CE Portsmouth Cathedral Wed, June 4th 2014

[ardcarp]

Would that a Concord had resonated through the building...

...that would have ended the service with a bang.

[mopsus]

I can't help feeling that the Coe Fen cult is rather born of desperation. 'Look. look, someone's written a good hymn tune in the last 60 years!' Why aren't there other recent hymn tunes with a similar following?

But this might be the place to ask - when exactly was Coe Fen written? Ken Naylor taught at the nearby Leys school from 1953-80, so probably at some point during that time. I imagine the tune was first published in the Christ's Hospital Hymn Book (1988), which I haven't seen.

[Lento]

O come on it was only an added sixth or something...nothing to cry about.

It was the chord before that, the penultimate, that I rather liked; not so sure about the "AND (with thy spirit'') - sounded a bit ungesund.

[Vox Humana]

But this might be the place to ask - when exactly was Coe Fen written? Ken Naylor taught at the nearby Leys school from 1953-80, so probably at some point during that time. I imagine the tune was first published in the Christ's Hospital Hymn Book (1988), which I haven't seen.

For what it's worth, Coe Fen was printed in the February 1999 issue of Organists' Review from Praise and Thanksgiving (Gresham Books, 1985).

[Philip]

I can't help feeling that the Coe Fen cult is rather born of desperation. 'Look. look, someone's written a good hymn tune in the last 60 years!' Why aren't there other recent hymn tunes with a similar following?

It's really interesting how one tune has taken off so much and revived a set of words which I guess very few people were using previously - certainly not with the regularity with which the hymn is sung now. Sometimes there isn't rhyme or reason as to how or why a hymn or tune takes off more than others - but I very much enjoy Coe Fen so am not complaining! Two other particularly fine latter 20th century hymn tunes which have taken off are Maurice Bevan's Corvedale (for 'There's a wideness in God's mercy') and John Barnard's Guiting Power (for 'Christ Triumphant'). We did the latter on Sunday just gone as the hymn is very appropriate in Ascensiontide, along with Barnard's own descant which is very good as well.

As regards the service as a whole, I'm afraid on my LA I skipped through the Dove as I lost interest after a couple of minutes (sorry!). The Howells and Walton were both very well done though, and there was some fine organ work too.

[Keraulophone]

We did the latter on Sunday just gone as the hymn is very appropriate in Ascensiontide, along with Barnard's own descant which is very good as well.

I'm particularly impressed by the ingenuity of descants like this one which sound impressive without altering the original harmony, even though reharmonisation may well be 'naughtier'. Barry Rose is also a dab hand at this. A few months ago, John Barnard took a long rail journey to Truro (railways, like music, being one of his hobbies - he taught French and German, and was Deputy Head at John Lyon School, Harrow) just to attend a midweek Evensong, and to hear the choir for himself, having been able only to listen to the CE broadcasts. What a charming and gracious gentleman - I hope we made his effort worthwhile.

[Finzi4ever]

I'm surprised none of you organ 'experts' picked up the Cymbelstern in the Dove.

Sorry to say, I'm sure many did and probably could even tell you the location of what is clearly(?) a Compton console currently residing as the pic going with the clip link on the LA page below the photo of the choir at Boston 'Stump', as we deciphered some years ago, now... (yawn for most of you, I realise)

[ardcarp]

Interesting task to try to translate the above...coherently...into another language!

[Magnificat]

I fear I might be slagging off one of the musicians involved, for which I duly apologise, but I have to agree. It sounded as if the two choral snippets had been written by two different people - there wasn't much stylistically to bind them together. But actually it just sounded as if the choir had simply lost their tonal bearings and fallen apart. Sorry. Just my impression.

But otherwise, what a fine show - and what an improvement (out of all recognition) on the choir I remember from my far-distant youth.

Vox Humana,

The choir on this occasion consisted of 14 boys and six girls imported from Portsmouth's youth choir 'Cantate' and 14 men.

VCC.

[Vox Humana]

Vox Humana,

The choir on this occasion consisted of 14 boys and six girls imported from Portsmouth's youth choir 'Cantate' and 14 men.

VCC.

Thank you. I'm probably too old ever to learn now. I always forget to allow for the possibility that, on occasions like this the DoM may well stiffen the choir. And why not, if it helps to put on a better show?

[bach736]

I very much enjoy Coe Fen so am not complaining! Two other particularly fine latter 20th century hymn tunes which have taken off are Maurice Bevan's Corvedale (for 'There's a wideness in God's mercy') and John Barnard's Guiting Power (for 'Christ Triumphant').

To which I would add Francis Pott's excellent tune Straker for 'Father of heaven, whose love profound'.

[orson]

Speaking of "other" tunes, does anyone sing Robert Walker's tune Brinkwells - Thine for ever, God of Love? It's rather naughty, with a lot of octave and 7th jumps! It's the only tune in NEH...