Page 40 - Church Music Quarterly March 2018

Have your say ...
We value your comments and views by letter or email. Letters may be edited or shortened for publication. Do also write to us if you have questions about any issue related to church music and worship that one of our staff, advisers or consultants may be able to answer. Please write to the Communications Officer at cmq@rscm. com (or at the address on page 5).
The copy deadline for the June issue of CMQ is 3 April 2018.
OBITUARIES
READERS’
LETTERS
✎ RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS’S SINE NOMINE
Am I alone, or are there others let down by the apparent reluctance of organists to play RVW’s original harmony in bar 5 of this splendid tune? This can be found in the 1933 version of English Hymnal 641, also Hymns Ancient & Modern New Standard 305, where he strikes a bold
A major chord, a strong, rising pedal part and a gorgeous suspension in bar 6.
But what do we get in its place? What appears to be a quick copy-and- paste job using harmony similar to that of verses 4, 5 and 6.
In mitigation, I have to say that in most hymnals, including New English Hymnal, the underlay of the text is clearly stated in all verses (RVW was somewhat unhelpful here); but nevertheless, in my view, this does not justify the totally bland version which is almost invariably used nowadays, even by cathedral choirs (I heard it recently broadcast by BBC radio on Choral Evensong).
So, fellow organists, remember, this is vintage Vaughan Williams and at his best. I’d really like to know your views. Rex Latter, Bognor Regis
THE RT REVD JOHN BICKERSTETH
Bishop John Bickersteth, who served as Chairman of the RSCM’s Council from 1977 to 1987, died in January this year at the age of 96. Born of a family whose line of priests dates back to the 18th century, he served as Bishop of Bath and Wells from 1975 to 1986, when he retired to devote time to conservation. He also served as Clerk of the Closet from 1979 to 1989,
a post to which he was appointed allegedly
as a consequence of his shooting skills. In his retirement he took an Open University history degree; he will be remembered for his editing of the Bickersteth diaries, the memoirs of two members of his family who served as Army Chaplains in the Great War. In all this he was supported by his late wife Rosemary, herself
a classically trained pianist.
Michael Painting
MARTIN PALMER
We have heard the sad, if not unexpected, news that Martin Palmer has died. He was a popular and energetic Senior Captain on
our Boys’ Residential Courses at places such as Taunton and Devizes when such courses drew anything from 250 to 300 members. His job was as responsible as can be imagined.
In latter days Martin was, as described by his church organist at Bath, ‘a stalwart member of the Christ Church congregation, sang
in the choir for over 15 years, and served
as a Trustee (of the church) until worsening health forced him to resign at the end of 2016. He was one of life’s characters, with
a love of music, food, wine and beer, jokes and a general lust for life. A few years ago
it became obvious that the brain tumour, which had plagued him off-and-on for much of the previous decade, would not let go of him, but he treated this with his customary humour and directness. He spent much of the last couple of years confined to bed, and died peacefully with his family around him.’
At the RSCM we are glad to know that Martin was so loved and appreciated by all concerned; in particular it is great news
to hear that until the end he was a devoted
member of his church. There will be many former choristers who will remember his lively contribution to our residential courses. Martin How
DOREEN MASON
RSCM Derbyshire were sorry to hear of the death of Mrs Doreen Mason in July 2017, age 92. A lifelong resident of Crich, Derbyshire, Doreen started piano lessons early and at
14 took up the organ. During World War Two, she took over organ playing at Mount Tabor Methodist Chapel in Crich when their organist went to do war work. She continued to play for services until the chapel closed
in 1983, moving to play at Fritchley Congregational Chapel until 2016. Doreen also regularly played for St Mary, Crich and for choirs, concerts and working men’s clubs across Derbyshire. In 2010 she received an award from Derbyshire County Council for ‘Excellence in the Community’ for her work with elderly people.
Elin Heron, Area Secretary, RSCM Derbyshire
40 CMQ