CE: St Wulfram’s Church, Grantham [R] 7.ii.2024

[Caussade]

The final chant was by Kerensa Briggs (the Six have previously broadcast it).

Just listened to the repeat - it would have been good not have had the final chord of the voluntary abruptly cut off. I'm sure St Wulfram's has more resonance than that.

It wasn't cut off, but represented (if not quite convincingly) what the score as we have it says. The notation of the most reliable copy of the piece (non-autograph, unknown copyist and date, but pretty reliable in terms of accuracy it seems) notates that final chord as a single quaver, with the remaining beats in the bar precisely notated with the necessary rests for each voice to make up a complete unit of 3/4, and a fermata over the last rest. It's here - https://www.bach-digital.de/rsc/view...0/00000200.jpg
So the notation could hardly be clearer that the chord is supposed to be 'short' (cf. the final single-quver-duration chord of the autograph B minor Prelude, BWV 544). The implication of the notation (although there are similar moments outside the organ works that suggest an abrupt conclusion is indeed intended - BWV 1015ii, for example) is that there's a rallentando towards the final chord, which then becomes less abrupt because the quavers have got longer. But the tempo was already pretty slow, so there was no room for manouevre with further slowing, I think.

[mopsus]

Thank you for the correction. I've heard so many announcements cutting in before the music has died away recently that I jumped to the conclusion that it had happened again.

[daktari]

Sorry to hear of the way in which you had to spend a February Sunday afternoon, Keraulophone. Glad the waters didn't come in, even unto thy soul. The heightened intensity with which music and sounds (and even sights and smells) can be experienced as a result of the situation in which we find ourselves is very recognisable and surely not far removed from what many of the psalms describe. The (lack of) quality of the roads in Devon and their business in summer sadly has been a reason for us to avoid that lovely county for holidays, in favour of Wales.

[jonfan]

Yes, yes. Could we be n for a 'concert' and not a service?

I can’t resist I’m afraid, this comes up every now and then. Please explain again why this might be a concert and not a service. To me this was a service.

[Pulcinella]

I can’t resist I’m afraid, this comes up every now and then. Please explain again why this might be a concert and not a service. To me this was a service.

There is often a feeling that groups such as this (and the BBC Singers, say), not being immersed in the daily routine of the liturgy, as cathedral and college choirs are, come across as treating the event as a showpiece of their (usually undoubted) skill but somehow lack the ability to present it as a service of worship.

When I go to hear Tenebrae sing Victoria's Requiem in Beverley Minster in May, that similarly will be a concert rendition rather than a liturgical experience (though of course in that case it's billed as a recital).

[DracoM]

Agreed.

[oddoneout]

There is often a feeling that groups such as this (and the BBC Singers, say), not being immersed in the daily routine of the liturgy, as cathedral and college choirs are, come across as treating the event as a showpiece of their (usually undoubted) skill but somehow lack the ability to present it as a service of worship.

When I go to hear Tenebrae sing Victoria's Requiem in Beverley Minster in May, that similarly will be a concert rendition rather than a liturgical experience (though of course in that case it's billed as a recital).

The other side to that is perhaps such a group in fact appreciate and respond to the chance to sing a work in its "correct" context, which takes it beyond a concert performance? The atmosphere of the building, the fact that there may well be individuals in the group to whom the sacred is important, can make a difference.
Very many years ago I sang with a choir which performed a Victoria mass in an evening concert, which we were then (on the basis of having heard the rehearsals) asked to sing "for real" at morning service the following day. It was completely different experience which all the singers responded to - in some cases very much to their surprise.

[Pulcinella]

The other side to that is perhaps such a group in fact appreciate and respond to the chance to sing a work in its "correct" context, which takes it beyond a concert performance? The atmosphere of the building, the fact that there may well be individuals in the group to whom the sacred is important, can make a difference.
Very many years ago I sang with a choir which performed a Victoria mass in an evening concert, which we were then (on the basis of having heard the rehearsals) asked to sing "for real" at morning service the following day. It was completely different experience which all the singers responded to - in some cases very much to their surprise.

Valid point, accepted; I was merely trying to explain what some people feel about such broadcasts.

[oddoneout]

Valid point, accepted; I was merely trying to explain what some people feel about such broadcasts.

And I understand those views - I have mixed feelings about such CEs as I've sometimes felt that the singing is more performance than service, but I don't think it is inevitable, not least as there are times when the music itself simply transcends the manner of its realisation for the listener.

[Keraulophone]

...there are times when the music itself simply transcends the manner of its realisation for the listener.

This was such a time, stranded as I was in helpless isolation. Many waters cannot quench love of this music.

[jonfan]

And I understand those views - I have mixed feelings about such CEs as I've sometimes felt that the singing is more performance than service, but I don't think it is inevitable, not least as there are times when the music itself simply transcends the manner of its realisation for the listener.

Exactly, beautiful last point. It’s the word ‘perform’ that causes a problem here? There are three ways to experience music: to compose, to perform and to listen. Choirs in a worship context are performing the music, whether they be BBCS or college/cathedral choirs. We expect, quite rightly, it to be done to their collective best.

[Pulcinella]

Exactly, beautiful last point. It’s the word ‘perform’ that causes a problem here? There are three ways to experience music: to compose, to perform and to listen. Choirs in a worship context are performing the music, whether they be BBCS or college/cathedral choirs. We expect, quite rightly, it to be done to their collective best.

I think it's the very fact that the music is in the blood of the cathedral and college choirs that causes Evensong for them NOT to be a 'performance' but a 'routine service', albeit one they might have put more effort into rehearsing for a broadcast, whereas for other groups who don't sing the music so regularly it can indeed come across as a 'special one-off performance', admirable though the singing may well be.

But we should be grateful for the diversity.

[jonfan]

[Finzi4ever]

It was too consistently applied to be a technical issue. I am sure it was intentional. I am afraid I didn't warm to the style.

It was a distinctly unsettling 'style' which felt like a pupil finding their way through the piece for only the third time, slowing down at all the tricky bits.. I'm sure someone can explain the history and methodology to this approach.

[DracoM]