CE Edington Priory Church Wed, 23rd Aug 2023 [L]

[DracoM]

CE Edington Priory Church Wed, 23^rd Aug 2023 [L]
Edington Festival of Music within the Liturgy

Order of Service:

Introit: Suscepimus Deus (Byrd)
Responses: Trendell
Office hymn: Quod chorus vatum (Plainsong)
Psalm 48 (Anna Semple)
First Lesson: Haggai 2: 1-9
Canticles: Gloucester Service (Howells)
Second Lesson: 1 Peter 2: 1-10
Anthem: Videte miraculum (Tallis)
Hymn: Christ is our cornerstone (Harewood)
Antiphon: Salve regina (Plainsong)

Voluntary: Fantasia [D final], BK46 (Byrd)

Charles Maxtone-Smith, Christopher Too (Organists)
Matthew Martin, Peter Stevens, Jeremy Summerly (Conductors)

[DracoM]

Reminder: today @ 4 p.m.

[ardcarp]

They have in recent years had three choirs, a choir with cathedral choristers, an adult SATB choir and a dedicated plainsong choir (male). It doesn't say what forces are there today.

When I and my wife went to the Festival (camping in a nearby field!) about 50+ years ago, Richard Seal was conducting a boys and men choir, the choristers being selected from various cathedrals....who were camping too, I think.

[Keraulophone]

What a beautiful service! Occasionally a broadcast CE is able to convey the atmosphere of devotion and expertise from the place of worship into our listening room, and this for me was one such broadcast. The Gloucester Service in particular was most sensitively sung and directed. It does help, of course, to include masterpieces by Byrd and Tallis in the service. I could never tire of listening to Videte miraculum, especially as sung here. Everything flowed at an ideal pace, leaving this listener in a contented glow, having felt he had been a silent but active participant in the act of worship.

[Guest]

A rare occasion I was able to listen. Tallis was sublime. I'd not heard those responses before, but liked them, ditto the psalm chant - but I was disappointed with the rather bland organ accompaniment. Sorry also to lose the hymn.

[ardcarp]

I could never tire of listening to Videte miraculum,

Yes, and I thought the plainsong interspersions were especially well done. It was a specialist plainsong group.

[jonfan]

Devotion to the fore in this service but what can be done about the very intrusive explanations that spoil the worship!? Just let it happen and maybe, maybe, God will make clear to those who are receptive? Just one minus - the canticles could have been a shade more dynamic.

[DracoM]

"Yes, and I thought the plainsong interspersions were especially well done. It was a specialist plainsong group" - ardcarp
Totally agree. .

[LordV]

I thoroughly enjoyed this broadcast. Sumptuous and glorious. On a par with the fantastic broadcast of Byrd Great Service from New earlier this year.

[ardcarp]

but I was disappointed with the rather bland organ accompaniment.

Despite one of the organists being called Maxtone !!!

Seriously though, DoMs have differing views about psalm accompaniment. Some like all the bells and whistles (eg for 'the noise of the water pipes' and 'things creeping innumerable') whilst others prefer an undemonstrative supporting role.

[Simon Biazeck]

Nice to hear David 'Trixie' Trendell's Preces and Responses. He was lovely man and a first-rate colleague - Rest in Peace. The plainsong generally sounded very nice throughout - natural, direct and clear. I liked Anna Semple's double chant for Ps. 48 (that final major 7th!) very much and the Byrd Fantasia was nicely done too. The last time I saw Charles Maxtone-Smith was in the A.T.B. ranks of the London Oratory School Schola! Oh, dear! How time flies.

[Lento]

I liked the recorded sound as well as the content and performance: not too resonant or distant.