Damian Beasley-Suffolk Posted January 30, 2021 Posted January 30, 2021 On 29/01/2021 at 12:20, Dafydd y Garreg Wen said: Ban organum now, before it’s too late!!!! I presume you wrote this with a grin, but I knew someone who may well have agreed with this! A former history teacher of mine despised church organs and everything that went with them, as they had displaced the village band that often played in west country churches and destroyed an ages-old tradition, as described for example in Under the Greenwood Tree, Hardy being compulsory reading for those of us from the west country. As an aside, in the recent rather splendid film of Far from the Madding Crowd, I noticed that the church in Casterbridge was rather bigger than I remembered, looking rather similar to Sherston, and appeared to have a nice electric action organ over the west entrance. Impressive, as it was set in the late 1840s - early adopters, clearly ...
Vox Humana Posted January 30, 2021 Posted January 30, 2021 16 hours ago, Damian Beasley-Suffolk said: As an aside, in the recent rather splendid film of Far from the Madding Crowd, I noticed that the church in Casterbridge was rather bigger than I remembered, looking rather similar to Sherston, and appeared to have a nice electric action organ over the west entrance. Impressive, as it was set in the late 1840s - early adopters, clearly ... Some years ago, when I was researching the musical history of the two main pre-War churches in Plymouth, I found that the newer (and lesser) of these churches, the now-ruined Charles' Church, acquired its first organ (a two-manual Bevington with an octave of pedal pipes) in 1846, to replace the cello or gamba (described variously in the accounts as "bass viol" and "violin") that had previously supported the gallery choir. Prior to that the only interest that the vestry had ever taken in music was to resent the money that they spent on it and, at one point, to advertise for a new choir (reason unknown). The vestry had signalled its willingness to have an organ back in 1828, so long as the parish did not have to pay for either the instrument or the organist's salary, but by 1846 they had agreed to pay for both. After acquiring their brand new organ—and a leading local musician to play it—all the vestry ever did was to resent the money they spent on music, discourage any choir-only items, and moan about the dire standard of the singing. The vicars banged on continually about wanting "good congregational singing", but never had any clue about how to go about achieving it. By the time the church was bombed in 1941 the choir were doing what many parish choirs in the land did at that time: they sang anthems and, once a year, a passiontide cantata (Crucifixion and Olivet to Calvary are both mentioned)—maybe, too, the very occasional Mag and Nunc. Someone who heard them described them to me as being not nearly so good as they thought they were.
S_L Posted January 30, 2021 Posted January 30, 2021 1 hour ago, Vox Humana said: Someone who heard them described them to me as being not nearly so good as they thought they were. A common disease amongst church choirs!!
Tony Newnham Posted January 31, 2021 Posted January 31, 2021 Hi "As an aside, in the recent rather splendid film of Far from the Madding Crowd, I noticed that the church in Casterbridge was rather bigger than I remembered, looking rather similar to Sherston, and appeared to have a nice electric action organ over the west entrance. Impressive, as it was set in the late 1840s - early adopters, clearly ..." Film & TV Drama makers often drop similar clangers, both in respect of churches, such as a Digital Piano sitting in the chancel in an episode of "Father Brown" - set in the 1950's. Railways are another area where they often get things wrong (BR locomotives in a Victorian era drama) and so on. I find such gaffes annoying and detract from the film/drama.
Vox Humana Posted January 31, 2021 Posted January 31, 2021 38 minutes ago, Tony Newnham said: Film & TV Drama makers often drop similar clangers, both in respect of churches, such as a Digital Piano sitting in the chancel in an episode of "Father Brown" - set in the 1950's. Railways are another area where they often get things wrong (BR locomotives in a Victorian era drama) and so on. I find such gaffes annoying and detract from the film/drama. Harpsichord music by Purcell in the soundtrack to Tudor dramas is a fairly regular one. I was very pleased that the dramatisations of Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall novels did largely have suitable period music—though having a votive antiphon by Cornysh during a mass was very naughty. (I know, I need to get out more.)
