Monteverdi and Gabrieli : Afternoon Concert Thursday 10 May

[doversoul1]

Jonathan Swain presents a Vespers service compiled from music by Monteverdi and Gabrieli recorded at last year's Zurich Early Music Festival
Early music specialist Andrea Marcon leads the renowned La Cetra baroque orchestra and vocal ensemble. His selection includes Monteverdi's second Dixit Dominus a 8, his first Beatus vir a 6 and the first Magnificat a 8

Monteverdi & Gabrieli: Venetian Vespers
La Cetra
Andrea Marcon, director

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0b1q2dw

How did we manage before iPalyer?

[DracoM]

Some truly excellent singing and playing. Went with a fine, boisterous afternoon and ...Earl Grey [ friend of mine staying here]
Many thx for heads up.

[vinteuil]

Some truly excellent singing and playing. Went with a fine, boisterous afternoon and ...Earl Grey [ friend of mine staying here]
Many thx for heads up.

... ah, this one -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Kent_Grey,_7th_Earl_Grey

[DracoM]

Erm..............well...........

[vinteuil]

Erm..............well...........

... it's his birthday tomorrow - you could send him a card.



.

[doversoul1]

Glorious. Will human beings be still playing this music and be moved by it in 2418?

[BBMmk2]

Somehow I missed this one. Another catch up for me DS. I was probably having my afternoon nap, which I have ben needing since the end of my chemo!

[Bryn]

How did we manage before iPalyer?

In my case, for a few years before the start of the iPlayer, it was checking ahead via the Radio Times, then setting the timer of a Psion Wavefinder or Pure Bug to save the DAB mp2. I still have a ridiculous number of such files stored for future listening. Nothing like the audio quality of the iPlayer HD Sound of today, but better than nothing, and a wider dynamic range than recordings from FM. Before that I would use an external timer to start and stop my reel-to-reel or cassette deck. That way I got the whole of the 1981 all night concert of Indian music Prom while also attending it. I had to use the reel-to-reel with triple play tape at 1.875 ips. Fortunately the broadcast was repeated the following summer and I was able to capture it a 3.75 ips, with 7.5 ips for my favourite ragas. Unfortunately, all I can play today or CD-R transfers from cassette copies I made shortly after the broadcasts. I must get my Tandberg reel-to-reel restored to working condition.

[Serial_Apologist]

Glorious. Will human beings be still playing this music and be moved by it in 2418?

If I get the chance, I'll come back and check!

[Serial_Apologist]

In my case, for a few years before the start of the iPlayer, it was checking ahead via the Radio Times, then setting the timer of a Psion Wavefinder or Pure Bug to save the DAB mp2. I still have a ridiculous number of such files stored for future listening. Nothing like the audio quality of the iPlayer HD Sound of today, but better than nothing, and a wider dynamic range than recordings from FM. Before that I would use an external timer to start and stop my reel-to-reel or cassette deck. That way I got the whole of the 1981 all night concert of Indian music Prom while also attending it. I had to use the reel-to-reel with triple play tape at 1.875 ips. Fortunately the broadcast was repeated the following summer and I was able to capture it a 3.75 ips, with 7.5 ips for my favourite ragas. Unfortunately, all I can play today or CD-R transfers from cassette copies I made shortly after the broadcasts. I must get my Tandberg reel-to-reel restored to working condition.

Let me know if you get around to doing that, Bryn.

[ardcarp]

Just heard it. I have to say that the ensemble wasn't particularly tight, and there were some scrambled tempo changes. OK, a good overall Venetian sound in a generous Basilica acoustic; but M. Marcon had a penchant for slowing the final few beats of every short section. Not everyone arrived at the same time. This became annoying after a while. I cannot help but think a director such as Christophers or Herreweghe might have made a neater job. I suppose position of performers may have been a problem.

Is there any precedent for incipits (e.g. Deus in adjutorum) to be sung very slowly by massed voices?

[Serial_Apologist]

Just heard it. I have to say that the ensemble wasn't particularly tight, and there were some scrambled tempo changes. OK, a good overall Venetian sound in a generous Basilica acoustic; but M. Marcon had a penchant for slowing the final few beats of every short section. Not everyone arrived at the same time. This became annoying after a while. I cannot help but think a director such as Christophers or Herreweghe might have made a neater job. I suppose position of performers may have been a problem.

Is there any precedent for incipits (e.g. Deus in adjutorum) to be sung very slowly by massed voices?

I too noticed that. Could it possibly be down to acoustics, though? The way the interior shape and building materials of the basilica could distribute different pitch levels around the auditorium?

[ardcarp]

It could be that, but it wouldn't explain the slowing down at the end of EVERY musical phrase. That just became (to me anyway) an annoying mannerism...and surely not very HIPP???