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Isn't Benjamin Bachmann Choir Director of Grace Cathedral, Topeka in Kansas? Benjamin Bachmann - Choir Director - Grace Cathedral | ZoomInfo

I wouldn't have thought it beyond a half decent A level student to listen to the YouTube recording and write it out. There was a time, at A level, when writing a treble and bass part and giving the implied harmony was part of the course. The chant, in question, is a little more difficult than was required for the old A level - but it seems straight forward enough! Looks like a bit of Aural Dictation is on the cards Martin!!!

Some people don't realise how close it really was! It nearly went! And whilst some may bemoan the NC, NC music has opened, to a wider group of youngsters, the opportunity to take part in actual music making as opposed to the simply awful class music lessons I had at school where we sat and listened to whatever the music teacher fancied that afternoon and were told how wonderful it was! It often wasn't!! But we digress - again!!!

I'm not suggesting, for one moment, that anyone, with any musical intelligence, would pay heed to the Daily Mail article. Anyone with any musical intelligence has only to listen to the broadcast to realise the excellence of the music offering at her late Majesty's funeral. Anyone with any intelligence would, surely, realise that you don't end up playing the organ for a broadcast, viewed by 26m people, and broadcast around the world, without being, slightly, good, or even rather excellent, at your job!!! But, and here I suspect I might cause some offence, people who read the Daily Mail aren't, by and large, musically intelligent. I might, even, be tempted to say intelligent! And the rag in question publishes, largely, what they want to hear. It is racist, xenophobic and serves up the kind of c**p that sees those with some education (doctors, teachers, clergy etc.) ridiculed, over-criticised and seen as needing to be brought down to size! (But some of us have had experiences of, and I speak from some personal experience, of organists needing to be brought down to size - think of the guardian of the local Parish church instrument jealously fending off any enthusiasm by talented youngsters - and we know it still happens) The rag also perpetuates the myth that we are being flooded with illegal immigrants which is why it supported and encouraged its readers to support Brexit! I could go on! More worrying though is that it confirms what a lot of people think of us. Boring, amateur, incompetent, harking back to an era that is gone and so on. I spent some of my life as an orchestral musician. The viola players and the bassoonists often had fun poked at them. But the minute an organist appeared, either playing the organ or, worse still, conducting, then the real comments started. I'm afraid Joe Public has a very low opinion of us. For some things we bring it on ourselves. The Daily Mail article was a disgrace but not, I would suggest, unexpected.

I was once described as 'an elitist dinosaur'. At the time I had commissioned, and just conducted, from one of the country's leading composers, (Michael Finnissy) a community opera, to be performed by school students aged from Year 6 to VIth form and professional musicians. There were vocal parts for a unison chorus of 'little demons' (150 Year 6's - complete with whistles!!!), vocal parts for older secondary school students (male and female_, parts for adults (an SATB choir and two principal solo parts) as well as an orchestra made up of professional players and amateurs. Those who know Finnissy's music will know that it isn't always easy - some of it was b***** difficult. The commission came on the back of three performances, a year earlier, of Noyes Fludde. Finnissy was totally amazing, he grasped exactly what I was looking for, came to rehearsals, worked with the students, and delivered just what I wanted. "Why don't you do Oliver?" was a comment from the character who described me as an elitist dinosaur. My reply - "not a cat in hells chance when school students and adult and professional amateurs can be given the opportunity to work with such a distinguished musician and perform something that is totally new! The words elitist and dinosaur were so misplaced!!! Rowland. it is depressing - which is why I sit in my huge house, in the middle of French nowhere, having nothing to do with it anymore! My apologies to all - for high jacking the thread!!!

I thought the music was, as always at the Abbey, wonderful. The opening sentences were beautifully sung, as was the Parry and the VW. The hymns were at exactly the right pace and the Judith Weir and James McMillan anthems, particularly the Weir, were beautiful. I also thought that the Archbishop's sermon was 'spot on'! But it seems that quite a few disagreed. The Daily Mail had quite a few comments to make: 'I hate morose organ music,' said one. 'And it sounds like it's being played by Les Dawson.' Another said: 'Have they resurrected Les Dawson to play the organ? So many bum notes.' One person jokingly suggested that organisers should have got popstar and keyboard icon Elton John in to play music for the service. 'Is it just me or is the organ playing a bit off? Surely they could have got Elton in?' they said. Another Twitter user, who said they 'don't care for this organ music', asked if it was 'really what her Majesty wanted'. 'Did someone forget to tune the organ' Eric Morecambe on the organ. Playing all the right notes but not necessarily in the right order' I'm afraid that words fail me. In fact, it makes me rather depressed to be honest, that such professionalism from the Abbey music department, should be subject to such comments.

The piece Andrew refers to is 'Intrada' - written for the service of thanksgiving in St. Paul's in 1977 for the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. Published by Banks. There are several recordings on YouTube. Non, particularly, in my opinion, does the piece justice!

Since 1977, the second Monday in March. Marked by a Service in Westminster Abbey attended by the monarch.

It has been advertised for some time, certainly in Cambridge. The interviews are on September 28th

Yes - there is an element of truth about that. I once wrote in an essay that Bruckner's orchestration was 'like an enormous organ'. I'm not sure I could justify that now though!!!

