King's Choir, Cambridge - the complete Argo recordings.

[Nick Armstrong]

Hugely enjoyed the discussion about this new box-set of Willcocks and Ord recordings from King's, and some fascinating extracts - mostly familiar, some new to me (I 'tuned in' to KCC in the Ledger/Cleobury era). Highlight: the unique 'aura' of the Willcocks recording of the Coll.Reg. canticles. I do find the quaint 'a' vowel sound intrusive ('which thou HEST prepared...') - although Jeremy Summerly said it was a Willcocks 'tonal' device, it was apparent in the Ord recordings too, I thought ('with the poor end mean end lowly'). Not important - just part of the period patina which contributes to the appeal and interest, like the immaculately reproduced LP covers on the cardboard slip-cases of the CDs... (but why the ugly, incongruous, angular typeface on the outer box for the main 'title' of the boxset?? ):

[ardcarp]

[Copied from the Willcocks thread on The Choir, as equally relevant here]

It was an enjoyable slot in the programme, Jeremy Summerly being audibly moved at times by the memories of Kings under Willcocks and Boris Ord. I was a little surprised that the iconic (oh dear, I've used the word) recording of Faure's Requiem wasn't among the greats. But Mrs A and I are definitely buying the boxed nostalgia set as a mutual Christmas prezzie.

[Cockney Sparrow]

Wonderful to hear these recordings and the appreciation of Willcocks and his legacy. Kings College, and mostly Willcocks was a mainstay of the catalogue in the years I grew up and explored choral music. His legacy includes choirs that sing (or aspire better to sing) in tune. I've heard from more than one choral director how Willcocks was so very insistent on the need for singing at the right pitch (not to say that any director would not want the same), and how directors would hope their singers would measure up, if he was in the audience or congregation. A great man and, as, I now appreciate from Summerly's comments, so was Boris Ord.

Full listing here:

https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/the-complete-argo-recordings/hnum/8314429

(Presto have the edge on UK price at the moment)

[Cockney Sparrow]

The Faure recording I remember was an EMI issue. So there are many more recordings from the later, post Argo years, I presume.

[ardcarp]

Ah. That explains it. As it happens we do have that one on CD anyway.

[ardcarp]

I do find the quaint 'a' vowel sound intrusive ('which thou HEST prepared...') - although Jeremy Summerly said it was a Willcocks 'tonal' device, it was apparent in the Ord recordings too,

When Kings recordings first came out we hardly noticed that precious vowel sound. 20 years later we did, and everyone used to joke (but kindly) about it. Now it is so much part of the sound. it is just accepted. I don't actually subscribe to Jeremy's thesis that it was a device for brightening the sound and keeping up the pitch. It's just the way Willcocks and most of his choristers spoke in those days. It was a hang-over from the 1920s and 30s speech of the educated classes.

[Nick Armstrong]

When Kings recordings first came out we hardly noticed that precious vowel sound. 20 years later we did, and everyone used to joke (but kindly) about it. Now it is so much part of the sound. it is just accepted. I don't actually subscribe to Jeremy's thesis that it was a device for brightening the sound and keeping up the pitch. It's just the way Willcocks and most of his choristers spoke in those days. It was a hang-over from the 1920s and 30s speech of the educated classes.

Precisely.

[jean]

I do find the quaint 'a' vowel sound intrusive ('which thou HEST prepared...')

- When Kings recordings first came out we hardly noticed that precious vowel sound...It's just the way Willcocks and most of his choristers spoke in those days. It was a hang-over from the 1920s and 30s speech of the educated classes.

Not dead yet, apparently!

My 3 year old granddaughter now speaks with an RP accent, and sings (impeccably) "Ba, Ba, Bleck Sheep".

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

It's a useful vowel sound for this:

FUNEX
SVFX
FUNEM
SVFM
OK
MNX

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

It's a useful vowel sound for this:

FUNEX
SVFX
FUNEM
SVFM
OK
MNX

Ah! I see you speak Swedish, Alpie.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Ah! I see you speak Swedish, Alpie.

I admit I had to have it explained to me.