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Mus. 1240

The third of six volumes containing compositions, editions, writings and correspondence by Royle Shore (1856-1946), variously printed, typescript or manuscript. Bound by the author and presented by him to Christ Church in 1932; see Mus. 1238-9 and 1241-3 for his other writings and publications.

According to the brief biography of Shore by Bernarr Rainbow in The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians (London, 6/1980), Samuel Royle Shore was a solicitor by profession, and an 'amateur church musician and advocate of plainchant in Anglican use' who for many years acted as honorary organist at St Alban's and St James's Church, Edgbaston (Birmingham). He also served as lecturer in music at Birmingham Cathedral, and as diocesan instructor in plainsong.

Mus. 1240 is titled 'Diocesan Music', and is devoted to Shore's advocacy of the use of plainchant and simple (or simpified) Tudor music in congregational singing. It includes editions of this repertory edited by Shore and published largely by Novello, together with printed or typescript writings and ephemera related to Shore's activities as a lecturer. The volume opens with a titlepage and a contents list in Shore's manuscript; it continues with the following numbered items. The titles given below are sometimes conflations of scattered information, and are for guidance only. Unless otherwise stated, the editions or writings are by Shore himself.

  1. Merbecke's Holy Communion Service, 1550, 'Diocesan Music, no. 1': [the People's Part] (London: Novello, 1912). Printed, in duodecimo format; 20 pp. Three alternative accompaniments for this setting are provided by items 2-4 below.
  2. Merbecke's Holy Communion Service, 1550. The organ accompaniment[,] with notes on the art of plain-chant accompaniment (London: Novello, 1913). Printed, vi + 9 pp.
  3. Merbecke's Holy Communion Service 1550. (With Scottish supplement.) Alternative organ accompaniment[,] with optional faux-bourdon and other vocal accompanying harmonies for the choir (London: Novello, 1917). Printed, i + 12 pp.
  4. Merbecke's Holy Communion Service 1550. (With Scottish supplement.) The third organ accompaniment, with optional descants, and other vocal accompanying harmonies for treble and alto, or men's voices (London: Novello, 1926). Printed, I + 10 pp.
  5. Eight settings in old English plain-chant of the evening canticles, with English harmonized chants, or faux-bourdon, of the 16th and 17th centuries [etc., 'Diocesan Music, no. 2': the People's Part (London: Novello, 1913). Printed, in duodecimo format; 24 pp. Organ accompaniments for these eight settings are provided by items 6-13 below.
  6. Magnificat and Nunc dimittis (no. 1) set to Gregorian tones with verses in faux-bourdon by Thomas Tallis, ed. Francis Burgess and Royle Shore (London: Novello, 1913). Printed, 4 pp.
  7. Magnificat and Nunc dimittis (no. 2) set to Gregorian tones with verses in faux-bourdon by Thomas Tomkins, ed. Francis Burgess and Royle Shore (London: Novello, 1913). Printed, 8 pp.
  8. Magnificat and Nunc dimittis (no. 3) set to Gregorian tones with verses in faux-bourdon by John Holmes, ed. Francis Burgess and Royle Shore (London: Novello, 1913). Printed, 8 pp.
  9. Magnificat and Nunc dimittis (no. 4) set to Gregorian tones with verses in faux-bourdon by Thomas Morley, ed. Francis Burgess and Royle Shore (London: Novello, 1913). Printed, 8 pp.
  10. Magnificat and Nunc dimittis (no. 5) set to Gregorian tones with verses in faux-bourdon by William Byrd, ed. Francis Burgess and Royle Shore (London: Novello, 1913). Printed, 8 pp.
