Society of Saint Gregory

Composers' Group Review: article in latest M&L Vol 33 No 4 What a welcome addition to M&L, to see excerpts from a piece by one of the Group's composers after a gap of many years. Even better to have Jane Upcott representing the Group; I have admired every piece she has presented for its beauty and ...

Uncertain of which thread of three I am developing, I post here primarily in reaction to vml. I can testify first hand to James MacMillan's affirmation of what Composers' Group presented at Leicester. Admittedly, there were no guitars. The comments about guitars in the Scotland on Sunday article are ...

Found a better mp3 of "I sat down", which doesn't cut off the opening, here

I hope this serves to illustrate an alternative approach, referred to in my previous post. While all the heavyweights are at Summer School (and the Forum goes to sleep) I have had the indulgence of a “composition day”, looking at Communion antiphons and psalms, trawling for musical inspiration. W ...

Quite a few people who come to Composers’ Group need this kind of workshop, and I applaud Alan for catering for their needs; we cannot easily provide for them during a meeting. Indeed, I have already made use of the article; I was sent manuscripts for comment just a day or two ago and I could refe ...

I have a tip - come to Composers' Group. Thank-you Thomas for sharing your wide knowledge and enthusiasm for liturgical music with us. You do this best live, as you did at yesterday's Sheffield meeting of the Composers' Group. This particular meeting widened my perspectives considerably by the ...

We had a meeting yesterday and discussed this question briefly. The best advice I can give is that you contact the composer more directly than through this forum - that is, you get a contact email or phone no. from me. Ask directly for permission. That will most likely be granted willingly. Members ...

This is a very good idea for a new thread. I often commit blunders when writing for clarinet because I don't play one myself. Choosing what key to use is surrounded by many considerations, sometimes conflicting. First of all, what instruments are playing (as Thomas explains above)? Second, what is ...

I was intrigued by the programme “The Choir” even though it didn’t cover all aspects of debate that some of you would have liked it to. Aled Jones introduced the subject of discussion as “the health of choral music in the Catholic Church” thereby limiting it substantially. It was about a ch ...

Musicus said IMNSHO, there are some things - brain surgery, being infallible, fixing organs - that are best left to the experts. I do so agree, and you may speculate as to what other things I would add to the list. I have just "fixed" the school piano. Whilst I got the sticking note moving again, I ...

I have been asked to publicise a similar event on Sat April 29th in Byfield, Northants. Some details will be found here but no booking form. PM me for a booking form, which must be in no later than 9th April. This event is not connected with SSG.

CG Sec

Appreciate the inquiry Vox A, even if it was tongue in cheek. OK, one week later.... We had a healthy turnout at our meeting last Saturday. Our guest tutor, Robert Walker, led a group of eight in his morning workshop and five of us remained to present pieces in the afternoon plus one to observe ...

No, don't pm me for directions - they're on the website - it's just that it doesn't say explicitly "Directions"; you have to click on the place name, Wellingborough Nothants to access them.

It's good to hear that Composers' Group has a fan, Dot; any more out there?

CG Sec

There - appreciation of music published in M&L. I have asked that Composers' Group music be allowed some space in the Journal. <post partly deleted at request of SSG Trustees> <admin> <25 June 2006> One further thought: the Composers' Group does have the support of several Cathedrals and their music ...

If the Gloria John Ainslie refers to is the one we shared at Composers' Group last October, wouldn't it be useful for that to be made available as a download on this Forum? Reflecting on Eucharistic Acclamations to include congregation when many of them choose to exclude themselves, it may well be ...