Music used to play a great part in Freemasonry, as witnessed by the vast amount of old masonic music which exists. As far back as 1723, Anderson’s Constitutions contained sixteen pages of songs and music. But by 1875 the United Grand Lodge of England was becoming concerned about the hymns being sung in lodges. Grand Lodge declared that "hymns form no part of the Masonic Ritual, and the singing of hymns in Lodge is an innovation to which the Board of General Purposes strongly objects".
    Eventually, in 1963, Grand Lodge proclaimed that while there is no objection to music per se, certain vocal music such as anthems, hymns and psalms can be identified exclusively with a particular form of divine worship, and might thus offend adherents of a particular creed. Over-reaction to this edict is probably responsible for the fact that most lodges today are largely devoid of any songs but the opening and closing odes, and some background music.
    However, music can be found in a few masonic bodies, and there is evidence of a resurgence.

Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire

In 1984 the senior Lay Clerk (as the adult male choristers are known) of Peterborough Cathedral Choir, and Freemason, Peter Sproule, was asked to form a choir to sing at the consecration of a new lodge for old boys of the Cathedral School. The venture was so successful that the then Provincial Grand Master, Richard Sandbach, asked him to form a permanent choir to sing at all consecrations.
    The Choir flourished, and within two years it became the official choir of the Province; to date it has given over two hundred and forty performances, and is reputed to be the only male voice choir regularly singing services in English cathedrals. Its future seemed uncertain when Peter Sproule died suddenly in 1998, but despite this great setback it has not only survived, but has thrived.
    As well as sacred music the Choir sings old masonic songs to illustrate the lectures Peter Sproule wrote, gives public concerts and sings at the annual Provincial Carol Service, which fills Peterborough Cathedral.
    To celebrate the Choir’s tenth anniversary the Pro Musica Lodge, No. 9547, was founded. Twenty-one members of the Choir decided to become Founders, as did eight instrumental musicians. In order to appeal to a wider membership the regular meetings are held at different masonic centres to attract musicians from as far afield as possible. For similar reasons the lodge only has three regular meetings per year.
    From his goodly collection of masonic music Peter Sproule was able to select suitable items for use in the Lodge’s degree and installation ceremonies, all approved for this purpose by the Provincial Grand Master. Great care is taken to avoid confusing the candidate in respect of the role of music in the ceremony: he is always advised that it forms no part of the ritual, but is an additional augmentation.
    Although it has only two ‘regular’ degree ceremonies each year, the Lodge has managed to initiate seven new members who uphold the Lodge’s aspirations admirably: three are professional musicians and another now conducts the Choir for many important performances.
    The current Master and Immediate Past Master are both accomplished musicians and have their own bands. As well as songs, after-dinner entertainment includes The Brothers of Swing, the Lodge’s own small band, which plays music specially arranged for it.

