Comments on: A Musical Journey through GIRM: § 312-313 – Choir and Instrument Placement

By: Louis

Louis — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 13:21:11 +0000

Hello, In regard to the placement of the pipe organ: the placement of the organ must be very well-studied by architect and organ builder. The choir and an enclosed swell division or at least two ranks of pipes (gamba/flute) should be placed BEHIND the choir with the console and most of the pipes located nearby. The practice in the Archdiocese of Newark and many other dioceses insisting that the console and choir be placed near the sanctuary while the pipework remains in the loft is absolutely inhibitive of good choral accompaniment. And a few speakers mounted on a wall near the choir with midi is an extremely poor option. I suggest reading The Organ Handbook by Hans Klotz, Concordia Publishers.

By: dan

dan — Sun, 10 Apr 2005 22:50:08 +0000

Are “lawlfully approved musical instruments” defined in this document or elswhere?

By: Anon

Anon — Sun, 10 Apr 2005 00:36:13 +0000

Thank you, Chris, very interesting.

By: Chris Ebbs

Chris Ebbs — Fri, 08 Apr 2005 10:17:16 +0000

The Anglican church defined choir dress in 1894 as the following;

Treble voices; Cassock of colour appropriate to church, surplice of length appropriate to church, ruff.

Lay clerks ( men) cassock and surplice.

The colour of the cassocks were as follows;

Country and parish churches; Black.

ONLY churches that were granted ROYAL ASSENT were permitted to wear RED cassocks. This is still the case although many churches ignore it. The modern blue cassocks were only introduced in the early 1900s.

With regard to length of surplice basically it follows that the higher the church the longer the length of the surplice, i.e cathedral choirs wear Traditional Old English style surplices and the smaller churches shorter styles.

By: John

John — Mon, 21 Feb 2005 23:04:51 +0000

Regarding Choir Dress:
The Church defines Choir Dress officially as “surplice and cassock” because the choir is a liturgical office. Yet one must consider the reality of the male only role in Liturgical offices. While women are allowed to sing in choir situation was allowed by indult and continues to this day. men and boys would comprise the Choir as Liturgical office and woudl therefore be dresses in Surplice and cassock. The focus in understanding the choir should be in that deeper understanding of it as a real Liturgical office. And if I may add regarding location: the loft is good as is the antiphonal locations between sanctuary and congragation. But they should NOT be facing the people. Facing eachother with an understanding of the direction of Praise toward God should be understood, but not necessarily these days.