How do dioceses fund music?

[keitha]

The accounts of every diocese should be available online at the Charities Commission website - http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk. I would be surprised, however, if any of them contained sufficient detail to enable the question posed in this thread to be answered. Certainly, the ones that I have looked at do not. From an accounting viewpoint, the amount will be, in every case I imagine, too small to merit either a separate explanatory note or a separate accounting category.

[organist]

Southwark does gave a diocesan choir - the diocesan music days are used to prepare for some liturgies. There is much ill feeling between cathedral choir and its director and the diocesan choir. One solution would be to insist that the cathedral director of music serve on the diocesan msuic committee but I can't see that ever happening or working! One one group are obsessed by Marty Haugen and the other by plainchant..... how sad that music divides rather than unites!
There do seem to be singers who sometimes gather for Westminster events but not the Chrism Mass or ordinations where the cathedral choir usually provides suitable music. MacMillan St Anne's Mass works well at the Chrism Mass or Missa de angelis Sanctus.

[HallamPhil]

It's a while since I've worked with musicians from Southwark Diocese but I can't imagine that they will have changed so much that they are only obsessed with Marty Haugen's music, as is suggested. I found them very open to the many musicians on both sides of the pond who offer music of pastoral and liturgical value. Not only were its diocesan musicians open but they were also extremely competent.

Cathedral musicians come and go but when they are employed they might be asked to demonstrate their vision as to how their musical choices might present the cathedral as a realistic model for the diocese. The employing Bishop and Cathedral Dean would also need to be clear on this relationship too. Perhaps it is this same dilemma which causes unease among some of the members of the meeting of Catholic Music Directors, which I regret not being able to attend in a few weeks time because I'm asked to lead an ecumenical music day with Marty Haugen. Prior engagements cause such heart-wrenching upset.

[presbyter]

Cathedral musicians come and go but when they are employed they might be asked to demonstrate their vision as to how their musical choices might present the cathedral as a realistic model for the diocese.

It's possibly worth making the point that Catholic Cathedrals are dissimilar in both concept and function to those of the C of E (which, and sorry if this sounds a little unecumenical, can come over to those used to Roman ways, as an ecclesial body without any ecclesiology - imho) Lumen Gentium says a lot about bishops, i won't quote it here, but the paragraphs from the Constitution are worth a glance, I think.

Sacrosanctum Concilium

41. The bishop is to be considered as the high priest of his flock, from whom the life in Christ of his faithful is in some way derived and dependent.

Therefore all should hold in great esteem the liturgical life of the diocese centered around the bishop, especially in his cathedral church; they must be convinced that the pre-eminent manifestation of the Church consists in the full active participation of all God's holy people in these liturgical celebrations, especially in the same eucharist, in a single prayer, at one altar, at which there presides the bishop surrounded by his college of priests and by his ministers

114. The treasure of sacred music is to be preserved and fostered with great care. Choirs must be diligently promoted, especially in cathedral churches; but bishops and other pastors of souls must be at pains to ensure that, whenever the sacred action is to be celebrated with song, the whole body of the faithful may be able to contribute that active participation which is rightly theirs, as laid down in Art. 28 and 30.

[organist]

I recall Southwark liturgies where Marty Haugen items predominated (actually I quite liked them and he's a wonderful person and composer). My point is that the "traditional" was severly neglected. I also observed a complete lack of communication between organist, cathedral choir director and diocesan choir directors. This is one reason why I found Chrism Mass so distressing.

[presbyter]

Have we answered the question yet?

[musicus]

Have we answered the question yet?

I'm not sure - but no more OT posts please, everyone.

[lesley wright]

My original question really derived from the fact that the diocese had allocated us a pittance to buy music, which we've spent, and now we are being asked to pay for the privilege of being in the Diocesan Music Group. Other dioceses manage to pay splendid musicians to do sterling work around their regions, but here there seem to be other priorities - we have no one who can really push for good liturgical music up here.
Lesley

[oopsorganist]

You can look on the Leeds Diocese music website just google Leeds Diocese Music and there is a blog spot - Psallite Domino which give more insight into this new model developed in Leeds.

[presbyter]

Birmingham's cathedral sings for major liturgies at the cathedral. The archdiocesan choir sings at other occasions elsewhere.

Not quite! It's a bit more complicated than that - and diocesan singers do do some major liturgies at the cathedral.

Delighted to hear it ─ that diocesan singers are involved, not that it's a bit more complicated. I don't suppose you'd care to elaborate?

Further elaboration - for 2010 the engagements are:

Saturday 20th February 2010 - Mass for the Religious of the Archdiocese
Sunday 21st February 2010 - Rite of Election
Sunday 9th May 2010 - Mass for the Church Musicians of the Archdiocese
Saturday 15th May 2010 - Mass for Permanent Deacons
Sunday 13th June 2010 - at Maryvale - Sacred Heart Pilgrimage
Tuesday 29th June 2010 - at SS Peter & Paul, Brailes - Solemn Vespers
Sunday 4th July 2010 - at Oscott College - National Vocations Mass (t.b.c.)
Thursday 15th July 2010 - Ubi Caritas Diocesan Awards Mass
Sunday 18th July 2010 - Ordination of Permanent Deacons

The Diocesan Treasurer pays the expenses of the singers for all these events apart from the Mass for Musicians, which funds itself (just!).