Can be sung to the tune St Deniol . . .

[gwyn]

Immoral, impossible, God only knows
Why tenors and basses, sopranos, altos
At mass on a Sunday are rarely the same
As those who on Friday to choir practice came.

Unready, unable to sight-read the notes,
Nor counting, nor blending, they tighten their throats:
The descant so piercing is soaring above:
A melody only a mother could love.

They have a director, but one wonders why?
No-one in the choir deigns turn him an eye.
It’s clear by his flailing, he wants them to look,
But each singer slouches with nose in the book.

Despite the offences, the music rings out.
The folk in the pews are enraptured, no doubt!
Their faces so blissful, their thoughts appear deep,
But that's little wonder, for they are asleep!

Sadly not my own work.

[Dot]

Happy New Year Gwyn

You sound like a director looking for an effective and reliable choir. In my neck of the woods we have a choir looking for an effective and reliable director. How far are you prepared to travel?

Please join "sounds off", and don't be shy of asking how - I had to!

[gwyn]

A Happy and Blessed New Year to you too and to all present and future forum members.

Re: joining the "Souds Off" forum, I was asking myself that very question this morning - how do I join? I wonder does entering last year's composers' competition make me eligible? Maybe it excludes me.

Thanks for the tip, Dot. I'm on-the-case !!!

[admin]

Joining instructions have now been posted under the Notices forum...

[Tsume Tsuyu]

Joining instructions have now been posted under the Notices forum...

I'm glad about that. I applied to join this morning, but couldn't for the life of me remember how I did it so I that could help Gwyn!

As for qualifications for membership, I should think an interest in composition of church music ought to be sufficient. If one has to submit a piece as evidence of an ability to compose, my application is sunk!!

Gwyn - if you entered the Composers' Competition, I'm sure that more than qualifies you!

Happy New Year all!

T.T.

[musicus]

As to who is eligible to join the Sounding Off forum, the Welcome message there says:

This is the place to talk about those things that concern composers writing for the church.

So, presumably, anyone who wishes to discuss these matters is eligible.

M

[gwyn]

So it would seem, Musicus.

[musicus]

Welcome to the forum, Dot!

[gwyn]

Well, in that case, hello everyone.

[sidvicius]

All meant lightheartedly by whoever composed it no doubt, but many a true word is spoken in jest. Verse 3 is quite pointed - in some places, musical directors are paid, and have lines of choristers young and old, to assist in their work. In ordinary churches, MusDir is usually voluntary, and the incumbent is usually keen but frequently ill-equipped for the job.

So my question is: are there any simple, 'starter' guides for people undertaking this ministry as to how to do it properly?

There are millions of questions people in music circles ask continuously. We should have a small book (in the vein of Marian Tolley's guide for Readers for example), which takes all the details from General Instructions etc and then applies them to our humble, and often woefully inadequate, parish circumstances.

If there is a guide published, fantastic - but I've not seen anyone using one. Ideas, anybody?

[musicus]

I have copied sidvicius' question to a new topic.

M