CE St Jude's Hampstead, London [R]: 2.10.2024

[Pulcinella]

From St Jude’s Hampstead, London, with the BBC Singers and BBC Concert Orchestra, to mark the 100th anniversary of the BBC Singers.

Introit: By beloved spake (Hadley)
Responses: Jamie W Hall
Psalm 12 (Michael Emery)
First Lesson: Hosea 14 vv1-9
Canticles: Collegium Regale (Howells, orch. John Rutter)
Second Lesson: James 2 vv14-26
Anthem: The Twelve (Walton)
Hymn: How shall I sing that majesty (Coe Fen, descant C. Manners, orch. Jonathan Wikeley)
Voluntary: Crown Imperial (Walton)

David Hill (Conductor)
Stephen Farr (Organ)

Recorded 18 September.

[oddoneout]

I shall be interested to hear other's views of this. I had so much difficulty with the sound(quality and balance) that the music rather got lost. I came in towards the end of the Mag and I only recognised it when they came to the Gloria. I thought I had got the time wrong and it was the last hour of Classical (not)Live!

[Pulcinella]

I didn't listen but am a bit horrified to see the canticles were accompanied orchestrally.
I wonder if it's the same orchestration as on the King's recording (I gave up after what I considered the desecration of the Te Deum when this recording came out); the Presto site doesn't appear to credit who it was by.

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8615892--howells-cello-concerto-an-english-mass#reviews

[Ein Heldenleben]

It would be churlish to criticise this distinguished group on their 100th anniversary . All I can say is I liked it more than the Classical Live concert which has a truly dreadful new commission in it . I liked at the hymn at the end but “operatic” and orchestral evensong doesn’t sound right to me and I like opera - indeed prefer it to Evensong really.
The celebrant seemed unusually “fired up” don’t you think ?

[Ein Heldenleben]

I didn't listen but am a bit horrified to see the canticles were accompanied orchestrally.
I wonder if it's the same orchestration as on the King's recording (I gave up after what I considered the desecration of the Te Deum when this recording came out); the Presto site doesn't appear to credit who it was by.

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8615892--howells-cello-concerto-an-english-mass#reviews

The Canticles sounded a bit like Gotterdamerung not helped by an extraordinarily echoey acoustic…

The A Capella* stuff was much better - rather nice singing.

* sorry but a bit hazy on what was what as I dozed off …

[Wychwood]

Sorry to say it, but the whole thing was way, way over the top for me. I had no sense of being present at, let alone participating in, an act of worship.
I couldn't stop thinking that this was CE meeting FNiMN.

[jonfan]

I enjoyed it, celebrating the distinguished past the Singers have made to religious broadcasting. In the 70s and 80s on rare visits to London I would go to All Souls, Langham Place, to hear the Singers rehearse for the Daily Service, often directed by Barry Rose. The service was always the same format, a sung sentence, (often a Thalben-Ball), a psalm, two hymns, a bible reading and prayers from New Every Morning. There was often a homeless person snoring away at the back. Those were the days!!
A beautiful sound from the choir today, especially in the introit and canticles, The balance favoured the orchestra in the Canticles but John Rutter is always respectful of anything by Howells with beautiful orchestral colour. (There’s precedence, surely, from Bach onwards for orchestrating the Canticles, to Stanford and beyond!)
The star piece was the Walton. Great stuff!
Happy Birthday!

[Ein Heldenleben]

Sorry to say it, but the whole thing was way, way over the top for me. I had no sense of being present at, let alone participating in, an act of worship.
I couldn't stop thinking that this was CE meeting FNiMN.

Well the vicar certainly thought she was …none of your Anglican reticence there….

[jonfan]

Well the vicar certainly thought she was …none of your Anglican reticence there….

Loved it!
I think she said she was a priest at St Jude’s, a favourite recording venue for Hyperion and Decca, as well as other classical labels.

[Simon Biazeck]

Loved it!
I think she said she was a priest at St Jude’s, a favourite recording venue for Hyperion and Decca, as well as other classical labels.

[Simon Biazeck]

Stunning tenor solo in the Nunc dimittis - the best I have ever heard. Too slow for my taste (barely singable at HH's metronome mark!) but what a virtue he made of it. I must admit that I don't like the venerable Sir John's orchestration - too soupy for my taste but I have no objection to orchestral accompaniments in choral services per se. Walton's orchestration of 'The Twelve' is very enjoyable. Coe Fen breaks me every time even if the arrangement was a bit OTT and smothered the singers in the final verse. I wept whilst disembarking a peak-hour train. Not my usual experience on SE HS. As mentioned above, HH's orchestration (and reworked opening) of the Coll. Reg. 'Te Deum' is very naughty and I love it.

[DracoM]

Succinctly said - v.many thx.

[Simon Biazeck]

Succinctly said - v.many thx.

[Keraulophone]

Stunning tenor solo in the Nunc dimittis - the best I have ever heard.

That's what I thought too, as was the solo bass introduction to The Twelve - stentorian in a good way.

The whole was a great act of worship and celebration of the BBCS, if unlike any midweek Evensong I've ever attended. Former members of the BBCS could be heard enjoying themselves in Coe Fen. 'How shall I sing that Majesty?' - just like that!

[Simon Biazeck]

That's what I thought too, as was the solo bass introduction to The Twelve - stentorian in a good way.

The whole was a great act of worship and celebration of the BBCS, if unlike any midweek Evensong I've ever attended. Former members of the BBCS could be heard enjoying themselves in Coe Fen. 'How shall I sing that Majesty?' - just like that!

Yes - very commanding. By the way, the tenor solo in the Coll. Reg Nunc was Ben Durrant. His brother Philippe is also a fine tenor.