The plight of Anglican Church music in the Western Cape : three case studies.

Date
2021-03-03
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Music ministries still providing Anglican church congregations with traditional Anglican church music find themselves clutching onto a musical tradition in a church plagued by the increasing secularisation of society. This thesis, in three case studies, investigates the musical output and general daily function of three Anglican churches in the Western Cape by interviewing the rector and music director of each parish. Each parish was selected as it presented a varied historical, musical, liturgical and churchmanship culture. The aim of the thesis is to ascertain, primarily, whether traditional music is under threat of falling into disuse in the church and secondly, if traditional music is indeed under threat, the possible measures which could be implemented to preserve the heritage for future generations of Anglican worshippers. The literature review presents a body of information to define traditional Anglican music and contextualise its practices by tracing its historical development through the centuries, and in so doing, creates a contextual framework on which the findings of the three case studies are based. This research presents the challenges endured by music ministries by: (1) defining the role of church music in the service and the Anglican liturgy; (2) identifying Anglican music history in South Africa by ascertaining styles of worship; and (3) contextualising the function of the music ministry in the church by discussing the role of the music director and the working dynamic with clergy, education and development, youth participation, future planning and finance.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die musiekbedienings, wat steeds aan Anglikaanse kerkgemeentes tradisionele kerkmusiek verskaf, vind dat hulle vaskleef aan ‘n musiektradisie in ‘n kerk wat al hoe meer deur sekularisasie van die gemeenskap beïnvloed word. Deur drie gevallestudies, ondersoek hierdie tesis die musikale uitset and algemene daaglikse funksionering van drie Anglikaanse kerke in die Wes-Kaap deur middel van onderhoude met die rektor en musiekdirekteur van elke gemeente. Die gemeentes is elk gekies omdat hulle ‘n gevarieerde historiese, musikale, liturgiese en kerkmanskap kultuur bied. Die doel van die tesis is, hoofsaaklik, om vas te stel of tradisionele musiek dreig om in onbruik in die kerk te verval, en tweedens, in geval tradisionele musiek wel onder bedreiging is, watter moontlike maatreëls in plek gestel kan word om die erfnis vir toekomstige geslagte van Anglikaanse kergangers te behou. Die literatuurnavorsing bied deurgronde inligting aan om tradisionele Anglikaanse musiek te definieer en ook die praktyke daavan te kontekstualiseer deur die historiese ontwikkeling deur die eeue na te spoor, en daardeur ‘n kontekstuele raamwerk te skep waarop die bevindinge van die drie gevallestudies gebaseer is. Hierdie navorsing toon die uitdagings aan wat musiekbedienings ondervind deur 1) die rol van kerkmusiek in die diens en die Anglikaanse liturgie te definieer; (2) die Anglikaanse musiekgeskiedenis in Suid-Afrika te identifiseer deur verskillende diensstyle vas te stel; en (3) die funksie van die musiekbediening in die kerk te kontekstualiseer deur die rol van die musiekdirekteur, asook die werkende dinamiek met priesters, opvoeding en ontwikkeling, jeugdeelname, vooruitbeplanning en finansiering te bespreek.
Description
Thesis (MMus)--Stellenbosch University, 2021.
Keywords
Church music -- Anglican Church
Citation