CHURCH MUSIC QUARTERLY DECEMBER 2020 GUIDED BY THE SPIRIT CMQ_Dec2020_11Nov_finalaw.indd 1 11/11/2020 12:56 Tradition, Quality, Innovation, Style. We offer four brands of organ each with their own identity, sounds, appearance, technology and style. All our brands share valuable characteristics such as technological innovation and the best sound quality, which is never a compromise. All provide the player with a unique playing experience. A great heritage and tradition are our starting points; innovation creates the organ of your dreams. Makin | Copeman Hart | Johannus | Rodgers www. .co.uk For more details and brochures please telephone 01706 888100 CMQ_Dec2020_11Nov_finalaw.indd 2 11/11/2020 12:56 Tradition, Quality, CONTENTS 5 WELCOME 34 THE PURSUIT Innovation, Style. OF EXCELLENCE Sal McDougall on new opportunities 6 IN ACTION for education A look at the RSCM’s fi rst Online Summer Course 8 36 A FRESH APPROACH 8 CANDLEMAS TO CHORISTER AWARDS Adrian Lucas explains the changes DURING LOCKDOWN to the Voice for Life awards coming David Stancliff e refl ects in 2021. upon the meaning and the music of Candlemas. 38 BEGIN THE MUSIC, 16 LEAVING A LEGACY STRIKE THE TIMBREL Sue Wallace extols the benefi ts John Hall asks readers to consider of using percussion in church. leaving the RSCM a legacy. 18 18 SEARCHING 41 HYMN MEDITATION Gordon Giles looks at the annual FOR BLESSINGS favourite Three Kings of Orient. An interview with singer Aled Jones. 44 STAFF PROFILE 24 RSCM VOLUNTARY CMQ talks to Anne Heather and AREAS: ‘THE NEW Jonathan Robinson about their COVENANT’ roles at the RSCM. John Halsey explains the new arrangements for the management of RSCM voluntary activity. 46 A LEGEND REBORN Restoring the King’s College, Cambridge organ 30 26 RSCM NEWS News and reports across the RSCM’s international network 49 OBITUARIES 28 CONGRATULATIONS 50 CLASSIFIED ADS We offer four brands of organ each with their own identity, sounds, Members’ successes and RSCM appearance, technology and style. All our brands share valuable awards 51 REVIEWS CMQ evaluates the latest church characteristics such as technological innovation and the best sound 29 FROM THE DIRECTOR music books and CDs. quality, which is never a compromise. All provide the player with a Hugh Morris on how hardship can lead to innovation unique playing experience. A great heritage and tradition are our 38 starting points; innovation creates the organ of your dreams. 30 WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR? M.J. Kramer considers how we may approach Advent through Makin | Copeman Hart | Johannus | Rodgers the theology of music. www. .co.uk 46 For more details and brochures please telephone 01706 888100 CMQ_Dec2020_11Nov_finalaw.indd 3 11/11/2020 12:56 CMQ_Dec2020_11Nov_finalaw.indd 4 11/11/2020 12:56 WELCOME THE ROYAL SCHOOL OF CHURCH MUSIC At the time of writing (November 2020), we have just re-entered lockdown. With most Registered Charity No. 312828 traditional carol concerts cancelled and familiar Christmas services unlikely, it is easy to feel Company Registration No. 00250031 dispirited, even disoriented. Yet, if you find yourself feeling adrift, remember, as David Stancliffe 19 The Close, Salisbury, SP1 2EB reminds us in this issue of CMQ, that the church’s liturgical year provides us with useful points www.rscm.org.uk of orientation. In these darkest months, we have Advent, Christmas, Epiphany and Candlemas. Director: Hugh Morris In ‘Candlemas during lockdown’, Stancliffe contemplates the sanctification of the day, but also Deputy Director (Operations considers how William Byrd and J.S. Bach explored the meanings of Candlemas through their & Finance): Stephen Mansfield Deputy Director (Education and music. He explains to us that Bryd was, in his own way, ‘locked-down’ by his political and Mission Delivery): Sal McDougall religious views (composing as he did for clandestine Catholic services at a time of Head of Publishing: Tim Ruffer establishment-enforced Protestantism). It is a timely reminder that music is a valuable way EDITOR of exploring and expressing aspects of our faith even amid restrictions and hardships. Stefan Putigny Before we reach Christmas and Candlemas, we must, of course, pass through the Sundays of Advent. In his article ‘What are we waiting for?’ M.J. Kramer invites us to reconsider the GENERAL ENQUIRIES T +44 (0)1722 424848 meaning of the season. Have our musical and liturgical approaches to Advent contributed to F +44 (0)1722 424849 its absorption in a ‘long’ Christmas? And where might we search for more profound liturgical E [email protected] messages in music that is so often absorbed into carol services? Kramer provides some answers. MUSIC DIRECT In this issue you will also find an interview with singer and TV and radio presenter Aled T +44 (0)845 021 7726 Jones. So, turn to page 18 if you want to know what Aled’s favourite Christmas carols are, F +44 (0)845 021 8826 how he’s been spending his time during lockdown, and his advice for young choristers. E [email protected] If you are looking for some familiar music of the season, then you may wish to turn to page 41 EDUCATION AND COURSES and read Gordon Giles’s meditation upon Three Kings of Orient. Were they kings? And were T +44 (0)1722 424843 there three of them? Be prepared for some of your perceptions about this carol-concert staple E [email protected] to be challenged. ACCOUNTS There is a lot in this issue for those who are involved with RSCM voluntary activities and T +44 (0)1722 424842 with our Voice for Life programme. The ways in which our voluntary Areas are structured E [email protected] is changing, and details are on page 24. The sharp-eyed will notice that our regular What’s VOLUNTARY NETWORKS On pages do not appear in this issue. This is due to the restructuring process and the ongoing T +44 (0)1722 424848 pandemic. In other news, 2021 will see significant changes in our chorister awards. A new E [email protected] syllabus has been put together, as Adrian Lucas explains on page 36. RSCM MEMBERSHIP ENQUIRIES UK Finally, if you’ve not already heard, the RSCM is holding a Big Christmas Carol Service (INCL. IRELAND) on 12 December. It will be broadcast live on our YouTube channel and will feature some very T +44 (0)1722 424848 special guests. We hope you can join us. But whatever your own services and holidays look like E [email protected] www.rscm.org.uk/get-involved/ this year, we wish you the joys of the season and leave you with the thought that ‘a merry heart Australia, Canada, New Zealand, does good like medicine’ (Proverbs 17.22). South Africa and USA: Contact your local branch for details STEFAN PUTIGNY Other countries: See website for details www.rscm.org.uk/get-involved/ CMQ DECEMBER 2020 Front cover photo: Presentation of Jesus CONTRIBUTORS in the Temple by Vittore Carpaccio, 1510. Alamy Stock Photo. STEVEN BENSON was a staff DAVID STANCLIFFE was provost Design and origination by Smith & Gilmour producer and director of BBC religious when Portsmouth Cathedral was programmes, working on Choral Evensong, completed and re-ordered. As Bishop Printed by Stephens & George Ltd the Daily Service, Songs of Praise and Carols of Salisbury, he chaired the Liturgical Views expressed in signed articles, letters from King’s. He is now a freelance producer Commission during the creation of and advertisements are not necessarily and director, and a non-stipendiary priest Common Worship (2000). He is a those of the editor, publisher or staff. in the Diocese of Chester. fellow of St Chad’s College, Durham, Articles, letters, classified advertisements and directs The Bishop’s Consort, which performs and members’ news for the March 2021 issue GORDON GILES is canon chancellor Monteverdi to Bach on period instruments. His books by 1 January 2021 to: of Rochester Cathedral. He has written include God’s Pattern (SPCK, 2003), and The Gospels Magazines Editor, RSCM, various books on church music and in Art, Music and Literature (SPCK, 2013–2015). 19 The Close, hymnody published by BRF and SPCK and was on the editorial team of the SUE WALLACE is a creative Salisbury SP1 2EB new Ancient & Modern and the liturgist. After studying in Canterbury, T +44 (0)1722 424845 Revised English Hymnal. she worked for a community in E [email protected] York that began Transcendence, a Review materials to: ALED JONES is a singer and radio multimedia Eucharist in York Minster the Reviews Editor, Ashleigh House, and television presenter. He made his blending choral music, creative prayer Cirencester Road, Minchinhampton, professional debut as a boy soprano aged and images. After ordination and Stroud GL6 9EL 12, recording 16 albums by age 16. He curacy, she became precentor at Leeds, later becoming studied at the Royal Academy of Music precentor at Winchester Cathedral. Sue now works for T +44 (0)7879 406048 and the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. the Transcendence Trust and sings in Romsey Abbey. E [email protected] Aside from his work as a performer and Display advertising copy/enquiries to: recording artist, he is the presenter of the BBC’s Songs Stephen Dutton, Church Times, of Praise programme and a radio host for Classic FM. RSCM STAFF CONTRIBUTORS Invicta House, 108–114 Golden Lane, John Hall, Chair of Council John Halsey, incoming RSCM Council Member M.J. KRAMER is the precentor London EC1Y 0TG. Anne Heather, Head of Accounts of Canterbury Cathedral, and the T +44 (0)20 7 776 1011 Adrian Lucas, Head of Choral Studies founder and organizer of Sacred Space E [email protected] Sal McDougall, Deputy Director of Education for students and young adults, which and Mission Delivery meets for worship, discussion and Hugh Morris, Director fellowship.