A Feast of Choral Music from The Temple

[jean]

Yes, in the sarum use the Kyrie would have been troped, and therefore appropriate to the feast, so it wouldn't have been practical to set every possibility as part of your polyphonic Ordinary.

That doesn't apply here, though. But the audience couldn't be expected to sit through two complete Mass settings, and bits of both gets round that problem. And the movements will no doubt be separated from each other by applause...

.

[Simon Biazeck]

I see The Tyger escaped. I am not a fan of Tavener at all, but they are certainly his best choral works and they really sold them. I found myself enjoying them - shock! However, Leighton's carols really were the stars and I say that as a complete Howells nut. They are such exquisite settings, unsentimental, full of delightful invention, varied textures and colourful harmony and always with a glistening surface perfect for the season. I really felt for the soloist - what a marathon! I strongly suspect illness was behind the fatigue.

I adored the Vox Luminis concert BTW - there's a conductor who understands his rep., has great ideas AND understands singing. Everything was allowed to flower and bloom within the borders - what a joy!

[Nick Armstrong]

Leighton's carols really were the stars and I say that as a complete Howells nut. They are such exquisite settings, unsentimental, full of delightful invention, varied textures and colourful harmony and always with a glistening surface perfect for the season.

Beautifully-expressed and I feel exactly the same, in each respect

[Simon Biazeck]

Beautifully-expressed and I feel exactly the same, in each respect

Thank you!

[ardcarp]

You have a fellow Leighton fan here. Yes, lovely pieces and we usually only get to hear Lullay Lulla. The ATB sounded like a Rolls Royce outfit, but I think the sops, as you suggest, were suffering from fatigue. I know they rehearsed a lot today, and these 'bitty' concerts are always difficult to pull off, even for the pros. The John Byrt was a tad hazardous to kick off with. It's a great piece, but it didn't perhaps get its best outing today. It was strange programming too, immediately preceding oceans of unctuous Howells.

I couldn't quite make out how the sound-engineering was set up. The extraneous coughs from the audience seemed to echo around while the sopranos and the organ seemed very close and 'dry'. It's probably a difficult building for miking, given its strange shape...a circle with a rectangle bolted on.

[subcontrabass]

I see The Tyger escaped and the The Feast of the Dormition of Our Most Holy Lady was transferred.

Why were you expecting anything to do with the Dormition? Tavener's A Hymn to the Mother of God (which was sung as advertised) is from the Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil, which is used in the Orthodox Church on (amongst other occasions) Christmas Eve.

[mercia]

oceans of unctuous Howells.

ouch! - obviously not a fan

[Nick Armstrong]

oceans of unctuous Howells.

[ardcarp]

I love Howells too...honest*. I was just pointing out that the Byrt seemed at odds, stuck out on its own. It was obviously intended as a sort of opening fanfare, but, oh well never mind. However in her intro, Sarhah M-P (she of the halting delivery) mentioned something to do with a lewd Limerick Warlock had written about Howells. Anyone know it? Anything to do with bowels, by any chance?

* O So Long Ago is gorgeous, ditto Here is the Little Door

[Nick Armstrong]

No but I imagine it had some amusing passages...

[DracoM]

Gallicantus were VERY fine tonight. Unaffected, direct, relishing the interweaving of textures, and beautifully introduced by Gabriel Crouch. Real joy to hear.

[Nick Armstrong]

Gallicantus were VERY fine tonight. Unaffected, direct, relishing the interweaving of textures, and beautifully introduced by Gabriel Crouch. Real joy to hear.

Agreed

Happily I was around to do a neat recording. It will get a few plays in the next couple of weeks

[jean]

I was at another concert so I haven't heard it yet - how did the two masses go together? And how was the Josquin?

(I heard something very fine - but very different - on my way home. Some wonderful C17 German playing with chorales. I caught the name of Andreas Scholl. But what was it?)

[DracoM]

Well, I have to say, jean, I'm still not convinced about mass mingling. Felt a bit tangled. Not sure they explained it well on the prog either. Listen yourself and see what you feel.

[ardcarp]

Here's the programme:

Verdelot : Beata es Virgo
Josquin des Prez: Praeter rerum seriem
De Rore: Kyrie: Missa Praeter rerum seriem
Anon. Puer natus est nobis
Tallis: Gloria: Missa Puer natus est nobis
De Rore: Credo: Missa Praeter rerum seriem
Tallis: Sanctus and Benedictus: Missa Puer natus est nobis
De Rore: Agnus I: Missa Praeter rerum seriem
Tallis : Agnus II: Missa Puer natus est nobis

I've only heard up to the Tallis Gloria on i-player, but not only was the tuning and ensemble wonderful, but there was light and shade too. Some EM groups seem to think changes in dynamics and pacing are somehow un-HIPP. Not so Gallicantus. The resurrection of Puer Natus Est was well explained by GC, and it was interesting to know that Sally Dunkley (of The Clerks) was in the audience