An Invitation to the SSG Composers' Forum
Composers, text writers, and other interested persons are cordially invited to the next meeting of the SSG Composers' Forum, which will be held in the Wulstan Hall at the Church of of the Holy Redeemer, Priest Lane, Pershore, Worcestershire, WR10 1EB on Saturday 14 June, 10.30am (for 11.00) to 4pm. Hot drinks will be available, but please bring a packed lunch. The agenda is as follows:
10.30 Arrival
11.00 Welcome & Introductions
11.15 Discussion of compositions & texts – Session 1
12.45 Lunch
1.30 Talk by Fr Peter Jones
2.30 Discussion of compositions & texts – Session 2
4pm End
Fr Peter Jones has kindly agreed to talk to us. Widely known as a composer for the liturgy, Father Peter is parish priest at Holy Redeemer, Pershore, and chairman of the Archdiocese of Birmingham Music Committee. He directed the music at the Papal Mass for the Beatification of John Henry Newman in Birmingham in September 2010.
Please do not turn up to this meeting unannounced, but join the email list (see below) and reply to the forthcoming invitation. This will help us to plan the meeting more effectively and to make it more useful for you.
Call for submissions for 14 June 2014
Composers and text writers, whether they are SSG members or not, are invited to submit compositions and/or texts for possible discussion at the forthcoming meeting of the SSG Composers' Forum on 6 July 2013. Please note:
- only works submitted in advance of the meeting will be considered.
- composers' and authors' copyright in any submitted works will respected and safeguarded.
- attendees do not have to submit work.
- no work will be discussed whose composer/author is not present at the meeting.
- works must be unpublished or work-in-progress (the Forum will provide other opportunities to discuss published works).
- works may be submitted by email to alan.smith@ssg.org.uk in any of the following formats:
- if music, either as a PDF or as a software file (Finale, Sibelius, Notion, or any other software application that is currently available for both Windows AND Apple computers)
- if text, either as a PDF or as a Microsoft Word file.
If you submit more than one item, please prioritise them, so that if there is only time to consider some of them, we will know which ones to omit.
We will make printed copies of the music available for discussion, but no-one will go away with these copies unless you yourself want to bring some to give away or sell, or if you explicitly grant permission for these copies to be taken away.
Anyone who submits work will have at least one piece discussed, and maybe more, depending on the time available.
The discussion will take the form of peer review, led by Alan Smith, who will ensure that a positive and supportive approach is taken at all times. Composers and writers are, of course, at liberty to accept or reject the suggestions of their peers as they see fit!
If you are not yet a member of the Composers' Forum email group, you can kill two birds with one stone by submitting work for this meeting. This will be taken as a request to join the email group.
About the Composers’ Forum
Membership of the SSG Composers' Forum is open to anyone who is interested in composing music or writing texts for the Roman Catholic liturgy. If you would like to receive information about the Composers' Forum's activities, you are invited to join the SSG Composers' Forum email group. Just send an email to Alan Smith (alan.smith@ssg.org.uk) at any time. Please include your real name in the email message, as it might not be obvious from your email address. There is no need to provide your postal address, phone number or any other details.
All communication about the Composers' Forum business will be carried out via email, so do please sign-up. Some people are already on the existing database, but if you're not sure, please apply again. Your email address will be used solely for the efficient administration of the Composers' Forum. We will not use your email address for any other purpose, either within or outside the SSG, and we will not give it or sell it to any third-party. We will use your email address to give you early notice of the Forum's various meetings and workshops around the UK; to send you resource materials from time to time; and to call for material to discuss at the meetings. Most of this information (but not the resources) will also appear on the SSG web forums and on its website.
The meetings are convened and conducted by Alan Smith. Initially, meetings of the Composers’ Forum will be funded by the Society of Saint Gregory, as a service to its members and to the wider Church and composers and musicians generally.
Following the meeting in June, the next meeting will be in London in September or October – the date has yet to be confirmed.
For more information about the Society of Saint Gregory, please go to their website.