Founded by
Dr Mary Berry, CBE
Chant singing in Barking
Our assistance has been sought to help find a group of singers living in or near Barking which could provide music (Latin plainchant, Propers and Ordinary) on a regular basis for Sunday (Roman Catholic).Mass This would be regular work, (fees at present unknown)
It could well be that one person might start this off and then find other singers to join him/her. In the first instance, if you are interested - or know of someone else who would be interested – please contact Jeremy de Satge who will then forward the information to the parish priest concerned.
Please email:
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Tel. +44 (0)20 7207 5500
From the Director, Jeremy White
I sit down to write having just returned from a very busy Associates’ Weekend at Hinsley Hall in Leeds, the memory of which is still delightfully fresh in my mind. Alongside the customary joys of seeing old friends in pleasant surroundings and assisting in the liturgy as a ‘community of the air’ (I think I can call it that – can anyone think of a better term?) which crystallises twice or so each year, we had the more prominent, and highly informative and entertaining, presence of our Anglican chaplain Rev Andrew Macintosh. Musically, we attempted a programme which might seem almost insane with the forces at our disposal in the less than 48 hours available; 3 Masses and 2 Complines, containing much unfamiliar chant and psalmody according to the Dominican Regulae Cantus, a modern Anglican Evening Prayer, and an hour-long Sequence inspired by the Rosary (October being in the Catholic Church the Month of the Rosary). This last contained more polyphony and part-singing than we have ever attempted before. I am pleased to say that the effort proved well worthwhile, at least from my point of view and from that of many who said they’d enjoyed the experience. But it was undeniably hard work, and your Director probably got rather excitable as rehearsal time ran out and the point of delivery approached.
Mary always tried to include something out of the ordinary in our weekends – a liturgical drama perhaps, or an unusual Mass with obscure narrative propers such as Our Lady of the Snows. One of the most delightful I recall was a Sequence on the life of St Benedict which we studied at Worth, consisting of narrative antiphons and readings telling of the various stories and doings of the saint. It was with this tradition in mind that I conjured up the idea of our Rosary Sequence, giving us the opportunity to sing some truly iconic chant such as that for Holy Week for whose liturgical performance we are not usually together as a group.
One of the difficulties of being Mary’s successor, especially one who is not a professional academic nor steeped daily in the study of the chant, lies in trying to forge anew the role of Director out of nothing; nobody could actually be our foundress, and her special venerability is unique. Inevitably, we find ourselves in a more democratically-minded phase, and the need to meet everyone’s expectations and hopes weighs quite heavily. Some Associates like a leisurely weekend with plenty of free time factored in to the schedule; we try that, and others wonder why we’re not fitting more in. Some like to cover a lot of ground, others would prefer to go into a smaller repertoire in greater depth. Some want novelties, others simply want to perform the liturgy of the day with some spiritual space around them. In practice a benign dictatorship has to steer a course between these varying wants – we all know what happens when a horse is designed by a committee, and in our case we might end up with no horse at all!
However (and by way of assuring you that I do indeed listen to your observations and try to meet your requests), much really useful discussion was had in Leeds. In future we may try to make one of our weekends each year slower and more spacious, more retreat-like, with study of less music in more depth and perhaps more listening in the way of talks, even on spiritual topics. The other could then be of the more frantic variety! We will continue to aim broadly for spring and autumn weekends, one in the north and one in the south by turns.
More than one person wondered if music could not be sent out in advance. There is always a mad adrenalin-fuelled dash at the last minute to produce the booklet for our weekends, but if the deadline were conceived as being a fortnight earlier no doubt the panic would be no worse; so we will include a tick box on future booking forms for those who would like a sight of the repertoire a week or so before the event. It will save postage if only those seriously proposing to work on it request an advance copy.
We must all do our level best to keep trying to attract younger members – the future of the Schola – and promote workshop days in our areas. I know this is not easy, but the Trustees are doing all they can behind the scenes to make it as easy as possible. I hope most of you took away copies of the red leaflet promoting these activities. Do note that if cost alone is a deterrent, Schola has some funds which can help; so don’t hold back if that is the only reason. Renewed thanks to those who have already put their efforts into this essential work. We are looking at ways to make at least some of our weekends less costly for the young too (perhaps camping facilities) and might even hope, who knows, to have a specifically ‘youth’ arm in due course. Do use this newsletter to air your views and ideas on all matters. Perhaps those who have successfully promoted a day workshop could write in to say how trouble-free it all is, pour encourager les autres!
Finally, a sincere word of admiration to you all for what you achieve at our weekends, and particularly to survivors of Hinsley Hall. I imagine you all felt as if you’d been dragged through a hedge backwards, several times, but trust you enjoyed your own achievements. I hope you know me well enough to understand that if I demand a lot on the spot, it is because I know we can all transcend what we too readily take to be our limitations; you proved that in handsome measure. My first job is to get you to sing, which is a physical, doing-word. The brain makes no sound at all, reading is not singing, playing safe is not an option. We have to let the dog off the leash before we can train it to go where we want. Subtleties of style and even accuracy come later! I love my Schola ladies very much, and if I seem to pick on you it is probably because, as MaryRose said, I don’t listen to my gentlemen in the same way while I’m bellowing along with them. It is good of you to let me make my general points with you as guinea pigs.
I am going to stand down as Director when I hit 60 in December 2013. I will by then have served some six years as Mary’s Deputy and five and a half as Director, and it will be time to hand over to the next generation and to someone who can sustain the energy and expertise that Schola demands and deserves. I will not by any means be disappearing off the map however, and will be fully at the disposal of my successor for any useful purpose he or she thinks I can serve. I may go out with the bang of a big concert next autumn – watch this space.
In the meantime, very best wishes to all the Associates and friends of Schola and all power to you in your appreciation and realisation of the chant.
(Jeremy's letter was extracted from the Autumn 2012 newsletter)
Chant Workshops in Bath, Bristol and London
Please see the Events page for full details of these workshops.
Associates Weekend at Hawkstone Hall, 20-22 April 2012
The Associates Spring weekend at Hawkstone Hall was lovely. There were many familiar faces, a few new ones, and our youngest participant Matthew Hodkinson (7months) who was in fine voice. The weather although rainy at times was still sunny enough that one could go out and walk the rolling hills and sheep laden fields during breaks in the schedule. The best part was learning and chanting the seasonal Easter music with all the Alelluias. Two Easter Complines, two Vespers, two Masses, and a liturgical drama were all thoroughly rehearsed under the enthusiastic and knowledgeable tutelage of Philip Duffy and then chanted in the chapel at the appropriate times during the weekend.
We heard a well researched lecture by Chris Hodkinson on the History and traditions of the “Visitatio Sepulchre”, an ancient liturgical drama, which was originally sung at the end of Easter matins . After some rehearsal time, we sang and performed the drama which included an angel, the three Marys who went to the sepulchre, a cantor and the choir. It was a privilege and a treat to take part in a musical tradition that has been sung the same way since the 11th and 12th century!
On Saturday evening after Compline we all gathered in the lovely music room of Hawkstone Hall and sang old English folk songs (and a few American for our American attendees) to end a full day in a very old fashioned and fitting way.
Our thanks to Sister Grace for this account of the recent weekend celebration.
Chant Workshops
"The chant should be given pride of place in liturgical services".
(Vat.Council II Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy No.116).
Why not arrange a day or more of chant for your group?
Further details available on the Workshops page.
