Advent Carols

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I know that Bach’s Wachet Auf is the trad recessionary at this service, but it always seems such an amazing anti-climax after the rest of the service. There must be other arrangements of the chorale tune with rather more ring and majesty to them, aren’t there?

Well, we're all different. I never tire of Wachet Auf (Bach) and look forward to this.

[Nick Armstrong]

Well, we're all different. I never tire of Wachet Auf (Bach) and look forward to this.

You and me both, Alps. (Nice new avatar btw!). And did you hear the stunning rendition of it by JEG and the Monteverdi gang which AMcG played on CD Review yesterday, from their penultimate cantata pilgrimage CD?

[bach736]

I agree - the 'Wachet auf' was disappointing and badly played. A pity that we were denied the opportunity of listening to the BWV 546 - a fitting end to the service. The R3 repeat of the King's Christmas Eve service always includes the second voluntary.

[VodkaDilc]

I always despair when the Christmas Eve service is cut off before the second voluntary or, even worse, before the end of the Bach. The organist's timing today was impressive; the last chord came just as my digital clock struck 5.30!!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

You and me both, Alps. (Nice new avatar btw!). And did you hear the stunning rendition of it by JEG and the Monteverdi gang which AMcG played on CD Review yesterday, from their penultimate cantata pilgrimage CD?

I must buy of copy of the recent JEG Bach.

(Thanks for the compliment re the avatar. Hints from others in the messageboard enabled me to adjust a photo to very low resolution, having experimented with three colours of my drawn version.)

[Il Grande Inquisitor]

And did you hear the stunning rendition of it by JEG and the Monteverdi gang which AMcG played on CD Review yesterday, from their penultimate cantata pilgrimage CD?

Recorded in Winchester Cathedral, Caliban... I was there!

[Don Basilio]

I know that Bach’s Wachet Auf is the trad recessionary at this service, but it always seems such an amazing anti-climax after the rest of the service. There must be other arrangements of the chorale tune with rather more ring and majesty to them, aren’t there?

This morning we had a Krag Elert voluntary on Wachet Auf! as the final item (after Darke in A Minor and This is the record of John.) The only Krag Elert I knew was that unbeliveably whoopsy piece that sounds like a wurlitzer.

[subcontrabass]

I agree - the 'Wachet auf' was disappointing and badly played.

I could not make up my mind as to whether it was badly played or just badly transmitted. The pedal part was barely audible and sounded to me to be slightly out of sync with the manuals - possibly slow speaking pipes, possibly badly positioned microphone.

[bach736]

Well, you could be right - out of sync, definitely - but it is the same chapel, year after year! I thought the ornamentation was not in the best tradition.

[ardcarp]

Yes, and sung by St Paul's directed by John Scott it's even more incredible. (I think it's on one of their CDs)

[ardcarp]

"Choir sounded in very fine form,"

It did indeed sound OK Draco, but I thought the chopped off and inconsistent (though well rehearsed) phrasing was over finnicky and didn't take account of the overall musical picture, eg in the Poston and the RR Bennett.

[bach736]

I could not make up my mind as to whether it was badly played or just badly transmitted.

Yes, having listened to it again a few times, I'll withdraw 'badly played' - but it did seem a bit perfunctory and definitely something odd down below.
Can't say I've ever really gone much on 'Wachet auf'. Prefer to play BWV661 'Nun komm', der Heiden Heiland'.

[Contre Bombarde]

I agree - the 'Wachet auf' was disappointing and badly played. A pity that we were denied the opportunity of listening to the BWV 546 - a fitting end to the service. The R3 repeat of the King's Christmas Eve service always includes the second voluntary.

My choice for the Advent voluntary yesterday morning was Marcel Dupre's "Le Monde dans l'attente du Sauveur" from the Symphonie-Passion, Op.23. The congregation remained seated and quiet according to Mrs CB so I think that they liked it...

I wouldn't have said that the JSB was badly played but I didn't find it a very musical performance. IMO it was a touch too fast and maybe the swell box could have been opened a little more so that the chorale theme was clearer.

[mercia]

The congregation remained seated and quiet

lucky you !!!!

(is your avatar the instrument you play?)

[Keraulophone]

Krag Elert

Alpen, could you tell us whether this geomorphological feature can be found on the Matterhorn?