Forth in Praise
Liturgy Commission Music

The 2008 Forth in Praise Day for All Church Musicians Saturday 4 October 2008 in St Kentigern's Parkgrove Avenue, Barnton, Edinburgh Starts 10.30 (after 10 am Mass). Registration and coffee in the hall from 9.45. Please bring a packed lunch and (if you use one) a music stand. Cost £10, concession £8, £7 each for groups of 10+, £5 each for groups of 20+.

MUSIC DAY ON 4 OCTOBER - MAIN FEATURES
How to sing - the physical bit. Exercises, breathing and all the techniques necessary for cantors, choirs, singing groups and the congregation.
Psalms and hymns - psalms in a variety of styles, including choral cantoring. Well-known hymns enhanced by part-singing. For the organist, a look at accompanying psalms, especially the tricky bit when switching from cantor to congregation. Psalms and hymns with group-instrumental accompaniment. How to make most impact, using different instruments to best effect.
Forth in Praise - a look at the latest publications. Performing a piece by Vince Woods as a tribute.
Plainsong - now becoming increasingly popular. Wendy Nelson will explain how the chant works and take us through some examples.

MUSIC DAY ON 4 OCTOBER - THE LEADERS
Maureen Bruce is the music co-ordinator of St Kentigern's. She is an experienced a capella vocalist and choral singer. It was on her initiative that the Notre Dame University Folk Choir from Indiana paid that memorable visit to St Kentigern's last year.
John Lindsay has been involved in music in the Archdiocese for many years. He is currently helping lead music in St. Andrews', Livingston, where the group has recently been trying to sing the Responsorial Psalms more regularly.
Wendy Nelson is well-known for her musical work in Fife, especially with singers. Her expert knowledge of plainsong makes her the ideal person to introduce this ancient form of church music to those of us who have not previously experienced it.

FORTH IN PRAISE MUSIC
New this season 'St Peter's Mass' by Tony Giovanazzi. Also a psalm for Christmas set by Evelyn Stell. See publications leaflet.

Editing - help required Forth in Praise music has been running for five years now, and has proved very successful. Music submitted has to be edited and in some cases fully typeset. Evelyn Stell is currently the sole editor, and now has increasing academic commitments which mean that she can't spend so much time on this work. So new music will have to be limited to two items a year at most, unless someone can be found who would be prepared to help with the editing. Music theory training, especially harmony, to degree or diploma level would be required, with a good knowledge of computer music typesetting. As with all of us, of course, the work is voluntary! Contact Evelyn if interested.

EVENTS IN PARISHES AND DEANERIES
Earlier this year we were invited to hold events in two parishes: the 'Music for Children' day in St Gregory's, Edinburgh, and an organ workshop in SS Mary and David, Hawick, both of which went very well.
Other parishes or deaneries might like to follow suit and host a music event tailored to their own needs and wishes. Possible examples are: gaining organ skills and confidence, finding and training cantors for psalm-singing, introducing new music for instrumental groups. The parish may wish to open the event more widely within the area, or even advertise it to all.
If your parish would be interested in hosting a music event, please contact Katherine or Evelyn.

NEWSLETTERS We've decided to label them 'Autumn' and 'Spring' rather than stick to specific months, which can be difficult if Easter is especially early or late.

ORGANISTS' NEWSLETTER The next issue is scheduled for late October. It is easier if we don't have to get both newsletters out at once. Email updates will of course continue as normal.

EMAIL If you haven't switched to receiving this newsletter by email, do please consider it now. It is faster, and the result is of much better quality. Also, you automatically receive updates as they happen. It is an enormous help to our slender finances, as well as being less labour-intensive for Karen, who does the massive printing, folding and posting job each time.
If you don't have email, of course you can continue to receive a postal copy. But if you do, and would like to make the change, please phone or email Katherine now.

CHANGE OF EMAIL ADDRESS The only problem with email is that if you change your email address, we can lose touch with you completely. So could you please put Katherine's email in your address book, so that she will be included when you send round a change of email notification. Thank you.
Also please let us know if you no longer wish to receive the newsletter.

FORTH IN PRAISE

The Music Advisory Group

Our website: http://www.forthinpraise.co.uk