Music In Church, The Motu Proprio of Pius X Options

[Splog]

..."and The Lord, who sees everything that is done in secret, will reward you"..... Surely Jesus made the message about "big givers" not being entitled to any public accolade/authority very clear?

I have been looking through the RSCM website, and note that they are developing a course for church music group leaders. This is surely very good news.

By the way, do any of you lovely people live in sunny Hampshire and teach the organ?

[Barry Williams]

Really big and great people do not need to prove they are big and great. It is obvious from their actions that they are so. Regrettably, some small (inadequate) people try to be big people in churches, often with disastrous results when it involves music and worship.

Barry Williams

Ah, tell me about it!!!

Seriously, all of your post is a superb description of the situations pertaining at many churches where resources (especially of the human variety) are wasted, as Swell Box says, in constantly having to shore up what is proper, creative, and life-enhancing and in resisting the destructive. (I don't just mean music.)

Musicians, as we all know, have a big part to play in trying to produce a creative and generous atmosphere in which all sorts of things may flourish - I think that is why the job can be so exhausting when there is a climate of suspicion and pettyness. It also, in my view, takes a lot of energy to make space for those fellow musicians (to whom one has a responsibility) to develop their gifts without the destructive atmosphere working against them.

Having outside musical interests, where energy can be directed with less resistance, is a balm which can compensate for the emotional exhaustion.

It is worth recording, though I have mentioned it before, that I have found working for the Christian Science Church immensely satisfying. In my expereience it has been completely free from all of the stresses and strains associated with other church work. A very high standard of music is required; the singers are all professional and the voluntaries are listened to with interest. The hymn book is excellent, with no trivial material and many superb tunes not found elsewhere. It has been a joy to play in these churches. The folk are so very nice. Music-making there has indeed been life-enhancing and creative.

However, there are some Anglican Churches like that. I am currently deputising, from time to time, at one with a lovely atmosphere. The congregation is very appreciative of my playing and they listen to the voluntaries, occasionally applauding. (Although I do not like this, it does show appreciation.) The NSM priest is a joy to work with. The hymn book comes from a certain publishing house............but is one of the less offensive editions. The organ is well-maintained and sounds good.

The church has very little money, the previous incumbent having run it into the ground,. So, I asked for ?20 per service, which covers the mileage (?16.50) and leaves something towards organ lessons. This is a happy church, making quite an impact on the local community and steadily growing, even though they are waiting for a new vicar.

Not all places are bad.

Barry Williams

[Keyhorn]

Indeed there are some happy church situations, and I have been in some.

It comes as a big shock, therefore, to come into contact with others where all the ills mentioned already are rife. Within my experience, both as a DofM and as a church music consultant to church communities, such unfortunate places are not uncommon - though perhaps they are in a minority. Some colleagues have reported that when they visit a church building where such strife exists, at a silent and deserted time, they can detect an atmosphere of spiritual exhaustion. I cannot comment on that, but I am acutely aware of the draining effect of these situations.

Conversely, as Barry has described, the uplifting effect of places where the contributions of all are valued by all, whatever they are, is very great. In our position as musicians, to work even occasionally in such places, making music with others, is a joy.

[vectistim]

It is worth recording, though I have mentioned it before, that I have found working for the Christian Science Church immensely satisfying. In my expereience it has been completely free from all of the stresses and strains associated with other church work. A very high standard of music is required; the singers are all professional and the voluntaries are listened to with interest.

Once again I find a huge contrast between the churches you get to play at and the one's I come across. I've only ever played for one Christian Science Church, it was much like the typical struggling parish - a good congregation reached double figures, and they were appreciative of anyone who could make a reasonable stab at accompanying hymns.

They did pay attention to what they were singing about though - the whole of each first verse was read out before singing, and if it was a Mary Baker Eddy hymn the entire thing would be read out first. (I presume that's a typical Christian Scientist approach)

[Splog]

And so begins my journey. I practised two pieces on the organ for today, and decided only to play one, and the rest on the guitar. The organ one went very well, and the guitar ones too, except that they weren't very loud and I ended up having to strum instead of pluck on a lovely meditative one. (Mainly because the choir came in at the wrong speed). I even apologised to the (very traditional) priest that the hymns would be a bit happy, but explained that while we were short of an organist we had to have what I could play. He was very understanding.


I am away next week, so will practise some more for next time. Our organist is doing very well, and is very chirpy and talking about how she is looking forward to getting back into action.

[maggiemay]

Good for you, Splog. They are fortunate to have you. Glad to know it went well !

[vectistim]

And so begins my journey. I practised two pieces on the organ for today, and decided only to play one, and the rest on the guitar. The organ one went very well, and the guitar ones too, except that they weren't very loud and I ended up having to strum instead of pluck on a lovely meditative one. (Mainly because the choir came in at the wrong speed). I even apologised to the (very traditional) priest that the hymns would be a bit happy, but explained that while we were short of an organist we had to have what I could play. He was very understanding.

I think this is a good approach - if you're aware of your limitations, and make others aware I think it can reduce the chances of people trying to reorganise all the music at the last minute.

Certainly my first services attempting to accompany anglican chant were covered in caveats. It didn't help that they were single figure congregations that weren't making much noise.

[saxophile]

Just popping in to add another example of a church where the priest does appreciate the musical aspects of, and the organist's / choir's contribution to, the service.

When our current organist came to us (about 15 months ago), he started producing a printed list showing hymn numbers and details of the closing voluntary. Our rector makes a point of announcing, prior to the final hymn, that "Our service this morning will end with [title of voluntary] by [composer]. Before that, we will sing hymn [number]." The congregation will generally sit and listen to the voluntary - there are a few inveterate "talkers-over", alas (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) - and often give a little ripple of applause at the end to show their appreciation.

[Barry Williams]

Just popping in to add another example of a church where the priest does appreciate the musical aspects of, and the organist's / choir's contribution to, the service.

When our current organist came to us (about 15 months ago), he started producing a printed list showing hymn numbers and details of the closing voluntary. Our rector makes a point of announcing, prior to the final hymn, that "Our service this morning will end with [title of voluntary] by [composer]. Before that, we will sing hymn [number]." The congregation will generally sit and listen to the voluntary - there are a few inveterate "talkers-over", alas (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) - and often give a little ripple of applause at the end to show their appreciation.

How really nice! Little things like that make so much difference to an organist's work. This is to be encouraged.

Barry Williams

[Keyhorn]

That IS good!

Music is generally appreciated here, and we produce a monthly music scheme which is printed and posted on noticeboards around the church, and on the websites, and from which the Vicar takes information (hymns, anthems, voluntaries) for a weekly pewsheet.

However, he will often preface the voluntary (good that it is listed) on the pewsheet with the words 'Voluntary after the service', and they have recently installed kitchen units in the north aisle - so that the chatter starts almost instantly with the voluntary, as they are encouraged to regard it as not part of the service.