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medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Madeleine Gray wrote:
>
> We have actually been debating this in the context of the Llandeilo
> Talybont reconstruction project - the extent to which 'ordinary'
> parish churches would have had the resources for singing the office,
> including not only choirs but the increased popularity of liturgical
> organ music by the early C16. (This might also tie in with the
> discussion on lay use of Latin.)
Well, the principal resource required would have been money! I would expect
only a collegiate church to perfom a complete Office, and even Secular
Cathedrals were markedly reluctant to perform the Night Office during the
night! Rich parishes could afford to pay a choir (cf Thomas Tallis at St
Mary-at-Hill), but a complete Office would mean a full-time choir, which
would be remarkably expensive. Many parishes would have had a 'parish clerk'
who would have been something of a musician - perhaps an organist - as well
as dealing with paperwork, and perhaps being choirmaster. Yes, lay
participation in the choir is recorded, e.g. Sir Thomas More - but More's
knowledge of Latin was exceptional, and a degree of wealth is required to
have the leisure to indulge in that sort of thing.
John Briggs
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