January 2004
Church Music in Howth	Show Menu

Six months ago, David McConnell paid a visit to Sutton, to proof-read SOUNDBOARD before it went to print. During coffee (the proofing had been finished!), we chatted about each other’s way of managing our choirs and church music. I think we both picked up a few hints and tips from each other. It has since occurred to me (as Editor) that most organists/choir directors probably have something to pass on to others — things that make the task easier and/or more effective. It would be interesting too to hear how things are done in other churches. So, to start a series (hopefully), here are some thoughts from the Editor, about musical matters in his own church, St Mary’s Howth.

Choosing the Music

Towards the end of each month, the Rector and I meet to choose the hymns for the following month, the task usually taking up to an hour or so, Subsequently I select the chants and when necessary, alternative tunes for hymns (we still use some from the “old” book), and then I make out the monthly choir lists. The template for this is on the computer, so it’s just a case of filling in the various numbers. Fourteen copies are needed; ten for the two rows in the choir, and the remaining four for the Rector, the vestry, the organ and the “choir practice suitcase” (which travels from the church gallery to the Parish Hall and back, each Sunday!

Sundays

I have two services, the first being at 9.30 a.m. (three hymns, voluntaries, no choir). This is followed by coffee in the Vestry, with the Rector, student reader, churchwardens, sexton and the occasional visiting cleric. Then at 10.40, there is a short choir practice in the Parish Hall, essentially to sing through the psalm, and any unfamiliar hymns. On the first and third Sundays of the month, the 11.00 a.m. service is that of Holy Communion — which we sing (the Gloria, the Gospel Acclamations, the response to the Commandments, the Sanctus and the Agnus Dei). For the last ten years (too long actually!), we have been using three Holy Communion settings, those of Bodley, Stewart and O’Carroll During the Communion, some suitable hymn is sung very softly.

The second-Sunday-of-the-month service (and the fifth, when there is one) is that of Morning Prayer, with the usual canticles being sung.

On the fourth Sunday, there is the Family Service. There is no Sunday School on that day and the children are in Church. In addition to hymns, the children often do their own party piece. At the 9.30 service on the fourth Sunday, the Holy Communion service is from the Book of Common Prayer, and the choir sing the Stewart setting of it, as given in the Irish Chant Book.

Organ and choir are on the gallery at the back of the church — which has both advantages and disadvantages. The lead they give to the congregation surely cannot be as great as if they were at the front of the church — although we do move them to the front for the Christmas Carol Service. One advantage of their being at the back is that when necessary, a note can be passed around during service, drawing attention to a change of chant, hymn or whatever!

Special Services

Like every other parish, special music is prepared for Harvest, Christmas and Holy Week. During my ten years or so in Howth, I have never been able to do anything special for Easter. There seems to be a mass exodus from St Mary’s Howth towards the end of Holy Week, of both choir and congregation. (Do other organists find the same?) One perhaps out-of-the-ordinary special service is that on the Sunday after Christmas. For the last few years (certainly five, maybe more), we have had a “request carols” service (that is, requests on the spot!). Not knowing what is coming next, the organist and choir have had several challenges over the years, when something less familiar has been requested. In announcing each carol, the Rector gives a bit about the history/writer/composer of the carol, and will decide on only some verses of any particularly-long carols. This service has been well received.

Choir Practices

In addition to the short Sunday morning practices, we meet on a weekday evening (generally Mondays, which seems to suit the majority best) coming up to special services. I have about twenty choristers “on the list”, but it’s only for special services the I have the majority. The Sunday average for 2003 was 10.6.

During September and October of this year, I took a series of six extra practices, specifically to teach sight-reading to those who wanted to learn or to improve. There are plenty of good sight-reading guidebooks available (I have five), with an abundance of graded exercises. The number that came varied between five and ten. I know that everyone both enjoyed those sessions and found them helpful. One erstwhile non-reader (a tenor!) now reads quite well.

Six months ago, I found a little booklet entitled Warm-up Rounds for Choirs (by Clive Walkley, publ. Kevin Mayhew) These are exercises for the voice specifically for use at the start of a practice. The book contains 29 sight-reading exercises, all of which are reasonably simple, some very simple. Each exercise can be sung in unison to start with, and then as a round, once it has been sung a few times. I have found them productive, and my choristers have found them fun.

Another little book is entitled Kick-Start Your Choir, and was given to me by one of our talented altos — she herself a professional musician. I don’t know whether she was suggesting that I needed guidance, but I have found much inspiration and good ideas within it — and it was also enjoyable to read. Author: Mike Brewer, and published by Faber Music Ltd. But the most useful book of the lot, and it’s only a recent acquisition, is How to be a successful Choir Director by John Bertalot. This is full of practical down-to-earth advice, written by one who has had a life time’s experience with choirs, and every page has words of wisdom on it. Highly recommended.

And finally — who is now going to write further articles in the series? Everyone has surely something to suggest. Don’t assume that the way things are done in your own church will be of no interest to others. Your offering needn’t be long, or complex — some little hint or tip for running the choir and providing the music. The Editor’s contact details are on the front cover. We await contributions!

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