. He is best - I lived for 27 years in Girvan, a town in organ accompaniments, organ last verses known for his song settings of the psalms. rural Ayrshire with a population of about and descants, sol-fa and new music). There In thirty years he has travelled the world, 6,700. For many years I served as an are also some video tutorials - which make produced more than twenty albums and organist in both the Church of Scotland (the the art of improvising look so very easy! has acheived sales of around a quarter Kirk) and the Catholic Church, and was WGRG of a million from his Scottish based record secretary of the local ecumenical body. The work of the Wild Goose Resource label, Little Misty Music. The Kirk Group, a semi-autonomous project of the The Episcopal Church The Kirk is one of the largest organi- Iona Community, is known throughout The Scottish Episcopal Church (part sations in Scotland, with a membership the UK. It exists to enable and equip of the worldwide Anglican Communion) of over 400,000. It is Presbyterian, and congregations and clergy in the shaping is relatively small in numbers, but widely its status as the national Church dates and creation of new forms of relevant, respected for the quality of its ministry and from 1690. Music (and in particular, participative worship. John Bell has worship. Music plays an integral part in hymn singing) forms an important part of produced (some in collaboration with services and there is much variety - from worship. The Church Hymnary Fourth Graham Maule), many collections of plainsong to modern choral anthems; Edition (known as CH4) was published original hymns and songs, and also from ancient hymns to worship songs; in 2005 and is one of the best and most collections and songs of the world church. from centuries old texts to words from comprehensive hymnals available, having Many items are in our hymn books, contemporary hymn writers; and from been compiled by a committee appointed whatever our denominational background. metrical psalms to songs from the global by the Church. The Catholics church. Many churches have pipe organs, The Kirk has an excellent online Styles of music used within the Catholic others have instrumental ensembles music resource, called ‘different voices’, Church vary. A national music advisory - some both. Choirs, singing groups which can be accessed from www. board established by the National Liturgy and cantors also enrich the Church’s churchofscotland.org.uk (choose music, Commission in 1999 has been disbanded worshipping life. music for worship). It describes itself as but will be reconstituted as a Committee RSCM Scotland ‘. a space for anything and everything to for Church Music. Individual dioceses, RSCM Scotland offers access to do with church music . for musicians, especially the Archdioceses of Glasgow national training schemes, as well as ministers, members of congregations, and Edinburgh, have been active in organising its own workshops, courses and those on the edge of church life . supporting and encouraging musicians and events. RSCM Scottish Voices is an . for those who like traditional hymns, within their areas. St Mungo Music in adult choir drawing together accomplished those who like the most modern worship Glasgow, led by Mgr Gerry Fitzpatrick, and experienced church musicians to music, and everything in between. for has produced and contributed to various sing in a variety of locations each year. everyone from absolute beginners through musical resources used throughout the UK. RSCM Young Scottish Voices is a training 2 A C C O R D No.55 November 2015 choir for young people aged 9-18 to help three times a year. The atmosphere at develop a new generation of singers - and these is very supportive and friendly.