Hannah French explores the simple melody "The Western Wind" that inspired the early 16th Century masses by John Taverner, John Sheppard and Christopher Tye.
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Ah, what a masterpiece that mass setting is!Don’t cry for me
I go where music was born
J S Bach 1685-1750 -
I guess you mean the Taverner? The Shepherd is OK too, but not quite in the same league IMVHO.Ah, what a masterpiece that mass setting is!
English Masses of this vintage don't usually set the Kyrie, I've often used the Orbis Factor plainsong Kyrie, which seems to fit well. The Western Wynde tune itself is a real ar-worm. Expect to be humming it for days if you listen in to this EMS!Comment
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I liked Hannah French as a presenter - she's new to me (I think).Comment
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The 'ear worm' I mentioned is the tune as used in all three masses, and as stated in HistoricalAnthology of Music Vol. 1 as THE Western Winde. The version played at the start of the programme (the 'authentic' one according to HF) seems to bear no relation to it. Undoubtedly scholarship has moved on. There were some great examples played, and I'm glad Hannah drew on a variety of choirs. Of the all-male groups, New College with Higginbottom seem to have it nailed. Big fan though I usually am of St John's, what were they up to in the Sheppard Credo? Singing a merry madrigal? Messing with the tempo? Although we can't know for certain, it is thought that the tactus or beat would have remained steady, at least within a movement.
Anyway, it was a most enjoyable programme. I just love the pre-Ref English sound whoever sings it. Did we really need Stravinsky tho' ?Comment
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We always need Stravinsky.[FONT=Comic Sans MS][I][B]Numquam Satis![/B][/I][/FONT]Comment
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Originally posted by ferneyhoughgeliebte View Post
(And I haven't even listened to the programme yet.
Sounds like one I need to catch up on.)
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No-one could be a bigger Stravinsky fan than I !!! It just jarred at the end of EMS. Love the Stravinsky Mass, BTW.Comment
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Me too!Originally posted by ardcarp View Post
But, if I'm honest, I don't really like the Westron Wind bit of the Cantata!
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Just to nip pick here, shouldn’t it be The Western Wynde?Don’t cry for me
I go where music was born
J S Bach 1685-1750Comment
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...or as Hannah would have it The Westron Wynde. I don't think spelling had settled down in those days! It annoys me that a local pub calls itself Ye Olde Poppe Inn (without an 'e' on Inn). Erm.....Comment
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