May 2008

Notes and News (Soundboard May 2008)

Archbishop of Dublin's Certificate in Church Music

The closing date for applications for the 2008/09 academic year is 31 May 2008.
This popular course provides training in the skills needed by the musician working in the local church: organ playing, choir training and a basic understanding of the place and role of music in the liturgy. Students must be sponsored by a parish and the cost is shared between the student, the parish and the diocese. Subject to the availability of places, it may be possible to accept those from traditions other than the Church of Ireland. For further information, visit the website or contact the Hon. Secretary, Mrs Jacqueline Mullen.

Dún Laoghaire Organ Concerts

The 2008 series of concerts will commence on Sunday 8 June at the new time of 8 p.m. and run throughout the Summer. This year's series will feature international artists Ben van Oosten, James O'Donnell and Kevin Bowyer and a concert by Margareta Hurholz in association with the PipeWorks Festival. There will also be performances by a some of Ireland's finest players. The series will commence with a recital by Dr Gerard Gillen — series founder — commemorating the late Anne Leahy, former director at St Michael's. For further details, including recital programmes, please see www.dunlaoghaireorganconcerts.ie, or e-mail David Connolly at dunlaoghaireconcerts@gmail.com

RSCM Summer Conference

The next RSCM International

Summer School and Conference takes place in the beautiful, historic city of Canterbury in August. The RSCM will welcome musicians, singers and clergy from around the world to a stimulating week of music, worship, practical activity, discussion and fellowship which will inspire the transformation of worship through music. The programme is full and varied — from uplifting services in the Cathedral, to challenging workshops and seminars given by inspiring leaders, and much more. This is an excellent opportunity for church musicians and worship leaders to find a fresh perspective on music in the church and community.

You may download a brochure by going to www.rscm.com and searching for 'issc 2008'. There also is a link direct to the brochure on our own website

A number of our students will be attending this conference. The last conference was held in York in 2005, and three of the students attended it. You may read what they said about it on www.church musicdublin.org/yorkcourse.

Vacancies for Muscians

Are you aware that vacancies for organists, cantors, singers and other musicians may be advertised on our website? If you wish to advertise, please send the information to info@churchmusicdublin.org.

Changes in the Committee

After many years as Hon. Secretary, Ruth Maybury has retired from the Committee. We thank her for her outstanding diligence to the work over the years, and wish her well and continued good music making for the future. Her position has been taken by Jacqueline Mullen, to whom the rest of the Committee is indebted. A recent addition to the Committee is Maedhbh Daltún Abayawickrema, who introduces herself in her article about church music in Castleknock, Clonsilla and Mulhuddart.

Remuneration Guidelines

The current recommendations re fees, etc., for church musicians are on www.churchmusicdublin.org/fees and www.liturgy-ireland.ie. To receive a paper copy, send a SAE to the Hon. Secretary.

Organist's Hints & Tips

At Zion Church, our choir rehearsals now usually take place before the Sunday liturgy and occasionally on Wednesday evenings. The singers welcome being reminded. Initially, I tried emails but soon realised that some were not on the net and others did not check their mail regularly. But all, including older folk, have cell phones. I have put their numbers in a 'group' on my phone and now it take only a few moments to send a brief text twentyfour hours in advance of each rehearsal. (D.McC)

Please send your suggestions or ideas to help the ordinary amateur organist to the Editor.

‘We Don't Do That Tune Vicar!’

There’s nothing like singing a well-known hymn to the wrong tune to get everyone up in arms. The congregation will complain volubly to the vicar, the vicar will blame the organist, the organist will take it out, as usual, on the choir who will claim that they never, ever, sing any other tune. The author, Reg Frary, who has been a member of church choirs for almost seventy years, has produced the 23 humorous stories in this book — largely featuring trouble over tunes — which will greatly entertain its readers.

Published by the Canterbury Press, Norwich. www.scm-canterburypress.co.uk., and available from The Good Bookshop, 61-67 Donegall Street, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT1 2QH, Phone: 048 9024 4825, Email: sales@goodbookshop.com

St Patrick's Cathedral Organ Recitals

These commence on Wednesday 27 August, when the first recital of the series will be given by Ashley Marshfield, award winner of the Oundle Festival for young organists. Further recitals are on Friday 29 August, Friday 19 September, Wednesdays 8 and 22 October, and Wednesday 5 November. Further details on ‘news & events’ on www.stpatrickscathedral.ie

Best Wishes

Best wishes for the future are extended to Peter Barley and Dr Catherine Nix, who are to be married in Limerick in June.

The Panel of Monastic Musicians

David McConnell

This is a support organisation for those responsible for music in religious communities. The Panel publishes an interesting journal and holds an annual four-day meeting. The theme of the 2007 meeting was "Psalmody and Liturgical Space". Guest speakers included Richard Giles, Dean of Philadelphia Cathedral, whose writings on reordering the interior of church buildings have stimulated huge interest in the subject in recent years; and Paul Inwood, Music and Liturgy Advisor to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth. While most of those present were religious, there were some, such as myself, from the wider community. Daily services included the Eucharist (alternately, Roman Catholic and Anglican), Evening Office and Compline. Each day, everybody rehearsed and sang the simple chant and other music. One afternoon a coach brought us on an 'outing' to an ecclesiatical site, where we sang Vespers. On the final evening all present enjoyed some home-produced entertainment. Brother Martin (from Glenstal Abbey) was undoubtedly the star performer. It was good to spend a stimulating and informative few days, in quiet yet congenial company, joined in traditional prayer and praise with those who spend much of their lives doing so. I plan to be at the Panel's 2008 meeting, at Quarr Abbey, on the Isle of Wight, from 8 to 12 September. Please contact me if you would like to know more.

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