S_L Posted January 31, 2021 Posted January 31, 2021 23 hours ago, Vox Humana said: Harpsichord music by Purcell in the soundtrack to Tudor dramas is a fairly regular one. I was very pleased that the dramatisations of Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall novels did largely have suitable period music—though having a votive antiphon by Cornysh during a mass was very naughty. (I know, I need to get out more.) LOL - I remember, years ago, sitting watching 'Becket' - the Richard Burton/Peter O'Toole version. Mary Berry was staying with us. The monks in the film started to sing some plainsong and Dr. Mary almost jumped out of her chair "That wasn't written until about 1250" (or whatever!), she exclaimed. It was an epic moment!
Robert Bowles Posted January 31, 2021 Posted January 31, 2021 In one episode of Dad's Army, there's a scene in the church vestry. On a shelf in the background is a copy of Ancient and Modern Revised - the cherry coloured edition published 1952( approx - it doesn't actually have a date in it). When I pointed this out whilst watching with my family, they replied that it didn't matter, and that most people (I think they said everyone in the world except me!) wouldn't notice. That's probably almost true. But I found it distracting. On reflection I realised that the eye for detail and precision, that is essential for musicians and is normally a valued transferable skill, sometimes needs to be turned off. But I'm still learning how to do that!!!! And then there's that seen in "The madness of King George" where he runs up the Geometric Staircase in St Paul's and emerges onto the roof of Hampton Court.......
Paul Walton Posted January 31, 2021 Posted January 31, 2021 Interesting to read these comments just as a new historical consultancy has been set up by one of our layclerks: https://scenespan.com/ Paul
Rowland Wateridge Posted January 31, 2021 Posted January 31, 2021 On a slightly different tack, they also seem to get matters of clerical dress wrong pretty frequently. I’m certain that no C of E bishop would have worn a purple cassock as a dinner guest in the mid-19th century. Father Brown has been mentioned. He has done several bizarre things: wearing a surplice (of C of E style) and something like a black stole - much longer than a stole, certainly not a scarf and much narrower, and on another occasion a proper stole over his chasuble. In the ‘Father Ted’ series (with Irish actors who really ought to have known better), a trio of RC bishops wearing birettas wrongly-orientated! But all these are nothing compared with the blunders about legal dress and the correct forms of address for judges, but I will spare readers those details. It used to annoy my late wife when I exploded reacting to these - like Mary Berry in S_L’s post.
Vox Humana Posted January 31, 2021 Posted January 31, 2021 2 hours ago, S_L said: LOL - I remember, years ago, sitting watching 'Becket' - the Richard Burton/Peter O'Toole version. Mary Berry was staying with us. The monks in the film started to sing some plainsong and Mary almost jumped out of her chair "That wasn't written until about 1250" (or whatever!), she exclaimed. It was an epic moment! Love it!! 🤣
S_L Posted February 12, 2021 Posted February 12, 2021 Church Times - 12/02/21 Director of Music - Ripon Cathedral Director of Music | Ripon Cathedral
S_L Posted February 19, 2021 Posted February 19, 2021 Church Times - 19/02/21 Director of Music - Bangor Cathdral ............................... and there are eight full time posts within the RC Diocese of Leeds a) Four Choral Directors b) Two Keyboard Tutors c) Assistant Director of the Schools Singing Programme d) Assistant Director of the Keyboard Studies Programme The Leeds posts have been advertised for a couple of weeks - closing date is 22/02/21
andrewm Posted February 19, 2021 Posted February 19, 2021 The advert for the Bangor post doesn’t tell you much and there’s nothing on their website. Is it full/part time, salary, services per week.
Positif Posted February 19, 2021 Posted February 19, 2021 Remarkable to have three cathedral DoM positions being advertised at the same time!
