James MacMillan and John Bell in Liverpool

[Nick Baty]

James MacMillan is speaking at an event at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral in May. And John Bell will be in the archdiocese the following month. Further details here: http://livmus.blogspot.com/

[oopsorganist]

Thankyou Nick I have downloaded your Psalm!
Now I just need a choir and I'm in business!

[Nick Baty]

Choirs are lovely things to have but you don't "need" one.
Apart from the choral repertoire, what liturgical music can't you perform without them?
(Puts on tin hat ready for general shooting down!)

[mcb]

The choir's there to lead the people in song. I thought you knew! It's the same role that the cantor plays, but the choir does it better.

Next question!

(I can hear the moderator's footsteps. Hide!)

[Nick Baty]

Highly debatable.

[mcb]

It's what we're here for!

[Nick Baty]

Also highly debatable!

[contrabordun]

Apart from the choral repertoire, what liturgical music can't you perform without them?

Apart from the sacraments, what can't you do without a priest?

[Nick Baty]

Meaning that you need a priest?
Not sure about the comparison given that the most important musical elements of any liturgy do not need require a choir.

[Nick Baty]

Fell for it by responding to provocative post.
Note to self: Don't be so bloody stupid in future.

[musicus]

Back to the topic please.

[John Ainslie]

John Bell will be holding a day in London on Saturday 6th June. See http://www.rcdow.org.uk/fileupload/upload/UnsungJesus3283200921821.pdf for details.

[oopsorganist]

Sos,
what I should have said about the Psalm, is that if I had more than me, ideally three persons, ideally who could read music, and learn things by themselves, etc... then I could play the organ, and the other two people could sing, well actually one is enough to sing the Psalm, but the harmony would require another body.....ideally the three of us could read the download, practice briefly and do it on Sunday.
It would not be appropriate for me to play the organ on Sunday and then run down, round the back of the church, to sing a Psalm, no matter how lovely, that would look a bit mad.
What will happen is that I will start it now... little by little we will learn it, and then, by Easter next year, I will have forgotten all about until about half way through the Vigil. In this case, everyone else will deny all knowledge of it and we will have to start and learn it again.
But thanks Nick, for writing it, I can see it is suitable for us and just challenging enough to develop the musical skills of our teeny tiny team. (or choir as PP calls us).
Cantors and choirs are not the stuff of ordinary inner city parishes.

I am reminded that when I heard John Bell, and a mighty man is he, a few years back, that something I bought or read, said
"I will not sing alone", which often pops ito my head....................
exits humming range of Wild Goose music that she has never sung in church.........

[Nick Baty]

Dear Oops,
You only need cantor and congregation.
The choir harmony is entirely optional.