Panel of Monastic musicians

[organist]

I'm planning to go to their meeting in September at Doaui Abbey which features our good friend Martin Baker. Anyone else going? I have not been to this for years - last time was at Whitby and I can't go to summer school as I have no leave left in the current leave year!

[organist]

An inspiring meeting. John Rowntree and the community at Doaui were very welcoming, Michelle Moran spoke well about the Rome synod on the Word of God. David Bednall introduced his settings and improvised at Mass. Best of all was Martin Baker who introduced settings in English from the chant and played superbly at Mass on the fine Tickell organ. At the AGM there was much comment about SSG some of it unfavourable and illinformed and Thomas Muir gave a stout defence.
It would be wonderful to have closer links between PMM and SSG. Much can be learned from each other. How about inviting Fr Mark Hartley and Dom Philip Gaisford to the AGM in Birmingham? I can't do this as we shall be flying the flag at Westminster cathedral hall on that day!

[NorthernTenor]

Best of all was Martin Baker who introduced settings in English from the chant.

I guess this was early fruit of the Society of St. Catherine of Siena'a vernacular chant project. Did he say anything about this, and how it's progressing?

[musicus]

... At the AGM there was much comment about SSG some of it unfavourable and ill-informed ...

I am surprised to hear that. In my experience - 25 years or so - relations between SSG and PMM have always been at least cordial, with many members in common, and some, like Dom Alan Rees (RIP), being quite well-placed in both organisations.

[mcb]

I guess this was early fruit of the Society of St. Catherine of Siena'a vernacular chant project.

No, I think it was the new ICEL chants?

[Southern Comfort]

... At the AGM there was much comment about SSG some of it unfavourable and ill-informed ...

I am surprised to hear that. In my experience - 25 years or so - relations between SSG and PMM have always been at least cordial, with many members in common, and some, like Dom Alan Rees (RIP), being quite well-placed in both organisations.

I am informed that one or two of the anti-SSG comments came from guests who are not members of the PMM but who read the Telegraph bloggists (alas), but most came from another attendee who has already been named in organist's report and who is well-known to the SSG for the acerbity of his comments. Some Panel members were not impressed ─ one described the entire meeting to me as "pretty dismal". Of course, that might have been his reaction to the ICEL chants.

There have traditionally been close links between SSG members and the PMM since it first began. For many years, certain SSG members were invited to the PMM annual post-Christmas meeting at Douai. They were also heavily involved with the PMM "schools" at Sayers Common, Mill Hill and elsewhere. Those friendships have not diminished as time has gone on.

BTW, the PMM is currently going through a significant change of personnel, and needs our prayers.

[organist]

Talking to the nuns now at Lewes I got the impression Sayers Common is no more! Do Arundel and Brighton musicians still have their retreat? Also PMM panel members remarked that they needed to know a lot more about parish music! So we have a lot to share. I do wish that PMM folk were reading these posts and visiting SSG website - perhaps they are?
I do think the pace of the meeting was right - there was time to take in the liturgies and talks and reflect and discuss and time to read a book or go for a walk - so different to Summer school where one came home needing a holiday! I did not find it "pretty dismal" at all - I felt inspired and enriched but of course I've only been to one of these before (Whitby years ago) and once to Stanbrook at the end of the meeting. I also recall that at the last summer school held at Worth the community liturgies were ignored and we only had one liturgy in the abbey church itself so the opportunity to exchange was not really exploited?
I treasure meeting some marvellous monks and nuns and yes they do need our prayers. And we should not forget those who have gone before - we sang a tune by dearly loved and lamented Dom Alan Rees at vespers.

[mcb]

I also recall that at the last summer school held at Worth...

No, I think you mean the last summer school you attended at Worth! We've been back since, with liturgies in the Abbey church and time in the schedule for participation in the monastic office.

[organist]

Oh that's good news! Maybe it's to do with getting older but I think the pace at PMM was right for me. I suppose I like a spiritual refreshment as well as a musical one!

[johnquinn39]

At the AGM there was much comment about SSG some of it unfavourable and illinformed ...
!

What did they say?

[organist]

I was late for the AGM (playing the organ in the abbey church!) but the comment I heard was that there had been "Experimental liturgies and not following the guidelines". I thought this completely wrong but as Thomas Muir replied pointing to the website and this forum with its variety of opinion I did not comment. It was also inappropriate to comment at that meeting I thought. It is more important to foster the strong links between SSG and PMM. It's also good that both groups do try out new texts and liturgies.