SOUNDBOARD May 2008

May 2008

EDITORIAL COMMENT

The recent ‘Living Worship’ course was reckoned to be the best yet and those who attended it were very positive about its usefulness. An excellent account of it, written by Brian Ingoldsby, appears within, and an abbreviated version of Donald Davison’s most informative talk on hymns is also published.

As part of his lecture, Dr Davison introduced us to quite a number of ‘new’ hymns — which were admirably sight-read and sung by the two dozen or so of us present. Most of those hymns hadn’t yet been ‘discovered’ by your Editor and it is quite probable that many other organists are still unfamiliar with many of the new hymns in the Church Hymnal 5. One of those, ‘Christ is risen as he said’ (No. 256) was introduced into Howth church on Easter morning and was well received. (We did though have five men in the choir for the occasion.)

It could be very interesting and useful if we compiled and published a list of those hymns that have been adopted by churches We therefore ask the readers of SOUNDBOARD to let us have a list of the new hymns from the Church Hymnal that are now in use in their churches. By ‘new’, we refer to those hymns that were in neither Church Hymnal 4 nor Irish Church Praise. So, within the next few days, while the idea is in your mind and before your forget, compile of list those recently-introduced hymns in your churches — and then do send it to us! We live in anticipation.

We are delighted that Alison Cadden has written in this issue about her work in providing music to support a ‘responsorial’ method of singing the psalms. The Liturgical Advisory Committee has endorsed what she has done and last March sent examples, including a CD, to all rectors. In congratulating the LAC on this initiative, we have to ask why the accompanying letter to clergy from Bishop Harold Millar, makes not the slightest reference to the (obvious) need to involve musicians in local discussion, and to experiment with this method of using the psalter. One Dublin rector, when asked for information, said that he didn’t realise he had to discuss the matter with his musician!

We have seen no other publicity about this important development and are aware of several in-post organists who know nothing about it. When promoting future initiatives regarding music in worship, we urge the LAC to affirm and recognise the role of musicians by writing to them direct and by making use of web sites visited by organists. The Church Music Committee, with a database of over 400 names, would be delighted to help as would other church music support organisations.

The next issue of SOUNDBOARD is scheduled for early Autumn—providing of course that sufficient contributions are forthcoming. Anyone out there like to write another article in the series: ‘Church Music in ....’ or to write about how they recruit for and maintain choir membership, how they attract young singers, or to add to the views on singing the psalms? There’s no shortage of what you might offer! Take some time off during the Summer and ‘put pen to paper’ or ‘fingers to keyboard’! 

1. Living Worship Course Brian Ingoldsby reports on the recent course.
2. Church Music in Castleknock
3. Other Ways of Singing the Psalms Alison Cadden on ‘responsorial’ psalms.
4. The Church Music Web Site It is becoming more and more used by people from around the world.
5. Worship Songs — what exactly are they?
6. Use of the Piano in Church James Pasley describes his experience at the piano.
7. The Pipeworks Festival What’s up and coming.
8. A Pomeranian Organ Judy Cameron’s interesting report.
9. Some Reflections on Hymns and Songs Donald Davison, hymn book editor, gives of his wisdom.
10. Organists’ Crossword
11. Notes & News