BaL 31.03.18 - Tallis: Lamentations of Jeremiah

[Nick Armstrong]

Well I listened to this BAL today and got a lot out of it, enjoying particularly the style of what the reviewer said and the way she delivered it. I knew what she meant by the various metaphors used, and wasn't troubled by them in the slightest. And what a stimulating change from the 'um, ah, erm' and 'what have we got next and what should we listen out for' style of the 'twofer' BALs)

I've been aware of this piece for years on the Ledger/KCC disc which I got the moment it came out (when I was still at Cambridge ) because of the Puer Natus Est Mass which was already one of my favourite choral pieces. I listened a few times to the Lamentations but never with much enthusiasm... So I listened to the BAL wondering if it was the fault of the performance.

And indeed there were a few that captured my attention more than the Ledger - the New College disc sounded great, as did the Cardinall's Musick performance and the eventual 'winner'.

No complaints about this programme and looking forward to Alexandra Coghlan's return - to BAL and I hope further afield on R3

[Gary Freer]

Well I listened to this BAL today and got a lot out of it, enjoying particularly the style of what the reviewer said and the way she delivered it. I knew what she meant by the various metaphors used, and wasn't troubled by them in the slightest. And what a stimulating change from the 'um, ah, erm' and 'what have we got next and what should we listen out for' style of the 'twofer' BALs)

I've been aware of this piece for years on the Ledger/KCC disc which I got the moment it came out (when I was still at Cambridge ) because of the Puer Natus Est Mass which was already one of my favourite choral pieces. I listened a few times to the Lamentations but never with much enthusiasm... So I listened to the BAL wondering if it was the fault of the performance.

And indeed there were a few that captured my attention more than the Ledger - the New College disc sounded great, as did the Cardinall's Musick performance and the eventual 'winner'.

No complaints about this programme and looking forward to Alexandra Coghlan's return - to BAL and I hope further afield on R3

Enjoyed Alexandra's reviews, pleased the Ledger got a look in. Like Caliban I was at Cambridge when it came out, always loved the countertenor sound they had at that time - Neville Clarkson et al - and the Jerusalem section at the end of the first piece is very fine. Ledger was much and unfairly maligned, looking back.

[BBMmk2]

Enjoyed Alexandra's reviews, pleased the Ledger got a look in. Like Caliban I was at Cambridge when it came out, always loved the countertenor sound they had at that time - Neville Clarkson et al - and the Jerusalem section at the end of the first piece is very fine. Ledger was much and unfairly maligned, looking back.

I think so too but look at his predecessor. A very hard act to follow! KCC certainly made up for it soon after his passing though, with the Festival of nine Lessons and Carols that year.

[Keraulophone]

Ledger was much and unfairly maligned, looking back.

I wonder why he was so maligned, and by whom?

I have only had the greatest admiration for his work at King’s, superior IMO to that of both his predecessor and his successor, and as a thought-provoking piano accompanist (Winterreise with his friend Robert Tear) and organist (eg sparkling obbligato in Vergnügte Ruh with Janet Baker/Marriner).

A couple of clues, maybe:

‘Ledger could be a hard taskmaster. But he made unstinting demands of his charges, because he wanted the young to surprise themselves by what they could achieve.’ (Church Times obituary)

‘David Willcocks, a charming grandparental figure, was replaced by the much younger Philip Ledger, who was less charming and who did not have any particular interest in me... he almost never chose me to sing a solo - even a brief solo. That puzzled me at the time... but it may be that the quality of my voice just wasn’t what it felt like to me.’ (Timothy Gowers, Music - A Life not chosen [2015]).

[Nevilevelis]

Interesting. (post #79) I have heard that Willcocks was quite a martinet - perhaps to be expected with his military background. Stanley Vann too, for the same reason.

My own experience as a soloist with Ledger was not entirely positive (I was quite green!) - he was quite patronising. I like his choir at KKC, though.

Back on topic, I am not entirely convinced by the choice for BaL - too smooth and cool for my liking. Only the Taverner Consort really nailed the tuning, but their sound is hard; relentlessy so. It's a piece I have sung so many times that I am not inclined to buy a recording. Still, it's an ongoing interest from an editor's point of view...

NVV