Page 46 - Church Music Quarterly June 2018

CODA
JUDY REES AND BARRY FERGUSON
INDEX OF ADVERTISERS
Allen Organs, 4
Boosey & Hawkes, Contemporary Choral
Series, 8
Church Urban Fund, UK based charity,
OBC
ChurchTi es,32
Church Organ World, digital organs, 2 CroftDesign,Vest ents,choirrobesetc.,
32
Guild of Church Musicians 25 Harrison & Harrison, pipe organ
builders, 12
New A & M, hymn books, 15 Ouseley Trust, supporting Anglican
Choral tradition, 8
Pipe Organ Services, organ builders, 32 Prayer Book Society, organ scholarship, 8 Preacher agazine, 25
Pro Organo, pipe organ music on DVD
worldwide, 40
Regent Records, 12
Vanpoulles.vest ents,8
Viscount Organs, digital organs, IBC Watts & Co. Ltd, choir robes, 25 Wells Cathedral Choir and School,
Choristers, 25 Wippells, choir robes, 12
Judy Rees
Barry Ferguson
Inclose me still or ear I START. Be to me rather sharp and TART, Then let me want thy hand & ART
When thou dost greater judgments SPARE,
And with thy kni e but prune and PARE, Ev’n ruit ull trees more ruit ull ARE.
Such sharpnes shows the sweetest FREND:
SuchcuttingsratherhealthenREND: AndsuchbeginningstouchtheirEND.
But can music enhance the oblique motto in Colossians 3.3? Salisbury Cathedral Girls Choir have recently recorded my piece on a George Herbert-themed CD, so you can soon judge or yoursel . I chose one note
oreacho these10words,andthismusic, frst suggested in the organ part, gradually emerges in its own right as a ten-note, ascending musical motto. Skilled musician that he was, Herbert would surely have encouraged this matching o verbal and musical wordplay.
In 1980 I set Discipline as an ATB motet, ascinatedbythefuctuationo moodthat
occurs rom the very frst verse onwards.
Throw away thy rod, Throw away thy wrath: O my God,
Take the gentle path.
More recently, I decided to write a hymn tune or it (included on the CD Another Music: Hymns New an Ol ). In the event, I composed two tunes to be used side by side, the frst to underline the mood o anxiety, the second to suggest (in verses 5 and 8) reassurance and belie in God’s loving kindness. Does this work? Judge or yoursel on the
Sarum Voices CD.
People romallovertheworldvisitthe tinychurcho StAndrewinLowerBemerton. Itisclear romcommentsinthevisitors’ book how much it means to them.
Thechurch’smainclaimto ameisthat George Herbert (1593–1633), poet, priest and devotional lyricist, lived in the Old Rectory acrosstheroad.Itwasnot orlong:hedied three years later in 1633, aged 40. In that brie time he revised his poems, added some more, and sent them o to Little Gidding, wherehis riendNicholasFerrararranged their publication.
His biographer, Izaak Walton, described how he would play his lute and viol, and how he would walk over the water meadows toSalisburyCathedral orevensong.
He oundithis‘heavenonearth’.
Over the centuries, numerous composers
havewrittensettingso Herbert’spoetry. Herearetherefectionso oneo them, Barry Ferguson:
THE MUSICAL QUALITY OF POETRY
George Herbert’s succinct and intimate poetryrevealsahearto love,particularly ormusic,andalso orwordplay.Thishas
a strong appeal or a composer. For example, there is a 10-word motto hidden obliquely
in his poem Colossians 3.3, while The Altar and EasterWingsarewrittenintheshapeo an altarando wings.InPara isethefrstletter o thelastwordineachlineisremoved,
or pruned.
I Blesse thee, Lord, because I GROW Among thy trees, which in a ROW Totheeboth ruitandorderOW
Whatopen orce,orhiddenCHARM Canblastmy ruit,orbringmeHARM, While the inclosure is thine ARM?
CHURCH MUSIC QUARTERLY (CMQ), JUNE 2018
No. 222 ISNN 0307-6334
USPS No. 006639
CMQ is published in September, December, March and June by the Royal School of Church Music and issued free to affliated churches and schools, Individual Members and Friends of the RSCM.
ABOUT THE RSCM
The RSCM is a charity committed particularly to promoting the study, practice and improvement of music
in Christian worship. It is an open, life-long learning organization, offering face-to-face and distance education and training through its programmes, published resources, courses and activities. The RSCM is sustained by thousands of members, volunteers and donors worldwide.
For information about membership benefts, e-mail membership@rscm.com. To make a charitable or legacy contribution contact development@rscm.com or
phone +44 (0)1722 424848.
46 CMQ
SOLUTIONS TO PUZZLE ON PAGE 35
ACROSS: 2) PARRY 3) CHARLES WESLEY 6) NICHOLSON 7) FOUNT 8) TALLIS
11) BASSO PROFUNDO 12) DESCANT
14) LEITMOTIF
DOWN: 1) ORGAN 4) LEGATO 5) ENIGMA VARIATIONS 9) LIBRETTO 10) BOYCE 13) SINGS