CE Eton Choral Course Wed, 27 August 2014

[DracoM]

CE Eton Choral Course
Cheltenham College



Order of Service:



Introit: Sancte Deus (Tallis)
Responses: Howells
Psalms: 126-131 (Garrett; Dupuis; West; Walmisley; Walford Davies; Willcocks)
First Lesson: Isaiah 45: 1-7
Office Hymn: O blest Creator of the light (Lucis Creator)
Canticles: Collegium Regale (Howells)
Second Lesson: Ephesians 4: 1-16
Anthem: One foot in Eden still, I stand (Maw)
Hymn: How shall I sing that majesty (Coe Fen)


Organ Voluntary: 'Paean' from Six Pieces for Organ (Howells)



Alexander Ffinch (Organist)
Ralph Allwood (Music Director)

[DracoM]

Reminder: today @ 3.30 p.m.

[DracoM]

Not convinced the acoustics will have done any favours for the Adolphus choir this p.m. Sounded sub-aqua, distant, and blurred.
That said, there was some indifferent as well as good singing. Some of the responses came across as clottedly incomprehensible - diction? - some of the pitching was dodgyish too in places. Maw very much not my cup of meat.

Tallis OK, a bit lost in the acoustic, and possibly too many voices? Psalms - erm, well......a lot of them, and presumably took up a lot of rehearsal time? Coll Reg a useful choice since many of the singers would possibly have been sufficiently au fait with it to need that much less rehearsal. They gave it a good go. Nicely floated solo to start the Nunc.

Just keep coming back to that acoustic / engineering, which spoilt a lot of the singing for me.

[Wolsey]

Not convinced the acoustics will have done any favours for the Adolphus choir this p.m.

Adolphus? Have I missed something? I thought it was a choir comprising singers of a choral course, not Ralph Allwood's Rodolfus Choir...

[DracoM]

My Mistake. Not been a good week.

[Bryn]

My Mistake. Not been a good week.

Well, it was a bit of an unusual location for the course this year, what with Eton College, its gift shop/information centre and Henry VI chapel all being closed to the public this summer (various refurbishments, etc. going on). Lots of disappointed tourists.

[Finzi4ever]

How many noticed the Johnian 'bump' (?correct term) in both Col. Reg. Glorias?

[Nazard]

Well, it was a bit of an unusual location for the course this year, what with Eton College, its gift shop/information centre and Henry VI chapel all being closed to the public this summer (various refurbishments, etc. going on). Lots of disappointed tourists.

Whilst I'm sure you are correct re the renovation works (I haven't been near Eton this summer, alas), there were still two courses held at Eton College this summer, before four courses held around the country - as has been the pattern for several years now. This broadcast was, in fact, prerecorded from Course 4, held earlier this summer. Course 6, in Cambridge, is still ongoing.

Further information here: http://etonchoralcourses.co.uk/courses/

[Lento]

How many noticed the Johnian 'bump' (?correct term) in both Col. Reg. Glorias?

Do enlighten us: something to do with St John's Cambridge??

[Vox Humana]

Do enlighten us: something to do with St John's Cambridge??

I think he means the effect used on the final chord whereby the chord is performed fp< - i.e. hit the chord forte, instantly reduce to piano and then crescendo. It's an effect borrowed from brass ensemble music where it works a treat. Judging purely from the score, it's debatable whether this was the effect Howells intended. He does not specify a fp, but gives the final chord an accent and a crescendo. However, since any choir is likely to be singing at or near full volume by the time they get to the final chord, it is hard to see how a crescendo can be effective (assuming it was actually meant to be detectable) unless the volume is reduced.

[Miles Coverdale]

I believe this effect is also known as 'pressing the John's button'.

[Lento]

I think he means the effect used on the final chord whereby the chord is performed fp< - i.e. hit the chord forte, instantly reduce to piano and then crescendo.

Thanks!

[DracoM]

Similar in the final part of the Amen in St Paul's canticles IIRC?

[Wolsey]

Similar in the final part of the Amen in St Paul's canticles IIRC?

Hardly the 'Amen'. Judging from the John's Choir's Naxos recording, the 'John's button' described by Vox Humana is heard in the Nunc Dimittis ('glory') and in the Gloria of both canticles. Pernickety, perhaps, but accuracy of detail isn't really too much to ask.

[Finzi4ever]

I believe this effect is also known as 'pressing the John's button'.

Quite right, Miles, 'button' was the term I was failing to find.
It's still prevalent at St John's - does it date back to the G.G. ear?