Exclusive: Religious music 'under threat' warn composers and musicians
Religious music is “under threat”, hundreds of Britain’s leading musicians, composers and directors have warned, after the government banned signing and advised churches to play recordings.
Last week the culture secretary, Oliver Dowden, announced emergency funding for the arts, with more than £1.5 billion released in the form of grants and loans to preserve "crown jewels" in the arts sector.
However a coalition of more than 200 leading figures in the music world, have warned that while this emergency funding is “hugely welcome”, “the work of church and synagogue musicians across the country is still under serious threat, with some professional choirs already facing permanent disbandment”.
“We need clear steps to be taken towards the reinstatement of musicians’ work in religious services.”
In a letter to The Telegraph - signed by signatories including the likes of the composer, Bob Chilcott, the Director of Music, Pembroke College, Cambridge, Anna Lapwood, and the composer, Roxanna Panufnik - the industry figures call on the government “to speed up the return to work of church and synagogue musicians, many of whom are at risk of losing their jobs, or have already done so”.
Their comments echo those of Britain’s leading choirmasters and conductors who last weekend criticised the ban on singing in churches as based on “assumptions, not science”.
The letter continues: “Many of us already work in a way that is very socially distanced - singing from balconies and organ lofts. Yet the government has issued an un-nuanced statement regarding singing in places of worship: if possible, don’t do it.
"They have even suggested that churches should replace musicians with recordings. If this happens, will live music-making in places of worship ever return?
“Since March, singers and directors of music have been waiting for clarification on when (or if) we are likely to be reinstated. We want, and need, to get back to work keeping the great choral tradition in this country alive. Please allow us to do so.”
Other signatories to the letter include: Adrian Partington, Director of Music at Gloucester Cathedral and Co-Conductor of the Three Choirs Festival, Nigel Short, Artistic Director of Tenebrae, the Director of the Schola Cantorum of the London Oratory School, Charles Cole, Judith Weir, Former Master of the Queen’s Music, and the composer, Cecilia McDowall.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), said: “Protecting the public during the pandemic is our number one priority and that has meant limiting some activities that carry a higher risk in transmitting the disease.
"We fully recognise the importance of choirs and musicians to religious services and are working with partners to assess how these activities can be managed safely based on the latest scientific advice.”
