26th June is the dateThe Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) has set 26th June 2011 as the date for the next annual RSCM Music Sunday. Churches around the world are invited to celebrate the value of music in their services and the work of their musicians – singers, instrumentalists, organists, and composers.
“Last year we had an enthusiastic response from all over the world,” says Lindsay Gray, Director of the RSCM. “I’m encouraging churches, chapels, choirs and schools to make Music Sunday an annual celebration of all music in worship, whether it be hymns, worship songs, instrumental music or choral singing. It’s also a celebration of the music-makers, both amateur and professional, who contribute so much to the life of their church.”
In what’s being called The 50:50 Campaign, churches organise an event on or around 26th June that will also raise funds to be split equally between themselves and the RSCM. The RSCM uses its share to help fund its work training and supporting organists, cantors, singers and all other church musicians.
To mark the 2011 Music Sunday, the RSCM has commissioned Sing we merrily, an anthem from composer Malcolm Archer. In addition, the Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland, which will be celebrating its 75th birthday, is inviting all Music Sunday participants to sing a hymn specially written for its anniversary by Janet Wootton, with music by John Barnard. The hymn, When Miriam’s daughters rise and sing, is now available to download from the RSCM website www.rscm.com/musicsunday, with the Archer anthem will be available shortly at a discounted price for groups taking part in Music Sunday events.
Last year, churches celebrated RSCM Music Sunday in many different ways, ranging from special collections and cake stalls, to recitals and services. One organist raised over £1,000 by taking six and a half hours to play all 571 hymns in Hymns Old and New; sponsors were invited to donate 1p per hymn. In Johannesburg, there was a sponsored organ crawl around churches in the city, and in Paris, favourite hymns could be sung at a cost of 10 Euros each. “Even in these austere times,” said Lindsay Gray, “we’ve been amazed and touched at people’s generosity; both those who took the time to organise something, however modest, and those who supported simple but effective initiatives.”
Ideas and suggestions for RSCM Music Sunday, including reports on some of the 2010 initiatives, are available on the RSCM website, along with downloadable advice and resources to help churches organise and publicise their events.