USOC April Event – A reminder to all members that USOC descends on the Ballymena area on 9th April 2005. An all day event, this is themed as ORGAN MUSIC for MANUALS ONLY. The opening is in the Parish Church in Ahoghil at 11.30 am, where members can hear music by Tallis and Stanley. As young musicians are featured, we hope that members and their friends will come in droves. Lunch is at the Carvery at the Tullyglass Hotel at 1.00pm. Let the Treasurer have £11 per person as soon as possible, if you want lunch– a form was provided with the previous Bulletin. Thence, we head for Ballymena Parish Church where we will hear music for trumpet/horn and organ and a Handel Organ Concerto with a string orchestra of young people from the Belfast School of Music. If you are joining the party for this item only, aim to be at the Parish Church about 2.45pm; proceedings are scheduled to begin at 3.00pm. Please do make an extra effort to attend, as so many musicians will be coming together for our delectation. Many thanks in anticipation.
What else is on?
USOC May Event – is the visit to Winchester, Chichester and Salisbury. Around forty members will be heading off on this exciting venture. Members who are not involved in this, and indeed, on previous such trips, will wish, and are maybe relieved(!), to know that these are self-financing visits. In fact, the visits are budgeted with some generosity on likely costs – just to be safe – and this usually means that the funds of the Society usually benefit by a small profit. So, your subs are safe!
USOC June Event – has not yet been finalised. This is the Annual Members’ Recital. It is anticipated that it will be held in a Belfast venue on either 4th or 11th June 2005. More details nearer the time.
USOC’s Youngest member – is twelve year old Liam Crangle, of Armagh. The grapevine says that Liam is giving a recital in St Patrick’s CoI Cathedral, on Sunday 10th April at 4.00pm. Well done Liam.
The Organist entertains – new USOC member David Morris writes to tell us that a new Phoenix organ has been installed in the Ballymena Methodist Church. On Saturday 23rd April 2005, at 7.30pm, and in aid of the Church and local charities, Mark Ireland, from Devon, will be playing a programme of what is described as GOSPEL to POP CLASSICS, including marches, choruses, show stoppers, pop and organ hits. If you want to hear a Phoenix in action, and/or want entertained, perhaps this is for you; you will be made most welcome -- £5 at the door, or telephone 028 2586 2778/028 2586 1513.
The Tonic Theatre Organ – is again in action on 7th May 2005 at the Bangor Academy, Primacy in Bangor, Co Down under the entertaining and talented fingers of Simon Gledhill. Rodney Bambrick reminds us that, as the building will be pulled down in the not-too distant future, this is just one more chance to hear the Compton before, hopefully, it will be removed and stored until a new home has been identified for it. These occasions are always great fun, and there is usually a silent film which will be enhanced by the impressions dreamt up by the organist – memories of former times, and plenty of foot-tapping tunes. Do come along, and pay at the door – starting time 8.00pm.
The Priory Singers – under the direction of USOC member Harry Grindle, is singing a concert of Italian Church Music, with orchestra, in St Anne’s Cathedral, on Thursday 2nd June 2005. Priory Concerts are occasions of excellence, so do not miss this. The event commences at 8.00pm, and tickets are available from The Good Book Shop, Matchetts, or at the door, price £10 (£8 concession). Music includes Allegri – Miserere, Pergolesi – Magnificat and Palestrina – Stabat Mater, and other exciting offerings.
Colm Carey – is giving a recital at Clonard Monastry – fine rebuild organ by Kenneth Jones – on 20th May 2005 at 7.30pm. No further details at present, but watch out for this event. Also, Colm has been persuaded to hold another Master Class on Saturday 21st May 2005 at Clonard. There may be vacancies for any young, or not so young potential participants, – apply to USOC member Tanja Teirney, Tel 028 9064 2390 if you would like to be included. This is, in essence, a continuation of the workshop Colm put on as part of the Belfast Community Organ Day. Those who were present on that occasion know just how approachable Colm is and how good he is at attuning himself to where the learner actually is. His tuition was simply superb and the improvements could be seen straight away. This is a most valuable idea that Colm Carey has been prepared to work with, and those whom he has helped in the past have found the experience really worthwhile.
Vacant Consoles – this item, which appears far too often in the pages of the Bulletin, has suddenly sprung into exceptional life, most sadly. It is indicative of the degree to which Churches in all denominations are now facing the crisis so many of our members have long predicted. Radical solutions are required for church musicians to give the commitments that are called for by so many churches.
