June 2004
The RSCM in Ireland – New Directions	Show Menu

The Revd Tom Gordon, RSCM Ireland

For many people the RSCM (Royal School of Church Music) in Ireland over the years has been associated with the characteristic ‘Meet and Sing’ evenings. These were occasions where the latest choral publications would make their debut amongst hearty and enthusiastic groups of organists and choir members. These evenings often gave confidence to diverse groups of amateur musicians and mostly — although not exclusively — centred on a broadly Anglican base. Successive Regional Directors in their roving capacity ventured forth upon their arrival in Ireland journeying to the various nooks and crannies throughout the island, North and South, to dispense the musical goodies. There was the characteristic bonhomie of such ‘hands on’ tours and the existence of a shared church music office in Dublin — with the luxury of a secretary(!) — gave a sense of focus and structure.

In recent years the cluster of church music bodies familiar to the Church of Ireland has either declined or disappeared. The increasing patchiness of the RSCM’s presence has to be seen in this context, as does its changing ethos under the direction of Professor John Harper. The focus has noticeably moved away from a ‘top down’ approach in the task of musical training towards a much more educational role in the provision of resources, new departures in extension studies (with university validation) and a much more contemporary liturgical vision.

Whilst the RSCM has always strived to work within an ecumenical mission, it is now much more obviously so in its ethos and embrace. Much of its concentration is now on background resources evidenced in such point-of-contact publications as ‘Sunday by Sunday’, the Voice for Life scheme and the newly-launched modular third-level qualification for church musicians. This is however but the tip of an enormous iceberg where the energy of the RSCM now centres in a renewed way on the provision of resources for those who wish to advance their practical competence and liturgical repertoire.

It is in this context too that the RSCM has to find its new feet in Ireland. It is no longer possible to work the previous models of function and administration. The intention is that the RSCM might have a much more slender presence but one which is nonetheless more responsive to the expressed needs of the churches. But does this mean the absence of ‘events’? Not at all. In aiming by trial (and error!) over the past few years to carve out a new way of working, recent activity has been fairly substantial.

Since October there has been a strong RSCM association with the introduction of the Book of Common Prayer [2004]. Canon Rountree as Central Liturgical Officer has combined with various liturgists and musicians acting on behalf of the RSCM to present the new prayer book within the context of accessible and appropriate resources for musicians and clergy. These have been broadly well-received and have involved most of the dioceses of the Church of Ireland. Attendances have ranged from twenty to around one hundred at each event. Taken together this has been one of the largest exposures to RSCM workshop material to date and has already generated a number of local follow-on events.

The new diocesan Foundation Certificate in Liturgy and Worship has also taught the liturgical music content exclusively through the RSCM material. This course for Parish Readers, Lay Readers and Church Musicians has seen around fifty people enrolled for the year’s programme. Again, this is a substantial exposure to the resources of the RSCM. Whilst these have been tailored to Anglican requirements, the recent workshop in Ballina has its base in the broader community. This one-day course for church musicians in the West of Ireland is in association with the Newman Institute. In all these events, musicians and liturgists of excellence such as Mark Duley, Theo Saunders and Margaret Daly-Denton have ensured the quality of the events, each of which it should be noted are resourced from within our own context.

So what next? There is much to do in continuing these new beginnings. Perhaps most important is the task of eliciting ideas from you as church musicians as to how the RSCM can help resource you. It is especially important that musicians and worship leaders identify their needs and then frame them by way of suggestions and practical requests for workshops, courses or information. Other immediate tasks include setting up a formal structure for administration such as affiliation administration, insurance etc.

Any able and willing Hon Treasurers out there??

Tom Gordon (tommi@eircom.net) RSCM Ireland

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