ABOUT
Historical Background
The Faculty of Liturgical Musicians (FLM) was founded in the United Kingdom in 2001 as a subsidiary body of The Central Institute London (CIL), which had itself been founded in 1999 in order to promote the study and practice of academical dress and associated ceremonial. The purpose of the FLM was to provide a social and learned society for the many liturgical musicians among the CIL’s membership.
FLM charged no membership subscription, and so its activities were limited almost exclusively to its small website (defunct) and occasional gatherings. Its first Director was the Scottish organist Stephen Crosbie, who was succeeded quickly by Dr. Andrew Linley, who was his deputy at the foundation of the Faculty. When the CIL’s activities ceased in 2003, the FLM became independent, creating the curious terminological anomaly of a ‘faculty’ which belonged to no parent institution (orphaned). With no resources to expand the remit of the Faculty, its public activities ceased, and its website was closed in or around 2005, since when it has been in a state of dormition. The Faculty, however, was never dissolved or otherwise wound up. Although many of its members are still alive and known to us, more detailed membership records, such as they were, have not survived.
Membership was awarded at the grades of Associate (AFLM) and Fellow (FFLM)—the former being open to all involved in liturgical music—the latter requiring evidence of a relevant degree or diploma. Details of its two hoods are recorded in standard reference works by Dr Nicholas Groves and an example of each is kept by Dr Andrew Linley.
The Faculty of Liturgical Musicians (FLM) was founded in the United Kingdom in 2001 as a subsidiary body of The Central Institute London (CIL), which had itself been founded in 1999 in order to promote the study and practice of academical dress and associated ceremonial. The purpose of the FLM was to provide a social and learned society for the many liturgical musicians among the CIL’s membership.
FLM charged no membership subscription, and so its activities were limited almost exclusively to its small website (defunct) and occasional gatherings. Its first Director was the Scottish organist Stephen Crosbie, who was succeeded quickly by Dr. Andrew Linley, who was his deputy at the foundation of the Faculty. When the CIL’s activities ceased in 2003, the FLM became independent, creating the curious terminological anomaly of a ‘faculty’ which belonged to no parent institution (orphaned). With no resources to expand the remit of the Faculty, its public activities ceased, and its website was closed in or around 2005, since when it has been in a state of dormition. The Faculty, however, was never dissolved or otherwise wound up. Although many of its members are still alive and known to us, more detailed membership records, such as they were, have not survived.
Membership was awarded at the grades of Associate (AFLM) and Fellow (FFLM)—the former being open to all involved in liturgical music—the latter requiring evidence of a relevant degree or diploma. Details of its two hoods are recorded in standard reference works by Dr Nicholas Groves and an example of each is kept by Dr Andrew Linley.
Revival of the Faculty
The FLM, as a UK-founded body, reconstituted, now exists to form a bridge of mutual support between Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi Christian Univesity, Miami, Florida, United States (JHPCU), and its partner institutions in the UK, such as the National College of Music, the Victoria College of Music, the North and Midlands School of Music, the Guild of Musicians and Singers, the Curwen College of Music, the Lewis Music Archive, the Three Counties School of Music, etc. Members of the FLM benefit from belonging to a revivified body with renewed standing and links.
FLM members gain recognition for their musical achievments and access to a network of historic institutions which forms the distinctively British independent music college sector, providing open access to an established system of tertiary awards in music. FLM members also benefit from the close structural connections the reconsituted FLM now has with the Sacred Music Faculty at Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi Christian University, Miami, Florida (JHPCU). The reconstituted FLM is structually tied to the University's Sacred Music Faculty. It is no longer an orphan. The diplomas issued by the FLM are expressly co-endorsed as UK based diploma awards of JHPCU. FLM Officers are JHPCU Faculty members and all JHPCU Faculty are Senior Fellows of the FLM. Due to this structural link, FLM members are encouraged to explore options to undertake a religious degree in Sacred Music at JHPCU.
Three grades of FLM membership are now awarded -- AFLM (Associateship), FFLM (Fellowship) and SFFLM (Senior Fellowship). Please see the membership page for further details.
There is now a fairly simple fee structure in place for the assessment of new (non-legacy) applicants and for the issuance of FLM diplomas in hard copy. Details are contained on the membership application form.
Past members of the FLM, under the old regulations, may choose to reapply for membership. If reconfirmed, they will be placed in the grade of their prior FLM membership. The historical academical dress of the FLM is still valid for wear and may be worn by legacy members of the FLM that possess the said wear. All members will have the option to purchase the new academic dress of the Faculty.
The FLM, as a UK-founded body, reconstituted, now exists to form a bridge of mutual support between Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi Christian Univesity, Miami, Florida, United States (JHPCU), and its partner institutions in the UK, such as the National College of Music, the Victoria College of Music, the North and Midlands School of Music, the Guild of Musicians and Singers, the Curwen College of Music, the Lewis Music Archive, the Three Counties School of Music, etc. Members of the FLM benefit from belonging to a revivified body with renewed standing and links.
FLM members gain recognition for their musical achievments and access to a network of historic institutions which forms the distinctively British independent music college sector, providing open access to an established system of tertiary awards in music. FLM members also benefit from the close structural connections the reconsituted FLM now has with the Sacred Music Faculty at Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi Christian University, Miami, Florida (JHPCU). The reconstituted FLM is structually tied to the University's Sacred Music Faculty. It is no longer an orphan. The diplomas issued by the FLM are expressly co-endorsed as UK based diploma awards of JHPCU. FLM Officers are JHPCU Faculty members and all JHPCU Faculty are Senior Fellows of the FLM. Due to this structural link, FLM members are encouraged to explore options to undertake a religious degree in Sacred Music at JHPCU.
Three grades of FLM membership are now awarded -- AFLM (Associateship), FFLM (Fellowship) and SFFLM (Senior Fellowship). Please see the membership page for further details.
There is now a fairly simple fee structure in place for the assessment of new (non-legacy) applicants and for the issuance of FLM diplomas in hard copy. Details are contained on the membership application form.
Past members of the FLM, under the old regulations, may choose to reapply for membership. If reconfirmed, they will be placed in the grade of their prior FLM membership. The historical academical dress of the FLM is still valid for wear and may be worn by legacy members of the FLM that possess the said wear. All members will have the option to purchase the new academic dress of the Faculty.