Bach - Christmas Oratorio, 6th Dec, BBC Singers Norwegian Wind Ensemble

[amcluesent]

If that's the answer, what the heck was the question?

[Flosshilde]

I've heard this so far in snatches (between working & shopping, while driving fromn one to the other). When I first switched it on I didnb't realise that it was for windband, until I heard the interval discussion. Which might suggest that the original is quite 'heavy' on wind instruments, so one doesn't notice the absence of strings in this one (although there is a harpsichord, cello & bass), or that I've got cloth ears.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

When I heard it was rescored for wind band, I was sceptical, but soon forgot about it once I became involved with the performance.

[ardcarp]

I love the Cantatas that make up the Christmas Oratorio (we heard 1,2,3 and 6)...and I'm off to Oslo for a fortnight on 20th Dec. So I thought I'd listen all the way through.

Oh dear.

Firstly, scored for wind band...with clarinets and soprano saxes....why? I was not beguiled into forgetting this fact as Alps and Flossie were. There was indeed some most technically brilliant playing from the Norwegian Wind Ensemble (astounding trumpeters) but...

Secondly it was all driven, in the sense of teams of horses by a whip. Nothing was allowed to happen or unfold, always being propelled (sometimes dragged) onward, with tempi often increasing from the starting gate.

Thirdly, it more or less stayed together because they were all pros. But to me the ensemble was not knit comfortably together....and why would it be? Shoe-horning the BBC Singers (no complaints here) into a completely new outfit cannot be expected to produce a working-together relationship such as happily results from the established Baroque ensembles who play and sing together regularly.

Thirdly, it was done at A440, and the strain showed, especially for the solo tenor who was doing the recits (not badly) and the arias. I fear the two star items (Haste ye Shepherds and Ye foes of Man to give them their English titles) fell well below what one would expect from a broadcast performance, with evident signs of tiring in the voice. Not keen on the soprano either; thought the counter-tenor was good but sometimes forced into snatched phrasing by over-brisk tempi.

Fourthly, one wonders why anyone thought this was a good idea? There are excellent choirs and baroque ensembles in Norway (which, thanks to generous government funding, punches well above its weight in the arts) that could have given us a performance which was well-crafted and not constantly 'on edge'.

This might have been an interesting experiment, but I felt I, the listener, was the laboratory rat.

[BBMmk2]

I will have to catch this on iplayer sometime. It's a pity, as Ardcarp mentioned that it sounded driven, because I would have thought that this work would lend well to this medium?

[ardcarp]

I will have to catch this on iplayer sometime. It's a pity, as Ardcarp mentioned that it sounded driven, because I would have thought that this work would lend well to this medium?

You will be impressed by the wind players' technique, BBM. (There was still a harpsichord/organ cello and double-bass continuo group...plus timps, of course.)

For me, the sum was less (far less) than the parts. But it would be good to hear your impressions if you have time to lend an ear in this busy season!

[BBMmk2]

You will be impressed by the wind players' technique, BBM. (There was still a harpsichord/organ cello and double-bass continuo group...plus timps, of course.)

For me, the sum was less (far less) than the parts. But it would be good to hear your impressions if you have time to lend an ear in this busy season!

Hoping tomorrow, as it's a short day for me!! :)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Hoping tomorrow, as it's a short day for me!! :)

Tomorrow will be even shorter.

[BBMmk2]

Tomorrow will be even shorter.

Have listened! Very enjoyable it is too. You wouldn't know that the strings were there! Ok he used one stringed instrument and a harpsichord and period trumpets, but it all worked well and everything blended. Strongly recommend a listen to this! n:)

[ardcarp]

Glad you enjoyed it BBM.

One man's meat, etc!

[edashtav]

I have little to add to ardcarp's perceptive and analytical post #4.
An interesting experiment but a redundant one

[BBMmk2]

Glad you enjoyed it BBM.

One man's meat, etc!

Yes and I don't see why it should be a redundant one either?

[Flosshilde]

Yes, Why?

(& if the experiment was interesting it could hardly be redundant, surely? Failed, perhaps (& I don't think it did) but not unneeded)

[BBMmk2]

Quite agree Flossy, there. Other people have mentioned this as being redundant, but I do not thinkit had failed either. I believe it really captured the spirit of Bach's score. the arranger used period/authentic trumpets, and I think he was right in the usage of a cello(or was it a double bass he said?)

[jean]

I am enjoying the instruments.

I am not much enjoying the choir, or the counter-tenor soloist.