A brief chronicle of musical events at Wells Cathedral
NewsA number of readers have disputed our recent reports that auditions for a director of music at the cathedral were unfairly handled. We referred also to past events at Wells, which readers may have forgotten and which have not been disputed.
Here is a short checklist of the main reports:
Music director quits ‘bullying’ cathedral for a new life in finance
And more.
There is a new Dean now in place and worshippers are hopeful that peace will be restored. Our reporting has focused on injustices and unprofessionalism in the music area. These are matters of public interest and concern. We hope that here, too, harmony will now prevail.
Jesus, this has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that you once again (for the millionth time and in countless subjects) published subjective and biased claims from supposed anonymous “eye witnesses” with the comment section consequentially righting the wrong.
The fact that any of this actually seems legal (big question mark) is a scandal in itself, but rest assured that literally no one in the classical music industry is taking any of the content on this site seriously anymore, which is the result of your own unprofessional behaviour. But I’m rather sure this comment will never see the light of day, due to your lack of self-reflective abilities, Mr. Lebrecht.
Wrong, again.
Norman, two questions:
1. Given the line ‘some readers have disputed recent reports…’, might it be constructive to relay some of these disputes within this article? That would seem to be an insightful and balanced approach.
2. Giving you the benefit of the doubt that it is an oversight, as opposed intentional ‘slip’, that led to including the Wakefield article in this thread (although a seemingly obvious one, and easy for you to rectify), might it be fair to remove it? It would also, possibly, help you to deter patterns of your journalism being considered to be ‘inaccurate’.
Genuine questions, Norman, so I’d be interested to hear your thoughts.
Why drag the Lord’s name into this?
Is He the one doing the muckraking?
I think not!
Jesus??? Is that the best you can do and be blasphemous?? Perhaps if those in the so-called Christian house of God listened to God a bit more by praying than pushing their own egos within it, then the place might be more inviting. It’s not the first time either Wells or Wakefield Cathedrals have been called into account. In Wakefield the precentor was sacked for ten years by the CofE itself. Auditions for the present organist there were dubiously ‘held’ after bullying going on. Only on Radio 4 this morning was there a slot about the music world in general mysoginistic and bullying. About time the whole thing of bullying was highlighted, and the fact they’re all nearly headed up by Oxbridge boys as organists.
Two of these seem to be about Wakefield Cathedral…?
What has Wakefield Cathedral got to do with Wells Cathedral? They are 200 miles apart. I think it is wrong of you to devote so much time on Wells when you have nothing but hearsay, gossip and rumour to go on, and you’ve clearly not made any effort to contact the cathedral for a response. This is a sensitive issue and individuals could get hurt by the posting of names (yes, we saw the original post) and your take on events.
Yes, but still the CofE, with precentors, deans, music directors and bullying. Wells is mentioned in the Wakefield comments.
Is anyone else struck by the blatant hypocrisy here? Reporting about the awful bullying that has happened at Wells, yet continuing this bullying by being so nasty about Timothy Parsons?
I think the main thrust of these posts is right even though they often lean towards gossip. This isn’t a fair system. It’s rarely a meritocracy and the quality of decisions is often uneven either because the panel reviewing applications is less than ideal or because there has long been a preferred candidate. The quality of applicants is also extremely varied. This all collapsed many years ago with the series of curious appointments in London. Denomination precluding one person from applying for a job in which they were the interim and meanwhile no senior colleague being willing to move. Then, the same institution reversing their stand. It’s a shambles and why, for instance, does St Paul’s still employ people in interim jobs?
It’s not ideal at all but in this instance the successful candidate should be given a chance.
Max, Why are you reading Slipped Disc if it is as pernicious as you say. I suggest you stop reading Slipped Disc. SD is clearly successful and those of us reading it regularly find it useful and interesting
Thank goodness for Slipped Disc. If people don’t like it, then just read something else. Plenty to read!
Do you want the Slipped Disc comment section to become an echo chamber (more than it already is)?
To begin with ‘the case for … ‘ and then to present ‘the case against … ‘ The two are about different things, though: the case for Timothy Parsons, evidence that his appointment wasn’t misguided. And the case against cathedral music, a much more general issue. Cathedrals spend money and time on music for reasons which go far beyond music. This is an activity which deserves some scrutiny, I’m sure.
Timothy Parsons was Assistant Director of Music at Exeter Cathedral. He was appointed Director of Music at St Edmundsbury Cathedral and now he’s moving to Wells Cathedral. According to the Exeter Cathedral Website, they were sad to see him go.
https://www.exeter-cathedral.org.uk/news-events/latest-news/exeter-cathedrals-assistant-director-of-music-to-take-up-new-role-at-st-edmundsbury/
An extract:
Timothy Parsons was a ‘Chorister at Guildford Cathedral, before progressing to Organ Scholar at Selwyn College, Cambridge, where he graduated with a starred first class degree in Music in 2014 … ‘
Exeter Cathedral’s Director of Music, made this appreciative comment on Timothy Parsons, described as ‘his protégé:
‘“It has been a great delight to work with Timothy Parsons over the past four years: he is a wonderful musician and an outstanding colleague.’
