SOUNDBOARD October 2006

October 2006

Editorial Comment

This issue contains quite a mix of articles, from serious musical ones to certainly one very light-hearted items that should make you smile. Do read and enjoy it! In fact, read the entire issue and let us know what parts were of greatest interest and which the least. Feedback is always appreciated.

One article in that highlights a matter of particular interest is Promoting Young People's Participation in Congregational Singing. Do read this if you are concerned about the issue—as all of us should be, and do down-load and read the entire document. There are a lot of hard facts that we must act on. Has any reader tried out a solution to this problem or has any thoughts about it. In my own church, while I have given a list of suitable hymns for children to the Sunday School teachers, the hymns that the children perform at the Family Service are mainly the ditties that Ms Hannon writes about—ditties that are unlikely to stand the test of time. So, let us have your ideas please!

Encouraged by the success of the Living Worship course in music, liturgy and worship earlier this year, the Diocesan Church Music Committee will run a similar course on four Saturday mornings during January and February 2007. Designed to help (in particular) in-post musicians, singers, lay readers, clergy, these four Saturday morning seminars will offer a mix of theory and practice, including lots of singing. The principles of Christian worship and the structure of the Eucharist and other services will be looked at again, with a particular focus on a specific season of the Church's year. The use of space when presenting the liturgy will be explored and the final session will be held in a church that has remodelled its interior to reflect contemporary insights into worship. You will find the details on the training page.

Some of the students who attended the reception held on 13 September to launch the 2006 Archbishop’s Certificate Course. Back row: Committee Chairman Archdeacon Edgar Swann, Valerie Twoney, Breffni O'Byrne, Ruth Clinton, Kate O'Neill, Rachel O'Byrne, Front row: Heather Taylor, Paul Mullen, Lana Sokyrba (Photo: Garrett Casey)

1. Editorial Comment
2. Talking to David Adams, Professor of Organ, RIAM
   Music at Castleknock & Clonsilla Raymond Russell writes
3. The Priory Singers This Belfast-based choir has launched new CDs
4. Worth a Guinea a Box This article should make you smile
5. Great Hymns and their Writers - J.H Newman and J.B.Dykes
6. Paid Singers in Parish Churches David McConnell suggests that parish churches choirs should engage professional singers for certain occasions
7. Music in Worship Alan McCormack describes an approach where resources are limited
8. Music Software Programs Peter Parshall describes several music software programs
9. Blogs and Wikis James Pasley writes about the CMC web site
10. Promoting Young People’s Participation in Congregational Singing This should be something of concern at the moment
11. Church Music in Castleknock & Clonsilla Parish
12. Organist's Crossword
13. Notes & News