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AC C O R D No. 60, June 2017 NEWSLETTER OF THE NATIONAL NETWORK OF PASTORAL MUSICIANS later, we may well ask again “what is going on here?” “Why is the organ playing. Why ‘I am only here is the band playing? Why are some people clothed in long white dresses singing while other people in different uniforms are for the obligation’ walking between ‘the gathered’ who are themselves sometimes singing too” Is it Bill Tamblyn the music that completes ‘the moment’? Or: Why do church musicians still do it in the 21st century? People quickly realise that music for ritual evolved from necessity – to cover have been asked by the local branch of the Workers Education Association movement, to enhance the worship, to (an organisation to provide stimulating talks and activities for the ‘mostly- involve the gathered assembly, to give retired’) on ‘church music’. Well! How about that? Asking Bill to write…. I the assembly a role alongside the priests No! They don’t want a survey of lovely how to create music to cover the activities: and ministers. The people, through music from the English Cathedral tradition processing the book, processing the gifts. their music, can acclaim, can affirm, can (of which my no.4 son is very much a part (This is a talent less appreciated in my confirm with lifted voices. And, through the these days, singing baritone in Leeds then village church where people only want singing they reinforce within themselves, in St Giles Cathedrals.) Nor do thry want a their hymns and a little organ music at the the beliefs that they share. They become survey of the 100 settings of the Ordinary end of the service.) united through song. of the Mass by Palestrina but, actually, In the heady days of the 1960s various My students are curious at how they want to know how music is used in the Roman instructions suggested that much instruments are used in worship. activity of worship – a layperson’s guide of the Ordinary should be sung by people Ceremonies out of doors need ‘out of to ritual music. who, in those times, knew very few hymns doors’ music and that means: Instruments! The real McCoy! someone wants to and songs, and who, rightly, rebelled The singing of a choir or of the crowd, know about Liturgical Music! against the clumsy translations from Latin uplifting as it is, cannot rival the sheer Well. I am not sure I am equipped to do to English. My role at Our Lady of Grace, power of the brass instruments, the drums, this. For one thing, I am teaching retired Chiswick, was to play for Compline and the pipes. These create, outdoors, the adults (mostly teachers and business maintain a ‘cock and hen’ choir in a choir pomp and splendour that propels the people) about music. You realise, O loft. movement of crowds towards the central reader, that, as amateurs, they really do And there was the clergy! “Don’t go focus of an event. And when the central listen to every bar, whereas, I, the church there!” I hear you cry. Oh! the challenge group in the ritual enter the building, musician, learned to skim-read most of the of the 60s! How do you persuade clergy then the magisterial greeting of the pipe time, and skim-listen as well. to sing (“I DON’T sing”) let alone 3 or 400 organ fills the cathedral space even more And in any case, I have been out of Irishmen in Chiswick who assured me successfully than a military band. university teaching for over ten years. (before they left at the Pater Noster for The So, in this basic way, I hope to give a Also, I have not been a practising church Emperor over the road) “I am only here for shared experience of ritual music of which musician for even longer. Sure, I still play the obligation!” most people are aware without realising the ‘4 – hymn sandwich’ on a Sunday. But So, what will my course cover – this that ‘this is ritual. and this is ritual music’. I cant remember when I composed a Kyrie proposed course on the role of music in But I will also ask my class to think or a Gloria. ritual activity? deeper: As a layman, though, I am, at least, a We start with the class members Why, in the 21st century, do we still feel consumer, that is: I do listen to broadcast themselves. They are all consumers of that public occasions need ritual music? services! church music, like it or no. They can scarce Why not do everything in silence. You On the practical side, I play the single avoid the 8.10 Sunday morning on Radio know – TV with the sound off. manual pipe organ in our tiny village 4 (if their habit was to switch on for the Human activity is rarely silent; if it starts church. I am proud to boast that our Today programme during the week). Or, in silence, it inevitably ends with sound. equally tiny congregation (seldom more they might have switched on the TV for Examples from my own experience: than 20) sings lustily. Perhaps this side of an early evening service on a Sunday. The annual gathering at the War church music is in my genes? My family And then there is Christmas – the millions Grave in our village church yard on were a mixture of push-baptists and who watch or listen to the Nine Lessons Remembrance Day. People gather. The Cornish Wesleyans. So I do sing – loudly and Carols. I am sure that, during the leader says a few words. The soldier – from the organ stool. broadcast silences they ask “what is going salutes. There is silence. Then, we move My conversion to Roman Catholicism on here?” This is the start of the enquiry back up the path to the church and as and the urgent need in the RC church of - ‘what is the role of music’ we enter, we sing. We don’t ‘sing’ with the mid-1960s for anyone who could push Looking at the video sales, you realise a small ‘s’, but SING! We really do sing down the keys to become an organist how many copies were sold of Charles as the clergy and the military party enter meant that I quickly learnt the challenges and Diana’s Wedding and some years the church. Louder and louder! The act of of playing during Mass: not just hymns, but later of Diana’s funeral. Viewed decades singing brings relief. Inside: Bob Hurd in the UK (p 2-3), A Pilgrimage of Song (p 5). John Bell in Launde (p 5) Follow us on and - details at www.nnpm.org • A C C O R D No.60 June 2017 At first I found it strange that funerals However, the assembly don’t know the terrifying. We only have to delve into the might engender lusty singing. But here hymns the bride has chosen, they don’t performance notes of the Psalms or read again, there is a human need expressed sing lustily, even though some lusty singing of ceremony and ritual in the time of the in the fond memorial of a beloved local might match the extraordinary clothes that prophets to realise that music played such character. Once I was asked to sing during are on display in the congregation but, a commanding role. the ritual of lowering the coffin. “Sing an just occasionally, someone sings or plays So – ritual music? Well it is really more Irish ballad, Mr Bill!” so, duly, I did. And during the signing of the registry. This, too, than just singing the Alleluia while the book as the coffin was lowered, I sang. The is valid ritual music. is carried a few steps… but of course, you people gathered felt, in that moment, that So – there are lots of models of music know that. the soul of the faithful departed was lifted used in ritual in our times. As lecturer, Enjoy what you see, what you hear, up. It was an extraordinary moment. The I will be able to draw on the historical what you do. music did that. precedent – put the Music for the Royal Your knowledge, your experience Sadly, the marriage ritual, (still clinging Fireworks back in the open air’; put the as musician as much as member of an on in an age of expensive hotel weddings) Water Music back on the water. assembly – this empowers you to me both brings out the worst in us. I play the ‘usual’ It is clear from Simon Sebag Montefiore's critical and appreciative of the efforts of Wagner and Mendelssohn,for the 90 brilliant history of Jerusalem that the rituals those around you. seconds it takes to traverse our little aisle. of the Temple were as vibrant as they were Make music for the Lord! http://www.sheffield.anglican.org/worship-4-today The 2017/18 course takes place on Sunday afternoons ROUNDUP monthly from 10 September to 8 July 2018 .If you are in- ARUNDEL & BRIGHTON abliturgy.wordpress.com terested, please complete an application form and send it to Area secretary: Marie Wratten (020 8224 0632) Trish Stafford by 9 June. Places will be limited. 3 June, Pentecost Vigil Mass with New Catholics at [email protected] or 01709 309147 Arundel Cathedral 17.00 Rehearsal 15.30. Plus Repertoire 13 June. Creativity and the Dementia Friendly Church Session for musicians during the day. in Leeds. For more information contact Bernadette Ocampo- 7 October, Marriage Anniversaries Mass.