‘Everyone connected with music at Exeter Cathedral will be devastated to see him move on, but this is a very well deserved promotion, and we all wish Timothy and Cressida every possible success as they begin this next exciting chapter in their lives together in Bury St Edmunds.’
The Very Revd Jonathan Greener, Dean of Exeter was among the first to congratulate Mr Parsons, and his new employers:
‘St. Edmundsbury Cathedral has made a great appointment with Timothy Parsons. Not only is he a first class musician and totally reliable, but he is a lovely person, and he and Cressida have been immensely popular and valuable members of our Cathedral community.
“Although we had hoped to keep him for ever, we knew someone would be keen to snap him up, and we are delighted that St Edmundsbury has done so. We know they will welcome him and appreciate him hugely.’
‘For The Very Reverend Joe Hawes, Dean of St Edmundsbury, Mr Parsons was an obvious choice, despite the high level of competition for the position:
‘Timothy stood out in an outstanding field of applicants. His energy, enthusiasm, musicality and vision for the future of cathedral music impressed not only the appointment panel but also staff, volunteers and members of the cathedral congregation.’
What is ‘the future of cathedral music?’ Cathedral music is music in the service of Christian faith, which is not just deeply flawed but irredeemably flawed – Christian doctrines of redemption are more than enough to consign it deservedly to the dustbin of history. Christianity has lost its grip in large part but there’s a long way to go before it goes under. Cathedral music certainly won’t help to save it.
Just a few assorted snippets to stake a claim. Jesus and Paul (better known to Christians as ‘St’ Paul) showed no interest in music or any of the other arts, such as architecture, just as they showed no interest in opposing slavery or opposing torture.
In my copy of ‘The Cathedrals of England’ by Alec Clifton-Taylor I find these comments on Wells Cathedral: ‘A queen among cathedrals: graceful, subtle, marvellously embellished with sculptured details and in its eastern part a jewel-box of sparkling glass … The most poetic of the English cathedrals … The W. front, with far more original sculpture than any other, is beyond doubt the finest in the country, as also is the exquisite, elevated, octagonal chapter-house …The central tower outstanding even in Somerset, a country famed for the splendour of its church towers.’
Jesus and Paul wouldn’t have been impressed. For them, what was important was salvation. Jesus’ own ‘teaching’ on the subject was fragmentary, to a large extent, and contradictory, in large part. It was Paul who worked out a grotesque view of redemption according to which only faith in Jesus as Saviour counted. The philosopher Bertrand Russell described Paul as the ‘inventor’ of Christianity. It was this faith which was all important, this faith which determined eternal destiny. Composers, instrumentalists, singers, architects, builders, good and loving parents, politicians, humanitarians, kings and queens, are destined to be eternally separated from God if they lack the all-important faith in Christ. If they have the faith, they have eternal communion with God. (The ridiculous Christian doctrine of the Trinity introduces some complications here.)
The King James who gave his name to the King James translation of the Bible, to be found in cathedral and churches for many centuries, of course, was an active persecutor of witches. He had suspected witches tortured and executed.
The history of Church of England dioceses (in most cases, these used to be Roman Catholic dioceses, with some very different doctrines – to name just one, the influential doctrine that babies who die unbaptized go to hell) is littered with cruelties and superstitions, including anti-semitism – but this was less extreme than in some European countries, for the reason that the Jews were expelled from the country in 1290, the culmination of increasing anti-semitism. They only began to return in the later part of the 17th century. In Europe, Jews were often executed by burning alive and other methods.
But burning alive of non-Jews wasn’t unknown in the least. There’s the case of Edward Wightman, burned alive for heresy in Lichfield in 1612. On of his alleged ‘heresies’ was his disbelief in the Trinity. The Bishop of Lichfield and King James were determined that he should die.
PhD thesis! Ha, ha!
Greetin’s from Sheffield, Sarah. Sorry, luv. Don’t ‘ave a PhD, no chance o’ gettin’ one o’ them ‘igher degrees neither. Me first job were this: unskilled builder’s labourer. Me next job: nursin’ assistant in a psychiatric hospital, big place, used ter be Victorian asylum. Job after that: hotel night porter. Workin’ wi’ posh people, but ah’m not posh missen, don’t talk posh, talk Yorkshire, just ordinary workin’ class bloke. Support Sheffield Wednesday but not big supporter, live not far from t’ Hillsborough Football Ground. Ah’ve a big interest in wood work an’ metal work. That’s enuff background, ah think. If tha
wants to know ‘owt else, tell me, will tha?
I understand one, maybe two (and partner) of the vicars coral were not happy with the choice and so inflated and slipped the gossip to NL. To be honest, I don’t think the VC would be happy with any choice of DoM..They are highly trained and special singers with big egos who could always do better than any DoM. My understanding is that the choir has been a much happier place for the children in very recent years. Maybe less pressure brings less profile, but the children are happier. I am sure Timothy is highly qualified and he will continue to nurture this choir, raise its profile and output as well as keeping the VC in check.