  11. Magnificat and Nunc dimittis (no. 6) set to Gregorian tones with verses in faux-bourdon by Orlando Gibbons, ed. Francis Burgess and Royle Shore (London: Novello, 1913). Printed, 8 pp.
  12. Magnificat and Nunc dimittis (no. 7) set to Gregorian tones with verses in faux-bourdon by William Whitbroke and Knight, ed. Francis Burgess and Royle Shore (London: Novello, 1913). Printed, 8 pp.
  13. Magnificat and Nunc dimittis (no. 8) set to Gregorian tones with verses in faux-bourdon by an unknown Edwardine composer (1547) and Thomas Causton, ed. Francis Burgess and Royle Shore (London: Novello, 1913). Printed, 4 pp.
  14. Magnificat and Nunc dimittis (no. 1A) set to Gregorian tones with verses in faux-bourdon by Orlando Gibbons and an unknown Edwardine composer (1547) (London: Novello, 1921). Printed, 4 pp.
  15. Magnificat and Nunc dimittis (no. 2A) set to Gregorian tones with verses in faux-bourdon byThomas Tomkins (London: Novello, 1921). Printed, 4 pp.
  16. [void; according to a pencil annotation by Shore to the contents list at the front of Mus. 1240, 'Gibbons and Anon (16 cent.) in MS'.]
  17. Magnificat and Nunc dimittis (no. 4A) set to Gregorian tones with verses in faux-bourdon by Robert Fayrfax and an unknown Edwardine composer (1547) (London: Novello, 1921). Printed, 8 pp.
  18. Magnificat and Nunc dimittis (no. 5A) set to Gregorian tones with verses in faux-bourdon by Orlando Gibbons and John Holmes (London: Novello, 1921). Printed, 4 pp. Two copies.
  19. Magnificat and Nunc dimittis (no. 6A) set to Gregorian tones with verses in faux-bourdon by Thomas Tallis and Nathaniel Giles (London: Novello, 1921). Printed, 4 pp.
  20. Magnificat and Nunc dimittis (no. 7A) set to Gregorian tones with verses in faux-bourdon by Robert Fayrfax and William Mundy (London: Novello, 1921). Printed, 4 pp.
  21. [Not published; according to a pencil annotation by Shore to the contents list at the front of Mus. 1240, 'Caustun and Mundy in MS'. In the body of Mus. 1240 itself, the following two items are included here:] '21a': 'Notes on some plain-chant accompaniments'; typescript, 5 pp / '21b': ' "Canticles"[.] From the Guardian of 11 Dec. 1931'; typescript, 1 p.
  22. Printed postcard (dated 14 June 1915) advertising a course of three lectures by Shore on the subject of 'Practical plain-chant for organists, choirmasters, students, and others', to be given to the Southwark Diocesan Plainsong Association at Southwark Cathedral on 1, 8 and 15 July 1915.
  23. Printed sheet advertising 'A series of [eight] lectures and practical demonstrations in combined choral and congregational singing', to be given by Shore at various locations in the Diocese of Birmingham on 4-11 May 1919.
  24. Ancient plain-chant for Holy Communion from the Sarum Gradual, 'Diocesan Music, no. 3': [the People's Part] (London: Novello, 1914). Printed, in duodecimo format; i + 19 pp. An organ accompaniment for this setting is provided by item 25 below.
  25. Communion Service in old English plain-chant, from the Sarum Gradual (setting A). The organ accompaniment, 2nd edn (London: Novello, 1914). Printed, i + 12 pp.
  26. Plain-chant for Holy Communion from the Sarum Gradual, with Ambrosian 'Credo.' B, 'Diocesan Music, no. 4': [the People's Part] (London: Novello, 1918). Printed, in duodecimo format; i + 16 pp.
  27. [void; according to a pencil annotation by Shore to the contents list at the front of Mus. 1240, 'Accompaniment in MS. only'.]
  28. The Ambrosian "Te Deum," the Sarum Litany, the Cranmer Litany of 1544, and the "Veni Creator.", 'Diocesan Music, no. 5': [the People's Part] (London: Novello, 1914). Printed, in duodecimo format; i + 18 pp.
  29. Francesco Anerio: Te Deum laudamus [and] The Litany from the Sarum Processional, both adapted by Royle Shore ('The Cathedral Series', nos. 8-9; 2nd edn, London: Novello, 1915). Printed, i + 17 pp.
