Parishes
Provost Alex Gordon writes about some sad news for the Cathedral
Friday 14 July 2006

Provost Alex Gordon
writes about some sad news for the Cathedral

I am taking the opportunity to write to all in the Cathedral congregation about a development in the life of the Cathedral which causes me great concern and which will be received by many of you with considerable sadness.  I have to tell you that a few days ago I received the resignation of Edward Barbieri as Master of Music and Cathedral Administrator.  On Monday last week, the Cathedral Vestry were informed of Edward’s decision.

The conversation I had at that particular time with Edward, and his subsequent letter to me remain confidential.  However, it is clear to me that the circumstances of the parlous nature of the Cathedral finances at this time, together with a number of other matters, have led him to feel increasingly insecure in his position with us, and he has felt that the best course of action open to him is to resign in order to free himself to enable the development of his artistic life in a fuller way than has been possible for him recently.  

It goes without saying that I shall miss him enormously.  His ability as a musician defies even the greatest superlatives, and Inverness Cathedral has been extremely fortunate to have him for as long as we have.  Throughout the diocese, people have spoken warmly of his gifts to enable the highest standards of choral music, and for years to come the Diocesan and other occasions when he has drawn together singers from throughout the north to produce, after an hour or so’s practice, quite outstanding offerings of music in worship, will be fondly remembered.

In addition to these skills, Edward has also been a reliable and effective Administrator for us, and as is always the case in these matters, it is only when this quiet efficiency is no longer there that we shall be properly aware of all that he has done.

Our musicians, I know, are going to feel Edward’s loss most acutely, and I can assure them that I share their pain.  The standards of choral music in the Liturgy have been consistently high, and during my brief time here I have been aware of the real growing together that the choirs have achieved, and an increasing sense of joy in the music they perform.  From time to time, for Choral Evensong, I have been admitted to their number and this has been both demanding but pleasurable.  It is my earnest hope and prayer that what has been achieved will not be lost, and the Vestry and I will be taking steps as a matter of urgency to ensure that this is so.

The core of our life based upon this Cathedral church building is the worship of God.  In that worship, music is extremely important, and a distinctive contribution that this Cathedral must make.

What I hope we do not now do is to look backwards.  Mistakes and worse there have been, we know.  I am penitently aware of the uncertainties, financial and other, which have been so unsettling for such a gifted artist as we have had the privilege to have with us these last three and a half years.  Whilst I express that, the time is more than overdue for us to look to the future.  Whilst we still have such a possibility. 

Meanwhile, I express our profound gratitude for the gifts that Edward has shared with us during this time, and assure him of my prayers as he looks to his own future, as I am sure that many of you will be similarly doing.