It's a long time ago, the early 1970's, but I spent a semester in Paris at the Conservatoire, and lived in Rue Villersexel, close to Solferino and five minutes walk from Ste Clotide. I went to Mass there a few times but mostly walked down Bvd. St. Germain to St. Germain-des-Pres or caught the Metro (not always easy on a Sunday morning) to go to Saint Eustache or to St. Merri. I remember the liturgy at Ste. Clotide as being 'very French'!!!!

Yes. My omission of the Violin Sonata I thought might cause comment. I didn't mention it because it's a work I don't know at all. I don't think I have ever heard a performance of it in its entirety. The only thing I do know is that the piano part is incredibly difficult - to say the least! (Somebody once told me that there was a version of the Violin Sonata for 'cello - but I've never come across it and, perhaps, my opinion of Franck's other orchestral music made me not want to search it out!) I've played one of the Trios, I think the one in F# and I have played the D maj. string quartet. To be honest they were not experiences I particularly enjoyed and, in my opinion, there is an awful lot better 19th century chamber music. In my defence, I did say, in my initial post, that there was a huge amount of organ/harmonium music that I didn't know and therefore couldn't comment on. However I know the D minor symphony well - and I maintain it to be a work of tedious mediocrity!!

I don't find Frank's music very easy! I'm sure I will upset some when I say that I find some of it rather trite! I have to say that I don't know a lot of his organ/harmonium music but, in a previous life, I played one of the Piano Trios (in F#?) and the D major String Quartet. The D minor Symphony leaves me completely cold - I'm sorry, but I think it is a terrible piece of, very dreary, music!!

I know that you are being funny but, no, John, it's worse than that - people's livelihoods are at stake!!! Way back, in the last century, I found myself on the short-list (of three!) for the post of Director of Music in one of our cathedrals. The night before the interview I had a phone call from a close friend. "Are you sure that you want to go and work, full-time, for the church?" I went to the interview and was, subsequently, appointed but, on reflection, over the weekend, turned the post down. A couple of years later and a recession appeared, money became tighter and that post of 'Director of Music' was re-structured. The person appointed became 'Director of Institutional Planning and Music' or some such, a job I could never have done. I would have been miserable. I'm afraid that the last two years have seen cathedrals take a bit hit when it comes to income. Some, with perhaps a more considerable income, before Covid struck, had instituted major plans for organ rebuilds or had formulated plans for 'Music Development' with sound financial investment and advice. Other's, perhaps less prestigious or less glamourous (no reflection on Belfast!), perhaps had no such plans or were, perhaps, considering them but then the pandemic struck and they have found it more difficult coming back after it. Good quality music is expensive. The people employed are usually highly qualified and experienced at their job. In any other profession, with similar experience and qualifications, they would be in a totally different income bracket. But I'm afraid that, whenever the purse strings start to bite, in the Church, the first thing that 'the authorities' look at slimming down is the music!! I have to say that the statement, posted on 27th of July, with changes 'that will come into effect from 01 September 2022' seems indecently short notice.

I always found Martin's music to be well crafted and appropriate.

I've heard that said of a number of players!! May he rest in peace.

Just typical forumites wandering - again Rowland!!!

I've only been to Oxford once - to buy some pheasants in the covered market!!! NPOR doesn't have an instrument listed and there is no choir at All Souls (according to their website)

I have some experience of conducting in vast spaces. I've never conducted in St. Paul's but I conducted frequently in Liverpool Met., which was always supposed to be difficult, and was an interesting and sometimes hair-raising experience. Notre Dame in Paris, St. Peter's in Rome as well as the Basilica of St. Paul in Rome were all utter nightmares but largely due to the noise. York Minster's stalls are very wide apart and take some getting used to for the singers. Getting the balance right, in these vast spaces, is always difficult. I'm sure, wherever you sit, as a member of the congregation, the music will always present differently. The Beeb (I presume it was the Beeb!) have a lot of experience of St. Paul's and I'm surprised that there were issues of balance on the broadcast.

I'm trying my best to think why you would want to do that!! Stunning music superbly performed, stunning organ playing, great ceremony done well in a stunning location. Some of us will watch it from afar with pride. As an American once said (and said with a deep American accent) "Only the British can put on a show like this!!" And, whilst I hate to quote the Daily Mail, I see Our Sovereign Lady, Queen Elizabeth is not able to be present in St. Paul's today. 'She will be missed!'

Since, unfortunately, featuring in Charente Libre just over 12 months ago I haven't seen a copy! I thought, my the very nature of the title, that it was free! The dictionary gives the word subscription as "an arrangement to receive something, typically a publication, regularly by paying in advance."

Yes!! unless Dafydd y Garreg Wen knows another way! If you live in, for instance, Kent, and you buy the Times it costs you whatever per day. I read it most days 'online' and it costs me less than £10 per month - about 30p per day - good value I say!

Two things I notice from the application pack: 1) The historic office of “Organist and Master of the Choristers” is open to candidates of any gender, and whilst this document reflects the convention that the two roles have been held in combination, we are open to applications from exceptional choral directors with the ability to lead across the full range of the Abbey’s music but who are not organists or would not wish to perform in that capacity. The first, of course, is a now legal requirement but I am pleased to note that the next Master of the Choristers need not be an organist. 2) An early priority for the incoming Organist and Master of the Choristers would be to review and agree with Chapter the planned approach to the introduction of girl choristers and to lead its implementation in the near future Absolutely!!

Obituary in yesterday's 'Times' Simon Preston obituary | Register | The Times

Absolutely right! And me too! Although I can think of some that will be horrified!!