B Minor Mass

[Chris Watson]

If you've nothing better to do later on today you could possibly tune in on the internet to a live performance of the B Minor Mass from Amsterdam with Concerto Copenhagen and 10 singers. 7pm UK time. http://www.radio4.nl/gids/2015-02-01...3/avondconcert

[ardcarp]

Thanks for that Chris. So there's another Radio4 out there. 'Avond' (forgive my ignorance) is presumably 'evening'. I guess you're singing in it?

[Chris Watson]

Indeed. There are 5 soloists and 5 ripienists, and I'm one of the latter. We recorded it 18 months ago. It's sounding pretty good! The concert is 7.15pm today, UK time.

[James Wonnacott]

Will this be available after the live broadcast?
Unfortunately I can't listen this evening? (The answer may be on the webpage but I can't read Dutch, I'm afraid)

[DracoM]

Many thanks, Chris

[Chris Watson]

I'm told it will be available to listen again, but I'm afraid I'm not sure how to negotiate the website!

[EdgeleyRob]

I'm told it will be available to listen again, but I'm afraid I'm not sure how to negotiate the website!

I assume it's 'Luister on demand' at the bottom of avondconcert home page.
Wish I understood Dutch ! love to know what the announcer was saying.

[EdgeleyRob]

Indeed. There are 5 soloists and 5 ripienists, and I'm one of the latter. We recorded it 18 months ago. It's sounding pretty good! The concert is 7.15pm today, UK time.

Please excuse my ignorance Chris,but I don't know what this means.
It did sound more than pretty good to me,marvelous,well done.

[Chris Watson]

Thanks! It was fun. There are people who will be able to explain this much better than I, but the ripieno theory was put forward by Joshua Rifkin (whose 2006 edition we were using) and more recently Andrew Parrott. It's backed up by (amongst other things) the surviving sets of parts and pictures of Bach's choir and the suggestion is that most of his choral works were sung by solo voices with a separate group of ripieno singers reinforcing them when the text or orchestration demands it. I've recorded it twice like this, as ripieno tenor, firstly for John Butt and the Dunedins and then Lars Ulrick Mortensen and CoCo (yet to come out) and they came up with different ideas about where the ripienists sing. It's really hard work for the soloists but if you can the balance right it gives you wonderful clarity in the part writing.

[EdgeleyRob]

Thanks! It was fun. There are people who will be able to explain this much better than I, but the ripieno theory was put forward by Joshua Rifkin (whose 2006 edition we were using) and more recently Andrew Parrott. It's backed up by (amongst other things) the surviving sets of parts and pictures of Bach's choir and the suggestion is that most of his choral works were sung by solo voices with a separate group of ripieno singers reinforcing them when the text or orchestration demands it. I've recorded it twice like this, as ripieno tenor, firstly for John Butt and the Dunedins and then Lars Ulrick Mortensen and CoCo (yet to come out) and they came up with different ideas about where the ripienists sing. It's really hard work for the soloists but if you can the balance right it gives you wonderful clarity in the part writing.

Thank you for this fascinating explanation.

[makropulos]

If you've nothing better to do later on today you could possibly tune in on the internet to a live performance of the B Minor Mass from Amsterdam with Concerto Copenhagen and 10 singers. 7pm UK time. http://www.radio4.nl/gids/2015-02-01...3/avondconcert

Thanks so much for the alert. I loved it!

[James Wonnacott]

Yes, it is available on listen again which in Dutch seems to be "Luister terug". You'll get what seems to be the news first, then a trailer for something (sound familiar?) then three other pieces. The mass starts about 18 minutes from the beginning and is well worth a listen.

[Bryn]

I note that the 192kbps (44.1kHz a=sample rate) "Luister terug" mp3 offering is capture software friendly. The BACH arr. REGER - Passacaglia BWV.582 in c - Wyneke Jordans & Leo van Doeselaar (pianos) which follows the Mass is worth catching too. I note that other concerts there are available as 256kbps (48kHz sample rate) mp3 offerings, that includes one with Lang Lang/RCO/Stefan Asbury playing Bartok's 2nd Piano Concerto. Perhaps the Bach will also be made available at that higher data rate at a later date. Worth checking back at http://www.radio4.nl/luister-concerten .

[ostuni]

Leo van Doeselaar .

A name well known to us fans of the All of Bach series. I'm looking forward to luistering terug to the mass when I've got time later this week. The main soloists are named on the website - I'm wondering who the other ripienists were. Chris?

[James Wonnacott]

I note that the 192kbps (44.1kHz a=sample rate) "Luister terug" mp3 offering is capture software friendly.

Anybody know how to do this on a mac please?