CE Gloucester Cathedral [L] Wed, July 26th 2023

[DracoM]

CE Gloucester Cathedral [L] Wed, July 26^th 2023
The Three Choirs Festival

Order of Service:

Responses: Randall Svane
Psalm 119 vv.145-176 (Cooper, Wesley, Miller, Hylton Stewart)
First Lesson: Isaiah 49 vv.8-13
Magnificat (Finzi, completed by David Bednall)
Second Lesson: 2 Corinthians 8 vv.1-11
Nunc dimittis (David Bednall)
Anthem: The Pilgrimes Travels (Judith Bingham)

Voluntary: Acclamations (Neil Cox)

Jonathan Hope (Organist)
Adrian Partington (Director of Music)

[Finzi4ever]

Am here for the week and loving it (as usual). The 3 choirs are blending superbly already and are impressively together. Monday's evensong included Ruth Gipp's 1959 canticles which, on this performance, not least with an outstanding alto soloist, are not done nearly enough.
Let me know who else on this board is here and what you think.

[oddoneout]

I am puzzled by "completed by David Bednall" as I have sung this a couple of times and wasn't aware it was an incomplete work. Or does it mean that a Gloria has been provided to replace the Amen?

[mopsus]

I am puzzled by "completed by David Bednall" as I have sung this a couple of times and wasn't aware it was an incomplete work. Or does it mean that a Gloria has been provided to replace the Amen?

The Gloria (using material from the rest of the Magnificat) is inserted just before the Amen. Together with Bednall's Nunc it makes a very big sing!

Ruth Gipp's canticles were broadcast twice on R3 recently in quick succession - just a few weeks apart! They sound pretty demanding too - not an everyday sing.

I'm in the 3 Choirs Festival Chorus this year and am glad Finzi4ever is having a good time. I went to evensong yesterday (Weelkes short service and Byrd's Laudibus in Sanctis) and it was packed - even arriving well in advance I didn't get a seat in the Quire, and the South Transept which seats over a hundred was full too, so some of the congregation sat in the nave. Clearly not anticipated as there weren't enough service booklets to go round, but good to see! And where other than 3 Choirs can you watch Choral Evensong on a screen in the beer tent?

[mw963]

Am I right in thinking the organ is "hors service" at the moment? Did I also gather they're using an electronic with Hauptwerk, or am I mis-informed?

[mopsus]

Am I right in thinking the organ is "hors service" at the moment? Did I also gather they're using an electronic with Hauptwerk, or am I mis-informed?

You're right and there is a toaster at present. I'm afraid I don't know its specifications. After a period of increasingly erratic behaviour the organ broke down completely last year, shortly before it was due to be taken out. The replacement is proving adequate for what it is being asked to do although it doesn't speak all that well into the nave, which caused some problems when rehearsing the opening service.

[mw963]

Thanks for the confirmation mopsus. What I was told suggested that it was the Hereford Cathedral Organ spec running on HWK. Wonderful though the Hereford HWK is, its accompanying acoustic is quite a feature - exhilarating for home use of course - but I'm not sure how that "bloom" would sound as "amplified" by that of the "real" Gloucester building.

Loved the idea of following Choral Evensong in a beer tent. "And I saw a new Heaven" sums up my feelings on the subject.

[Finzi4ever]

It's sounding surprisingly good in the circumstances. I am no fan of toasters, but it is amazing what a large acoustic and Hauptwerk sampling can achieve. Sadly it won't be until the 3 choirs here in 26 when Nicholson's will have worked their magic that we will get that unique Gloucester sound back again.

[Finzi4ever]

BTW if you have never been to see the Finzi and Gurney windows in the northside Chapel off the Lady Chapel you really should!

[mopsus]

BTW if you have never been to see the Finzi and Gurney windows in the northside Chapel off the Lady Chapel you really should!

Seconded, though as I paid for a tiny amount of the Finzi one I'm a bit biased!

[Roger Judd]

The Hereford Willis / Hauptwerk came across very well on the radio I thought, as did the whole service. Mopsus speaks of getting the unique Gloucester sound back in 2026. It will be a new unique Gloucester sound, as the old one has been scrapped, I gather, almost totally.

[mopsus]

The Hereford Willis / Hauptwerk came across very well on the radio I thought, as did the whole service. Mopsus speaks of getting the unique Gloucester sound back in 2026. It will be a new unique Gloucester sound, as the old one has been scrapped, I gather, almost totally.

It was actually Finzi4ever's phrase. I gather that the 'old' sound wasn't in fact all that old, and was pretty controversial when it first appeared - but others more knowledgeable can expand on this, maybe in the organ sub-forum.

[jonfan]

Brilliantly sung service, the Finzi the highlight for me.

[DracoM]

Totally agree - really inspiring!

[Andrew Slater]

Let me know who else on this board is here and what you think.

I'm in Gloucester for the duration, although not been to the evensongs until today, when I sat in the back of the nave. I'm the one dashing around with a rucksack on my back.
Excellent Pilgrim's Progress on Monday, marvellous Fidelio Trio this afternoon and an amazing choral Tallis Fantasia this evening. This is proving to be an exceptional festival, I think.