presbyter wrote:I don't think the seminars are supposed to be a shop window for whatever the composers might be presenting of their own
...which is something of a shame. Without this, the event is only of interest to a few erudite souls. The rest of us are just desperate for new music.
But as Q has pointed out, this never was the brief for the day, which from the outset has been described as: "a day of guidance and discussion aimed at those composing music for Catholic parishes, and anyone interested in the process of setting the new missal texts to music."
I'm puzzled why there's disappointment that the day will be what it was always described as, only on page 12 of the discussion.
Apologies, DocMatt, no criticism of the event intended. I am delighted that the SSG and the Liturgy Office are organising this. But a seminar for composers is, surely, only applicable to a handful of people.
If I have a query, it's aimed at the diocesan liturgy commissions and the publishers. When/where might there be repertoire events? I asked this last week and, it appears, just one diocese has something in the pipeline – I'm sure there must be more but perhaps we just don't know about them yet.
According to the Guide for Composers, music can be published six months ahead of use – that brings us back to March. So, presumably, a lot of music is currently in preparation and about to hit the market. Yes, I'm sure we can all grab a few sample copies, but you can't beat getting together with other folk for a good sing.
I might be mistaken, but isn't this the first "official" event aimed at informing and supporting composers for over thirty years? I think it's great that those "few erudite souls" are being catered for. If the composers don't deliver the goods, the parishes will be whistling in the dark.
Only when the composers and publishers have done their work - and there is no doubt that it is being done in a great hurry - will it be possible to organise those vital new repertoire days.
From what I have seen already, there is plenty of American material already available - very, very variable in quality, and nowhere near as wonderful as its publishers would have us believe - and a good range of UK settings still in preparation.
I hope SSG members will rise to the occasion and help to organise local repertoire events.
Hare wrote:"Bottom Line" Question: On a scale of 1 - 10 what use will the seminars be to someone who is desperate for repertoire but not able / willing to compose?
Take a look at the programme for the day (there's a link on our Home Page). There are seven bullet points about the content. Not a single one of them is about repertoire.
It isn't a repertoire day.
On your scale of 1 - 10: 0
Ask your diocesan people what they are planning to offer in support of their parish musicians.
If you are an SSG member you could also contact your SSG diocesan representative - see inside the front cover of M&L for their details.
musicus wrote:I think it's great that those "few erudite souls" are being catered for. If the composers don't deliver the goods, the parishes will be whistling in the dark.
Quite. And, again, I'd like to stress that I was not meaning to appear critical of this event but was raising the question Musicus raises, What is being done locally and regionally? And when? We don't rehearse every week (some of us are a tad creaky and the building is cold) so our small music group is just 15 rehearsals away from the day we have to start singing this stuff so I need to be looking for items NOW!!!
And I totally agree with Musicus that the American material is "nowhere near as wonderful as its publishers would have us believe".
Perhaps we could have a new thread about what is happening regionally then we could travel to the nearest events. I am in easy striking distance of the centre of three dioceses. I'm sure others are in a similar position.
On a scale of 1 - 10 what use will the seminars be to someone who is desperate for repertoire but not able / willing to compose?
Of course there will be repertoire. I know Peter Jones is considering 12 brand new pieces for his presentation, some composed by him and some composed by three other composers, one of whom will be at the seminar too. (12 is too many for an hour, so 7 might be more realistic).
But it's not going to be - "Here we are folks - let's have a go at a new Lamb of God". It will be more - what is the "Lamb of God" as a text and in its context in the celebration liturgy? What's "my" experience of praying this text both in its liturgical context and outside of that, as a personal prayer? How might "my" musical setting enhance the liturgical assembly's awareness (and understanding) of the text as its prayer? How might "my" music (for these people - in these circumstances) deepen their participation in the liturgy?
There's no single or simple answer to these questions and a time of sharing between composers and non-composers will be of great value. Feedback from non-composers will be of inestimable value!
I'll PM Mary and get her to take my name off the list.
And lest I appear stupid for not seeming to take on board the bullet points, I booked because I AM DESPERATE FOR ANY HELP OR GUIDANCE!
Anyone know what Southwark are doing for parish musicians?
My PP booked me onto a study day last year without realizing it was for priests and deacons only, then booked me onto another one I could have gone to but he lost the paperwork....
I'll get my coat too I think!
Last edited by Hare on Wed Feb 02, 2011 9:18 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Nick Baty wrote:Perhaps we could have a new thread about what is happening regionally then we could travel to the nearest events. I am in easy striking distance of the centre of three dioceses. I'm sure others are in a similar position.
Can I just clarify a couple of things? This is an event that is aimed primarily at composers, but I believe it will be of interest to anyone involved in parish music. As for repertoire, Presbyter is correct; the purpose of the afternoon session is not to showcase new and revised settings, but in the course of looking at what composers might do, the speakers will be looking at lots of new and revised settings and so there will inevitably be repertoire.
I am not a composer, but I am looking forward to learning something about the process, and the constraints that will be imposed by the guidelines. The latter will, I hope, enable me to make informed contributions at our music planning meetings. And, yes, I'm hoping that there will be one or two settings that grab me so I can look out for the published versions and take them along to the next meeting.
Last edited by MaryR on Thu Feb 03, 2011 12:13 am, edited 1 time in total.
Nick Baty wrote:Even so, all sounds a tad heavy for we bears of smaller brain. Will leave it to the composers and look forward to their fruits in due course.
No one could have a smaller brain than this bear, but I think I'll cope. I anticipate that it will be interesting and informative, but not heavy. Certainly not too heavy for anyone contributing to this forum, IMHO. But if all you want is repertoire, then you'll just have to hope that someone somewhere does something.
Yes, for those of us on the ground, it's the repertoire that matters. But I think it's great that the composers are getting together to discuss such things. Delighted that The Bear has started a list of What's Ons because we really do need that. Look forward to the fruits of the composers' seminar and to attending some repertoire sessions. (Am I the only one to be tad surprised that no publishers and just one diocese have announced such events?)
I anticipate that it will be interesting and informative, but not heavy. Certainly not too heavy for anyone contributing to this forum, IMHO. But if all you want is repertoire, then you'll just have to hope that someone somewhere does something.