Sheffield & District

The Sheffield and District Masonic Choir was formed in 1991 by its founding conductor, John Wade, with the assistance and encouragement of the then Provincial Grand Organist, Andrew Clark. Brethren were recruited from known singers in lodges at Sheffield, in the province of Yorkshire, West Riding, to sing at a concert at Dore Masonic Hall, Sheffield, given in memory of John Turner, organist of the Lodge of Industry, No. 6579, for many years.
    This concert was greeted with acclamation, and was followed by a Grand Charity Concert of choral and organ music by masonic composers such as Mozart, Haydn, Sibelius and Sullivan which was put on to celebrate the 275th Anniversary of the United Grand Lodge of England in July 1992. On this occasion the brethren were joined by many of their ladies and other friends to form a mixed choir of more than fifty voices - a memorable and moving experience.
    In 1992 John Wade presented "Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and his Contribution to the Craft", illustrated from Mozart's masonic music by organ and the Choir, at a meeting of Sheaf Lodge, No. 6990. This lecture has since been presented, not only in Sheffield, but on sixteen occasions, including Chesterfield, Mansfield, Derby, Huddersfield, Harrogate and Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
    The choir has sung at major masonic events, such as the consecration of Amadeus Lodge, No. 9539, in the Masonic Hall at Littleover, Derby, in 1994, and the following year at the installation of the Provincial Grand Master of Derbyshire, David Law. It has also performed carols at Christmas Lodge meetings, and has led the singing at the annual service organised by the Sheffield Past Masters’ Association, and also for the Dore group of Lodges.
    The Choir’s repertoire includes non-masonic concert items, sung, for example, at a tribute to George Nunn – who has just passed his 100th birthday - on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of his initiation. General concerts have been given at Tapton Hall for the Annual Rose Croix dinner for Past Sovereigns in 1995, the Rotherham Installed Masters' Association and other events.
    The choir is very fortunate in many respects: tremendous encouragement is given by the rulers of both masonic provinces in the Sheffield area: Derbyshire and Yorkshire, West Riding. A great deal of the music performed by the choir is specially arranged for it by several excellent local musicians. It is also blessed by the presence of several first rate soloists, mustering at least five full-blooded operatic tenors, two rich-voiced basses and a number of very promising baritones! The commitment and interest shown by the members bodes well for many years to come.

Durham

Inspired by the 275th Anniversary of the United Grand Lodge of England and by a meeting with Peter Sproule, in 1996 Paul Debenham formed the Durham Masonic Male Voice Choir with Brethren from Durham City. As a gesture of their pride in Masonry their first performance was a public concert in aid of the British Diabetic Association, the success of which doubled the size of the Choir and led it to expand its repertoire to cover sacred and secular songs from Mozart to Barbershop.
    Most of the Choir’s music is unaccompanied, but last Christmas the Provincial Grand Master, Dr A M Davison, who is well known for his support of the Choir and of music generally throughout the province, invited the Choir to lead the singing at a carol service in Durham Cathedral, the first held there for over twenty years. Many civic dignitaries joined the Brethren and their families to enjoy an event described as "magical and very uplifting". On this occasion the Choir was enhanced by other musical masons giving a total of forty singers. All 1700 seats in the cathedral were filled.
    In 1998 Choir members, with Paul Debenham as Secretary, together with other brethren of various musical backgrounds and from all corners of the Province founded Saint Cecilia Lodge, No. 9685. The Lodge has four regular ritual meetings per year and one meeting devoted to performance. Music is sung during these meetings, much of it specially composed for the Lodge by Past Provincial Grand Organist and Past Deputy Grand Organist, Tom Pratt, a professional musician of outstanding ability. For each meeting he writes a new round to be sung at the meal between courses!
    One of the Lodge’s aims is to encourage music by awarding a bursary to young people showing promising musical talent. The money is raised both by an annual public concert and by the members paying an annual levy. Last year the seventy-five strong Durham Youth Ensemble performed in the Annual Concert, while this year the Sunderland University Jazz Band and Durham School Choir are the invited guests.
    St Cecilia Lodge is proud to have assisted two music students under this scheme: one is a fourteen year old trombone player with the National Youth Orchestra.
    The three choirs have sung together, and also with the Staffordshire Provincial Choir, on a number of occasions such as Evensong in the Peterborough and Sheffield Cathedrals. In July 2000 they sang together at the laying of the Foundation Stone of a Masonic Hall in Beamish Open Air Museum, County Durham.
    In April, 2001, members of the three choirs visited Guernsey at the invitation of the Provincial Grand Master, Geoffrey Rowland, and John Wade gave his "Mozart" lecture illustrated by all three choirs. The weekend continued with a Civic Reception and various visits, culminating in a special meal, after which they entertained each other with music of all kinds.
    There is a growing enthusiasm for masonic music and the formation of masonic music groups. Eventually it is hoped to form a Masonic Music Association to encourage and coordinate this broadly based interest. Freemasonry Today will keep you informed.