Press Releases24 Nov 08

Archbishop of Armagh to Launch 'Singing Psalms' in Belfast

Archbishop of Armagh to Launch New Publication Making Psalms Easy to Sing

SINGING PSALMS
Responsorial Psalms set to Simple Chant for Year B
Music by Alison Cadden and Peter Thompson

The Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, the Most Revd Alan Harper, OBE will launch a new publication of simple musical psalm settings produced by the Church of Ireland on Saturday 29 November 2008 at St Nicholas’ Church, Lisburn Road, Belfast at 11.00am.

The new publication has come about as a result of the feeling that the practice of singing psalms has been somewhat lost in parishes where, for whatever reason, Anglican chant was considered too difficult to master, resulting in psalms being said or dropped altogether.  In an attempt to recapture the richness and variety of emotion expressed within the psalms, the Liturgical Advisory Committee of the Church of Ireland asked musicians Alison Cadden and Peter Thompson to devise a way of setting the psalms to music that can be sung by anyone.

The authors feel passionate about ensuring the beauty and richness of the psalms is available to all in church services and so collaborated to produce an easy way for all to sing the psalms. They say, ‘Whether there is a congregation of ten or a hundred, no choir or a large chorus, “Singing Psalms” will work effectively – all that is needed is the prayer book and a copy of this new publication.’

‘Singing Psalms – Responsorial Psalms set to Simple Chant – Year B’  contains all the psalms needed for the liturgical year beginning on Advent Sunday 2008 set out in a clear and easy to use manner.  It is published by The Columba Press, price £9.99 or €12.99 and will be available from the Good Bookshop, Belfast and the Resource Centre, Rathmines, Dublin. 

'Singing Psalms' was launched in the Republic of Ireland in St Ann’s, Dawson Street, Dublin by the Bishop of Meath and Kildare, the Most Revd Richard Clarke on Saturday 22 November 2008.

The Belfast launch will begin with coffee which will be served in the Church Hall across the road (there is ample car parking) with an opportunity to buy the book and the launch will follow in the Church. There will be an opportunity to hear how the psalms are to be sung, and even to participate.

Alison Cadden and Peter Thompson are both members of the Liturgical Advisory Committee and actively involved in the music of their parishes. Alison is a music teacher in Portadown, while Peter is Rector of St Michael’s, Castlecaulfield.  Their hope is that the passion expressed in the poetry of the psalms will be enhanced by the music in Singing Psalms.

BBC Radio Ulster’s Sunday Sequence featured ‘Singing Psalms’ on Sunday 23 November 2008. To listen again, visit: bbc.co.uk/northernireland/radioulster/sunday_sequence