Easter at King's

[Guest]

I'm surprised that there has been no reference made to this afternoon's broadcast from King's College Chapel - or perhaps I have missed something?

I thought it a balanced programme and particularly liked the juxtaposition of the Gibbons and the Wesley but who dropped such a clanger with the microphone balance between organ and choir? Having sung and accompanied the Ireland anthem, I can confirm that from both perspectives, this work requires what an E-flat bass player might term "working up some fat" but in this broadcast the organ was barely audible in the crescendi and virtually mute for the remainder of the time. Quite dreadful, I thought.

Found it a bit strange having "before and after" (Crucifiction and Resurrection) liturgies combined in one service . . . .

[mopsus]

On a related note, I'm a bit sorry not to have heard the St John's Palm Sunday broadcast; Holy Week seems incomplete for me without it. At the moment the St John's website has only a couple of webcasts, both of which have been around for a few weeks.

[ardcarp]

I watched the broadcast. I thought the choir looked and sounded knackered. I gather from the grapevine that they recorded the programme back to back with the Christmas TV one. Perhaps that explained it. The Ireland (despite organ reservations expressed above) was quite good. The Blow OTOH was...and I'm sorry to say this....dreadful. All IMVHO of course.

[DracoM]

King's ain't what they used to be?

[light_calibre_baritone]

Also no comment on last weeks' funeral service of Richard III at Leicester Cathedral - their choir sang music by Moore & Bingham.

Nor any comment of Chester Cathedral choir singing the 8.15am service on Radio 4 this morning - seriously good ensemble amongst the musicians and very uplifting to have brass for the hymns.

Too many choirs, too little time...! It is a busy season.

[DracoM]

There HAS been comment on Chester - on another thread.

[mercia]

Too many choirs

I enjoyed the TV service from Manchester incorporating a Haydn (or Mozart ??) mass with trumpets and drums

[light_calibre_baritone]

There HAS been comment on Chester - on another thread.

Yeah, by me

[Nick Armstrong]

I watched the broadcast. I thought the choir looked and sounded knackered. I gather from the grapevine that they recorded the programme back to back with the Christmas TV one.

Can one of the King's crew on here confirm that?

I ask because I watched this with my dad with whom I also watched the Christmas one last Ch. Eve when he commented how tired they looked.... But yesterday he said 'they look a lot less tired than they did at Christmas' !!! Was that the mind deceiving the eye, then?

I enjoyed hearing the Duruflé, the Harris, the Weelkes... But the silly shrieky descants for one or two of the hymns didn't work - a spot of Cleobury, one guesses?

[Nick Armstrong]

Yeah, by me

And I and others commented how well the Leicester choir tackled 'Take Him Earth' at the initial Sunday RIII service...

[Petrushka]

I thought the choir looked and sounded knackered. I gather from the grapevine that they recorded the programme back to back with the Christmas TV one.

I do hope that this isn't true because King's have a punishing enough schedule as it is at Christmas. One would have hoped that they might have refused such a request from the BBC to do this as a below par performance can reflect badly on their reputation.

Like Caliban would like to see confirmation on here from anyone at Kings.

[subcontrabass]

I enjoyed the TV service from Manchester incorporating a Haydn (or Mozart ??) mass with trumpets and drums

The Cathedral music list indicates Mozart K317.

[mercia]

The Cathedral music list indicates Mozart K317.

ah thanks, I ought to know the Coronation Mass oughtn't I

[ardcarp]

I do hope that this isn't true because King's have a punishing enough schedule as it is at Christmas. One would have hoped that they might have refused such a request from the BBC to do this as a below par performance can reflect badly on their reputation.

Ah, but they didn't record the Christmas TV show at Christmas! It was October or November...and the Easter one at the same time, so I understand.

[Petrushka]

Ah, but they didn't record the Christmas TV show at Christmas! It was October or November...and the Easter one at the same time, so I understand.

Not according to this: http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/files/chapel/tv-2014.pdf. Recorded on December 14 right in the middle of that 'punishing schedule'.