BaL 25.06.16 - Victoria: Masses

[Pulcinella]

Draco, I sympathise. But the 'problem' of comparing like with not-like is surely inherent in any BAL. I am glad Tess gave due weight and very warm appreciation to CCCOs CD. Many will certainly be attracted by this?

I already had been: it features in this 5CD set, gathering too much dust on my shelves and clearly deserving another outing:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/European-Choral-1525-1751-Various-Composers/dp/B00000DCQK/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1466849636&sr=1-2&keywords=European+choral+music

Did she say that the (catholic) Westminster sound migrated to (anglican) King's Cambridge first?
Surely it went to St John's under George Guest first.

[jean]

I've always thought Westminster Cathedral & St John's pioneered that sound at much the same time.

I'm sure George Malcolm wasn't waiting for anyone else to tell him what to do!

[ardcarp]

Did she say that the (catholic) Westminster sound migrated to (anglican) King's Cambridge first?
Surely it went to St John's under George Guest first.

No she didn't say that. She explained how R.R. Terry introduced both English and Italianate pre-Ref (and I suppose what you'd call Counter-Ref) music into the Liturgy at Westminster Cathedral. Then some of the pieces (eg Victoria O Quam Gloriosum) crept into the Anglican repertory. Even now there are a few 'favourites' which crop up in Anglican cathedral music lists. One might add that E.H. Fellowes was a major influence in making so many editions of such music.

[Pulcinella]

No she didn't say that. She explained how R.R. Terry introduced both English and Italianate pre-Ref (and I suppose what you'd call Counter-Ref) music into the Liturgy at Westminster Cathedral. Then some of the pieces (eg Victoria O Quam Gloriosum) crept into the Anglican repertory. Even now there are a few 'favourites' which crop up in Anglican cathedral music lists. One might add that E.H. Fellowes was a major influence in making so many editions of such music.

Thanks for the clarification; I was only listening with half an ear! (Obviously!)

[BBMmk2]

I really like The Westminster Cathedral Choir and The sixteen, maybe I am sticking my head out?

[ardcarp]

Did we get mention of The Sixteen?

e.g. http://www.thesixteen.com/page/3164/...Collection/181

From Alpie's list, they have recorded 6 of the masses...though probably don't have a disc dedicated to them.

(Irrelevant comment...as my consolation...another thread...I played the Sixteen's Tallis Lamentations, parts I and II. Very beautiful and very musically phrased.)

[Nick Armstrong]

An excellent survey of the field by Tess. She managed to play quite a lot, and her words matched the music (apart from cutting short that 'Organ mass' extract from Musica Ficta.) And she ended up leaving us with the choice between the full Catholic monty (Westminster cathedral...and one CD) and the more refined, yet still atmospheric mixed voice version (many Masses and CDs) from Ensemble Plus Ultra.

Interesting survey, I thought - and happily, I own the Plus Ultra 10-CD box, a splendid gift a few years ago from my old friend Rubbernecker, formerly of this parish, for which I owe renewed gratitude. It is indeed excellent. I must confess to not liking sound of the Westminster Cathedral recordings (both in terms of recording and choral sound).

[HighlandDougie]

It is indeed excellent.

And very good at calming one's temper when increasingly angry thoughts turn to the Neville Chamberlain de nos jours having sold the future of Britain's young people down the river to appease ... no, better concentrate on the music. One disc per evening has done the trick, accompanied (wholly inappropriately, I fear) with a glass or three of rosé. Deeply moving - even to this atheist.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Interesting survey, I thought - and happily, I own the Plus Ultra 10-CD box, a splendid gift a few years ago from my old friend Rubbernecker, formerly of this parish, for which I owe renewed gratitude. It is indeed excellent.

Yes - Victoria is far too little represented in my collection, and I'm more tempted to invest in this set (which sounded pretty damn magnificent) than another Fauré Requiem - magnificent though I have no doubt that that will be when I do get it.

I must confess to not liking sound of the Westminster Cathedral recordings (both in terms of recording and choral sound).

Nor I - nor does David Hill's conducting shiver any of my timbres.

[DracoM]

Point of Interest, Mr Chairman: I would respectfully hazard that the Westminster Cath 'sound' is likely of course be a tad nearer to the sound Victoria would have had in his mind's ear than that made by The Sixteen! But I fully accept that that may not be a determining factor in buying / listening to music.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Point of Interest, Mr Chairman: I would respectfully hazard that the Westminster Cath 'sound' is likely of course be a tad nearer to the sound Victoria would have had in his mind's ear than that made by The Sixteen! But I fully accept that that may not be a determining factor in buying / listening to music.

Or, indeed, Ensemble Plus Ultra. But I willingly sacrifice the "tad" of the former for the sangre caliente of the latter.

[BBMmk2]

Point of Interest, Mr Chairman: I would respectfully hazard that the Westminster Cath 'sound' is likely of course be a tad nearer to the sound Victoria would have had in his mind's ear than that made by The Sixteen! But I fully accept that that may not be a determining factor in buying / listening to music.

These two choirs, are probably my favourites