SOUNDBOARD June 2003

June 2003

Editorial Comment

It is very encouraging to hear — both directly and indirectly — that SOUNDBOARD is fulfilling a need, and these comments are both appreciated and helpful. Recent written comments include “I enjoy SOUNDBOARD very much”, “I have got great pleasure out of the SOUNDBOARD newsletters”, “Many thanks for SOUNDBOARD; Keep up the good work”.

One often wonders, when deciding on content for publication, “will this be of interest to some/many/all”, “will many read it”, “what will they find of greatest interest in this issue?” and so on. There are still some items about which we would like some feedback:

• The “Profile” of an organ personality which appeared in the first few issues has not appeared in this, nor the previous issue. Did you find these of interest? Would you like to see other organ people profiled? Anyone in particular?
• Is it worth devoting a page to a crossword? The number of correct entries received has been in the region of six to ten, but perhaps there are (many?) more who don’t quite complete it but still get some enjoyment and enrichment from it? (John Godden does anyway! Thanks for the last letter John.)
• Stephen Adams’ technical organ article has been welcomed by some but found too complex by others. Should it continue?
• The type size has been reduced slightly in this issue. Is it too small for comfort?

All comments, complaints (if any!) and suggestions will be welcome — by e-mail, letter or telephone (in order of preference). Do air your views. If you do not want your letter published, just say so. We’ll let you have a survey of the feedback in the next issue.

NEXT ISSUE

Planned for early December, material for publication should be with us by 20 November.

BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER 2004

Canon Ricky Rountree gives an update on progress

The final legislation to provide the material for the new edition of the Book of Common Prayer has been passed by General Synod in May. Now the work of proofing and preparing for publication is well under way. It is hoped that the book will be available for purchase in March 2004 and order forms and publicity material will appear in the Autumn of this year.

The 2004 edition of the BCP will include the main services of the church in traditional and contemporary language within the same cover, and will become the definite Book of Common Prayer for the Church of Ireland on Trinity Sunday (6th June) 2004. It will replace the BCP of 1926 and the Alternative Prayer Book of 1984 as well as the Book of Occasional Services 1993.

Of particular interest to musicians is the fact that the book will include the traditional and contemporary language canticles. They will be printed with pointing both in the body text of the services, as well as in a canticle section of the book. General Synod has finally decided that there will be one Psalter in the BCP, that is the Common Worship Psalter of the Church of England, and it will be pointed with the RSCM pointing. It will also have paragraph breaks allowing it to be used in a responsorial way. The hope is that the psalms can be celebrated in a number of different ways and not only to Anglican chant.

The book will run to just over 800 pages and will be considerably smaller in size than the new edition of the hymnal. The quality of paper and binding will allow the book to open flat even when brand new and will be printed in two colours.

1. Editorial Comment
2. Where are the singers?
3. Anthems for Harvest &
   Christmas
4. Organ Ciphers
5. Hymn Quest
6. Committee News
7. Deep Bass 
8. An Organists' Crossword
9. Notes and News