How important is core repertoire?

[oopsorganist]

How important is establishing a core repertoire throughout, say, a diocese?

[TimSharrock]

for most parishoners, and probably most parish musicians, who rarely attend services outside their home parish - not very...

It I am elsewhere, probably only three or four Sundays in a year, I am happy to join in with with whatever is being sung there - though it would be nice to have the music in front of me.

[Psalm Project]

IMHO practically pointless.
Most churches work under their own steam anyway - more often than not, successfully.
Foisting a standard repertoire on all churches... what's the point? Fine if you have an occasion when a number of churches come together or possibly when there is a diocesan event where a number of churches may need to learn common repertoire.
Can't see the point otherwise.

[gwyn]

Tim

If I am elsewhere, (passive edit) I am happy to join in with with whatever is being sung there - though it would be nice to have the music in front of me.

I agree. I suppose though that having a core diocesan level repertoir wouldn't mean that it would be used in parishes to the exclusion of anything else. Hope not anyway.

[TimSharrock]

I suppose though that having a core diocesan level repertoir wouldn't mean that it would be used in parishes to the exclusion of anything else. Hope not anyway.

no, but introducing such a thing might eat all the available "introduce a new item" slots for quite a while....

[gwyn]

Tim suggested

no, but introducing such a thing might eat all the available "introduce a new item" slots for quite a while....

Good point.

[Gabriel]

I would suggest that a diocesan core repertoire might mean a number of (related) ideas:

• music for diocesan occasions - both in the cathedral and around the diocese
• a common Mass setting that is a sign of unity (this seems to have been true in Northampton with the Gathering Mass, for example)
• a way of improving parish liturgy - identifying one Mass setting as way of offering support (persuasion?) to parishes which at present may not sing the Mass

To be effective I suspect it would be less is more. It could be a way of having a musical common good rather than see it as an imposition on my patch!

[oopsorganist]

I clicked your blog link Gabriel.
Those are nice things you sing! I wish I could attend Mass wherever St Mary's Choir are!