This month we are listing the following vacancies:
Ballygilbert Presbyterian Church: following USOC member Neale Agnew’s translation to Fisherwick Presbyterian Church, Ballygilbert are seeking a Director of Music ‘to lead and develop the full range of musical resources for worship’. They are looking for someone who can demonstrate a high standard in organ and piano, and who can direct other musical talent in the congregation. Details from Rev Roy Patton, Tel: 028 9185 2360.
First Presbyterian Church, Comber: are seeking an Organist & Musical Director. There is a Binns 2 manual and pedal pipe organ in the Church, a new digital piano and drum kit, and there is a choir of 24 members – how superb, lucky indeed – with weekly practices. Mention is made of a praise group, as is the fact that there are a number of people in the congregation who play guitars, flutes, violas and brass and ‘a happy congregation willing to learn new songs to add to old hymns’. Interesting indeed – if you are, contact Rev Wilson Gordon. Tel: 028 9187 0038, in the mornings.
Killinchy Presbyterian Church, St Polycarps PC, Belfast are both seeking new appointments for church musicians – for details see the March USOC Bulletin.
Your Views – as reported in the March Bulletin, there was a meeting of our members at St Ignatius’ PC, Carryduff on 19th February 2005, to discuss the results of the questionnaire so kindly filled in by over 70% of our members. In that previous issue, we carried a summary of the discussions held in relation to the first three questions. This month, we summarise the results of the discussions of the remaining questions.
Q4 What do you like least about USOC events?
Lack of personal contact – the social side needs more encouragement.
Society too much in the hands of the professionals – too intimidating, particularly in playing the organ.
Sense of belonging should be encouraged.
Too many cliques; greet our members (the question at whom this duty is targeted is not mentioned!).
Evening meetings and public transport are not compatible.
Don’t neglect each other, must become more friendly. Stuffy at times, can we not let our hair down?
Tenure of Committee members could and should be limited (eg two terms of three years).
Q5.How could we improve the image of USOC, including attracting new members and making it better known to those we would be seeking to focus on as potential new members?
More wider advertising of helpful events and information.
New music has to be faced, like it or not.
Do we provide the wrong image?
More, wider publicity for our events.
Too exclusive – other musicians should be encouraged to participate. Inclusiveness amongst Church Musicians would be great, it would widen participation and increase numbers, and therefore strength of USOC.
Q6. Should USOC be a representative /lobby for church musicians, eg to Church Authorities considering music in worship, salary levels for organists etc.?
We are too small, and insufficiently inclusive to take on this role.
But, given the crisis being faced in Churches in relation to Church Musicians, Authorities should be encouraged to seek our advice.
Our website should become a better vehicle for contact with other musicians’ organisations, where such work is undertaken, we can then work together with others to achieve shared knowledge on fees & charges.
There needs to be more contact with the clergy, many of whom are not attuned to the importance and value of good church music.
The Committee wish to assure our members that they will be doing all in their power to steer the Society towards meeting these guidelines. We simply ask you to be patient with us. Already, so many Committee members, including the office bearers put in many hours of unpaid work on behalf of our members simply organising and ensuring an interesting programme of events. Change processes are not easy and demand even greater efforts than simply running the Society. That said, we do believe that results will begin to be obvious right away with a substantial impact next year. We thank you for your continuing and enduring support.
Calling our younger Members (aged between 17-25) – do you fancy yourself as an organ scholar for a few weeks? We announce details of the Walsingham 2005 Organ Scholar Scheme. Through the Summer (from June to September), a series of young organists come to Walsingham to stay for two to four weeks and play for the Services in the Shrine Church. You will also learn liturgical and improvisation skills. You will have access to the organ in the Shrine Church, and the fine tracker organ in the Parish Church for practice – as much as you like! You will be able to work with the Director of Music on musical provision in the Shrine Church. You will have food and accommodation provided, ‘generous’ pocket money, and generous free time. If you want details, contact the Director of Music, The Shrine Church of Walsingham, 6 Common Place, WALSINGHAM, NR22 6BW. Tel: 01328 820582; email: appeal@olw-shrine.org.uk
How this writer wishes he were between 17 and 25!
New Members – We are delighted to report more new members – which, as stated before, is always a thrill! The following have joined the Society in recent weeks. You are most welcome, and we hope your association with the Society will be long and fruitful.
