34 Adult Learners sign up for Introduction to Gregorian Chant
An innovative new course, Introduction to Gregorian Chant, for Adult Learners has quickly established itself as the most popular course ever offered by The Isle of Wight College. 34 learners have enrolled and are amongst the first to engage with a new and sparkling array of new religious and theological courses which have been developed for the first time this summer by the Adult Education department of the Isle of Wight College.
As part of the College's strategic aim to engage with all interest groups within the Island community it is now offering a range of ecumenical religious and theological courses to supplement and enhance its current programme of study. Marcia Summers, who has led the development of the initiative, says “This is a new path for the College which will give an added dimension to our academic curriculum as well as meeting the spiritual and religious needs and interests of many learners”
Initial discussion with various religious bodies on the Island resulted in a number of initiatives which have helped to establish a unique programme of courses including a summer school.
Introduction to Gregorian Chant is one such course which commenced on Wednesday 3rd May 2006 and is currently being delivered by Abbot Cuthbert at the Quarr Abbey in Ryde on the Isle of Wight. The four week course is being delivered over one evening per week and is covering the history of Gregorian Chant, the theory and practice of chanting, and the Gregorian Chant repertoire. Students are also getting the chance to practise Psalms, Hymns, Antiphons and Canticles.
Abbot Cuthbert explained the background to the chant: “Gregorian Chant is characterised chiefly by its purely melodic form and is sometimes known as "plainsong"; the word "plain" being used to distinguish it from the later harmonic music rather than to denote any lack of charm or interest. It is not widely known but some of the most important work on Gregorian Chant in recent times was carried out on the Isle of Wight at Appuldurcombe and Quarr Abbey.”
The religion and theology courses have been widely advertised in an attempt to raise the new School of Theology's profile. Students from a variety of backgrounds across the Island answered the call to enrol on the course. Their reasons for joining are varied; Angela Mulligan who is studying two of the newly founded theology courses uses the reminiscence of her school days as her reasons for joining: “We used to sing plainsong at mass when I was a schoolgirl. Unfortunately this has fallen into disuse in mainstream services these days so it is with a sense of nostalgia that I chose to study this course. I am interested in how the music has developed its own path and want to learn more about the history of Gregorian chant.”
Stewart McKerracher's motivation for taking time to study are professional “I heard about this course through my local church. My work as an amateur composer has a particular emphasis on church music, so studying this course means that I can study the roots of church music and hope to use this in my compositions.” says Mr McKerracher.
It is the music that has inspired other learners, such as Susan Gibson, “I belong to a gospel choir and gospel and Gregorian chant are obviously very different, so I am studying this course to learn and experience the contrast of Christian singing,” she says.
Julia Haylor joined the course for her personal enjoyment, Mrs Haylor says, “This is my kind of music. You don't often see things like this on offer so when I saw the course advertised I just couldn't resist coming to see what it was all about.”
Whether for the music or the nostalgia of the Abbey itself the course has been a draw for learners: “It certainly is a privilege to come here, the beautiful surroundings of the Abbey and the importance of studying in a place of such significance to Gregorian Chant.” enthused Mrs Mulligan.
Further weekend and summer school programmes are being offered by the Isle of Wight College in New Testament Greek, Christianity and the Paranormal, De-coding the Da Vinci Code, Understanding the Bible in the 21st Century, and Christianity and Islam. All courses are being offered by highly qualified lecturers and are presented from an ecumenical perspective.
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