Guest Posted March 19, 2021 Posted March 19, 2021 On 11/12/2020 at 17:55, Vox Humana said: Advert for the Exeter job https://www.exeter-cathedral.org.uk/about-us/vacancies/ James Anderson-Besant has been appointed, currently organ scholar at St John’s Cambridge.
DaveHarries Posted March 19, 2021 Posted March 19, 2021 3 hours ago, michaelwilson said: James Anderson-Besant has been appointed, currently organ scholar at St John’s Cambridge. Slight correction if I may: Assistant Organist of St. John's according to the college website.https://www.sjcchoir.co.uk/about/james-anderson-besant Nothing on the social media of the cathedral or the college but the website of Exeter Cathedral carries this:https://www.exeter-cathedral.org.uk/news-events/latest-news/assistant-director-of-music-appointed/ Dave
David Cynan Jones Posted April 6, 2021 Posted April 6, 2021 After thirty-three years of service to Lincoln Cathedral, the Organist Laureate, Colin Walsh, will be leaving his current role to pursue other musical interests. https://www.facebook.com/Lincoln.Cathedral/posts/4286406971390438 For those not on social media https://lincolncathedral.com/dr-colin-walsh-to-become-organist-emeritus-of-lincoln-cathedral/?fbclid=IwAR1nyoRvtfP7OkFdxEpiQqOPa4RCHK2THFIxPhBTpn2hdJh-jN4hFVLRmmc
Rowland Wateridge Posted April 6, 2021 Posted April 6, 2021 An organist whose playing has you on the edge of your seat, especially in the music of the French school and large Bach works like the Dorian Toccata and Fugue; his performance of that was the most gripping that I have ever experienced. His service accompaniments are a model and the improvisations thrilling. The lucky people of Lincoln have enjoyed this for a third of a century! Clearly the Lincoln Father Willis has been an inspiration, the perfect combination of instrument and player. I have always felt privileged to hear his playing at Lincoln. I hope that will still be possible and I’m sure we all wish him well in his new venture.
S_L Posted April 9, 2021 Posted April 9, 2021 I see, in the 'Church Times' today there is an advert for Dean of Sheffield. "Previous Cathedral experience is not essential"
DaveHarries Posted April 9, 2021 Posted April 9, 2021 13 hours ago, S_L said: I see, in the 'Church Times' today there is an advert for Dean of Sheffield. "Previous Cathedral experience is not essential" Doesn't sound too good. Perhaps a case of being careful what you wish for? Dave
Robert Bowles Posted April 9, 2021 Posted April 9, 2021 2 hours ago, DaveHarries said: Doesn't sound too good. Perhaps a case of being careful what you wish for? Dave I found this quotation easier to understand when taken in its full context. Below the main body of the advert are two sentences : "Applications are particularly encouraged from female, UKME and disabled candidates who are under-represented in the Cathedral and Chapter". followed by "Previous Cathedral experience is not essential".
ptindall Posted April 10, 2021 Posted April 10, 2021 The previous Dean had no cathedral experience either.
andrewm Posted April 10, 2021 Posted April 10, 2021 Good to see things are on a more stable footing again at Llandaff https://www.llandaffcathedral.org.uk/work-with-us/
David Cynan Jones Posted April 23, 2021 Posted April 23, 2021 Dr. Ed Jones currently Sub Assistant Organist at Worcester Cathedral appointed Organist and Master of the Choristers at Wakefield Cathedral. https://www.wakefieldcathedral.org.uk/news/2021/04/wakefield-cathedral-appoints-new-director-of-music
S_L Posted April 23, 2021 Posted April 23, 2021 3 hours ago, David Cynan Jones said: Dr. Ed Jones currently Sub Assistant Organist at Worcester Cathedral appointed Organist and Master of the Choristers at Wakefield Cathedral. https://www.wakefieldcathedral.org.uk/news/2021/04/wakefield-cathedral-appoints-new-director-of-music Ah!!! I see he began his life playing a proper instrument!!!! (sorry - private family joke!!!)
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