News from Sheffield

[Caussade]

https://www.sheffieldcathedral.org/news/2020/7/21/sheffield-cathedral-choir

[DracoM]

""""Following a review of the Music Department in 2019, Sheffield Cathedral Chapter has decided that a completely fresh start is needed.
As a result, Chapter concluded this is the right time to close the current Cathedral Choir. """"

................................

Joking?

[DracoM]

And did we miss this [equally likely] one from King's Cambridge:
'Under the current conditions governing assembly and the likely spread of a virus by both singers and amongst tourists, and closely grouped worshippers, the Fellows have decided to suspend all choral services, disband the choir as is at present, for the foreseeable future, but possibly longer."





Not. It's only my joke bred of pain and despair.

[W.Kearns]

Talk about sad news. There is, not unexpectedly, some very distressed comment on Sheffield Cathedral's facebook page.

[mw963]

.... and what a mealy-mouthed load of b***s from the Dean and Chapter on that page. *And* they even had the gall to invite me to support them by contributing.

Sheffield Girls sang at our local for a week some years ago, and they were top-notch.

What a shame.

[Flay]

This rings a bell about the York Minster campanology sackings. Will there be a chorus of disapproval?

[oddoneout]

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/jul/23/sheffield-cathedral-to-disband-choir-to-take-account-of-diversity

Baby and bathwater come to mind. I would question the wisdom of taking such a heavy handed approach in the name of diversity - doesn't make for positive feelings on either side.

[W.Kearns]

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/...t-of-diversity

Baby and bathwater come to mind. I would question the wisdom of taking such a heavy handed approach in the name of diversity - doesn't make for positive feelings on either side.

Agreed, and it raises the depressing likelihood of other cathedrals following Sheffield's example.

[cat]

According to the widely circulated message from a chorister parent, this appears to have nothing to do with "diversity", which seems to have been latched on to as a convenient buzzword to excuse what is evidently appalling mismanagement:

https://twitter.com/ANethsingha/status/1286207212709388288

[subcontrabass]

And do they have any plans for a new pipe organ? The old one was removed some years ago and replaced by an electronic organ.

[Flay]

According to the widely circulated message from a chorister parent, this appears to have nothing to do with "diversity", which seems to have been latched on to as a convenient buzzword to excuse what is evidently appalling mismanagement:

https://twitter.com/ANethsingha/stat...07212709388288

This is the letter I believe from her active and fun Facebook page: https://m.facebook.com/614636973/pos...949296974/?d=n

It has a powerful final paragraph:

We recommend that the Dean and Chapter read Frederic Laloux’s book “Reinventing Organisations” to understand something about treating people as whole persons and helping them flourish to be the best they can be for the benefit of all, rather than as replaceable cogs playing a role in a machine. Perhaps they would then see the strength of fury that has been unleashed amongst the choir community in recent weeks as an asset to build upon, rather than as something to run from? Then they would find an experienced, committed and flexible core of highly skilled singers to be of great value to Sheffield cathedral’s plans for music provision in the future. But that can only happen if they dare to be real. Why are they so afraid?

[DracoM]

According to the widely circulated message from a chorister parent, this appears to have nothing to do with "diversity", which seems to have been latched on to as a convenient buzzword to excuse what is evidently appalling mismanagement:

https://twitter.com/ANethsingha/stat...07212709388288

Exactly - pious b....s. How they have the nerve to .............oh, what's the use?

[Ein Heldenleben]

It's noticeable when you look at the BBC Choir of the Year competition what a gulf there appears to be between choirs in the European church tradition (for want of a better phrase )and those in the African American Baptist / Gospel tradition . That is not a gulf of musical quality or enthusiasm and I greatly enjoy both styles. If the object of the Sheffleld authorities is to encourage both traditions and give all , regardless of background , an opportunity to participate, mix , learn and improve by singing music right across the range of Christian faith I think that would be a good thing. Where I slightly struggle is in the idea that object is progressed by discontinuing the long established, and by all accounts successful , Anglican element.

[cat]

The Dean on Times Radio just now and not really being clear about anything but saying diversity means "more Tudor repertory e.g. Purcell".

[mopsus]

I sang services there with a visiting choir a few years ago and had the impression that liturgical planning could be a bit haphazard. At the Sunday morning Eucharist there was the monthly laying on of hands immediately after communion (elsewhere, it would have been a separate service). We sang our anthem, then we and the congregation sat for a good half-hour while our organist improvised.