  30. Requiem[.] Music for the Holy Communion or a memorial service, to plain-chant, 'Diocesan Music, no. 6': [the People's Part] (London: Novello, 1917). Printed, in duodecimo format; i + 22 pp. An organ accompaniment for this setting is provided by item 31 below.
  31. Requiem[.] Music for the Holy Communion or a memorial service. The organ accompaniment (London: Novello, 1919). Printed lithographic reproduction of Shore's handwritten copy; i + 14 pp.
  32. Plain-chant for Holy Communion from the Vatican Kyriale "Missa de Angelis.", 'Diocesan Music, no. 7': [the People's Part] (London: Novello, 1919). Printed, in duodecimo format; 18 pp. An organ accompaniment for this setting is provided by item 33 below.
  33. Communion from the Vatican Kyriale, "Missa de Angelis." The organ accompaniment (London: Novello, 1925). Printed, i + 10 pp.
  34. Benedictus set to the seventh Gregorian tone with verses in faux-bourdon by Thomas Tallis, ed. Francis Burgess and Royle Shore (London: Novello, 1913). Printed, 4 pp.
  35. Music and text intended to be used as 'Lecture examples no. 15', dated 28 May 1922. Printed lithographic reproduction of Shore's handwritten copy, 4 pp.
  36. Syllabus for a course of three lectures by Shore on 'Practical plain-chant', to be delivered at University College, Reading, in May-June 1922. This advertises the fact that 'The Chair will be taken by Mr. Gustav Holst'.
  37. Music and text intended to be used as 'Lecture examples no. 4', undated 28. Printed lithographic reproduction of unidentified handwritten copy, single sheet.
  38. Pamphlet titled 'Church Music reform', being 'Extracts from letters addressed to the Editor of the "Eastern Daily Press" (Norwich), on March 29th, 1913', and dated '1913' in MS. Printed, 3 pp.
  39. 'A Common Song for the Church' ('Common Song Leaflets. No. 1'), written in the form of a letter 'to Church Press', and dated 19 May 1914. Printed single sheet, with MS annotation.
  40. 'Rules for singing Merbecke's music, and other simple plainchant'; undated. Printed single sheet, with MS annotation: 'For the Winchester Church Music Committee'.
  41. 'Community church singing', 'Reprinted from St. Alban's, Hindhead, Parish Magazine for September 1929'. Printed, 2 pp.
  42. 'Suggestions concerning the parochial introduction and use of plainchant', 'Reprinted from the "Church Music Review," 15th June, 1931'. Printed, 2 pp.
  43. 'Lay work in the church. Mr Royle Shore's address at Aldershot', 'Reprinted from the "Farnham, Haslemere & Hindhead Herald," November 24th, 1928'. Printed, 2 pp.
  44. Syllabus for a lecture and demonstration of plainchant by Shore given at Christ Church, Isle of Dogs, London, on 29 June 1929. Single printed sheet, with manuscript annotation: 'The London Society of Organists'.
  45. 'Mr Royle Shore's publications'. Single printed sheet, dated '1913' in MS.
  46. 'Music for Holy Communion', a publicity sheet for Shore's editions and compositions. Single printed sheet, dated 'c. 1927' in MS.
Upright format, 260 x 180 mm. Binding of black fabric over boards, with a red inset on the upper cover marked 'Diocesan Music / Royle Shore. / 3.' Bookplate on inside upper cover: 'Presented (with five other volumes) to the Christ Church Library at the request, and now in memory, of the late Noel Ponsonby, by S. Royle Shore. 1932.' Noel Ponsonby (1891-1928) was Organist of Christ Church Cathedral in 1926-8.

Not included in Hiff, nor in the standard microfilm edition.

Comments on any of the material in this catalogue would be appreciated. Please e-mail music-catalogue@chch.ox.ac.uk
© John Milsom and Christ Church 2007. Page last updated 11th December 2007