Mr Ian Mills BMus(Hons) ARCO ___________, LONDONDERRY,
BT_________,Tel: __________, Organist & Master of the Choristers, Derry Cathedral
Ms Tanya Teirney ____________, BELFAST, BT_________, Tel: 028 _________, Email:__________ , Organ Scholar Clonard Monastery.
Mr S Johnston Gray _________, HOLYWOOD, Co Down, BT__________, Tel: 028_____________, Ballyholme Presbyterian Church
Mr Colin T Johnston __________, BELFAST, BT________, Tel: 028 ____________, Killinchy Presbyterian Church
You are all most welcome to USOC. Please make sure you make yourselves known to members of the Committee, and to the office bearers.
IAO – Our affiliation to the Incorporated Association of Organists has been mentioned before in these columns. We derive significant benefits from our affiliation, only one of which, our public liability insurance, takes care of our annual affiliation fee several times over every year.
However, there are other benefits. No organist should be without the Organists Review, which is published quarterly – in fact this writer does not really understand why only a proportion of our members take the publication. The magazine is in full colour with 100 pages of articles. One member has said to us that if members could see a copy they would be more inclined to subscribe– well all you have to do is to contact the Secretary, who will also have a copy at any of the USOC events at which he is present. The special price for members of USOC is still £17 per annum. We are enclosing a copy of the contents page of the most recent issue of OR.
The same applies to the IAO Milleneum Book, a really fascinating chronicle, with substantial Sections on Bach, the Organ & its Music, Church Music, and on Recorded Music. There are 14 substantial essays contained in 180 pages. You can find essays on Improvisation, The World’s Largest Organ (Atlantic City), The English Cathedral Organ, Into the Twenty Third Century, Theatre Organ Playing and Composing for the Church Today. With writers like Professor Thomas Murray, David Briggs, Richard Shepherd John Norman and Professor Peter Williams, and edited by Paul Hale, how can you avoid the temptation! At £10 for USOC members, not to buy is looking a gift horse in the mouth!!
The Milleneum Book of Organ Music contains a piece written by our member Christopher Boodle. This was commissioned by IAO for the Milleneum and contains nine new compositions under the editorship of John Scott (recently off to New York from St Paul’s Cathedral). The pieces are approachable and learnable for both liturgical and recital use. The price of this for USOC Members is £12.50. There is also a CD by Paul Hale at Southwell Cathedral, in which all these pieces are played. This bears the title of Christopher’s piece Fanfare for the Milleneum, and is priced at £10.75. Finally, the IAO in 2003 commissioned Alan Spedding of Beverley Minster to compose nine pieces, mostly based on hymn tunes. This is now published under the title Recuerdos, which translates from the Spanish as Remebrances. These are easier pieces than the Milleneum Book, and the USOC price is £10.95.
All of these items are available from Allegro Music, 82 Suffolk Street, Queensway, BIRMINGHAM, B1 1TA. Tel: 0121 642 7553.
Member Details – members are always on the move, the Secretary makes mistakes and other changes take place. This month, we record changes to the details of the following members.
Theo Saunders has a new address: _______________, ARMAGH, BT_______. Tel: 028 ___________. Good luck in your new home Theo!
Professor Desmond Hunter’s email was given incomplete in the March Bulletin. We are sorry for this. The correct email address is: d.hunter@ulster.ac.uk
In this context, can members please note that the Secretary will be preparing an updated list of members’ details in the Summer (during July and August). If you feel for whatever reason that your details need to be changed, please inform the Secretary before the end of June 2005. We need name, qualifications, address, contact telephone number(s), email addresses, church appointment (if relevant), and availability to deputise for other members.
Our last USOC event - was a first class workshop put on by our member Edward Craig, on Getting the best out of My Choir. He, most successfully, demonstrated what he was talking about with a small choir, in an entertaining and convincing way. Edward, who is a gifted choir trainer, directs the famous Grosvenor Chorale, which he founded some years ago, in memory of the Late Ronnie Lee. Edward put enormous effort into the preparation and execution of this wonderful workshop, and we are most grateful to him; he also prepared notes for his workshop, which are full of common sense, and practical hints. If any member wants a copy of these notes – beautifully produced, we would add -- please contact the Secretary.
Finally, we thank all our members for your support. If you have any views or need the help of the Society, please contact the Secretary, a member of the Committee, or an office bearer. Thank you.
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