Advent Carol Service: St John's College, Cambridge [L] 1.12.24 @ 3pm

[Wychwood]

Aaaargh! They faded out 615! In the words of Harry Enfield's Self-Righteous Brothers: "Oi, Radio 3, NO!" ...and that's on top of St J's omitting Helmsley.

Yes, the fading out of the voluntary was surely a big mistake. And there was really no need to do that, given (I think) that the following programmes were live and so could have accommodated the over-run from Cambridge.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Yes, the fading out of the voluntary was surely a big mistake. And there was really no need to do that, given (I think) that the following programmes were live and so could have accommodated the over-run from Cambridge.

Not so sure about that . The following live programmes will have their own running order and durations . The rule is that , unless there are extenuating circumstances , you have your time slot , duration and you stick to it and if you don’t fade out continuity will do it for you - probably more brutally. It has to be like that otherwise it’s anarchy.
That said I would have swapped the live male voice choir from Wales for more of the voluntary -but that’s being wise after the event.

[Nick Armstrong]

Yes really good this year, a service I shall revisit during the season I feel sure. I like the sound of the new Dean.

Agreed!! (As usual, Alison )

Apart from everything else, a cracking Hills of the North, Rejoice! which always gets my vote

[Petrushka]

Yes, the fading out of the voluntary was surely a big mistake. And there was really no need to do that, given (I think) that the following programmes were live and so could have accommodated the over-run from Cambridge.

I put on the Hurford recording straight after. It lasts a mere 2 minutes 19 seconds and was within a few seconds from ending anyway.

Otherwise, fine service, much enjoyed.

[Keraulophone]

...and that's on top of St J's omitting Helmsley.

Helmsley was sounding triumphant next door… [at 1h 38’47”] https://www.youtube.com/live/rYpkqAx...CIlROXn7dpZqfP

[Sir Velo]

I like the sound of the new Dean.

I could have done without her and her interlocutor in the previous introductory programme's use of the past participle "stood" as in "we are stood (sic)". To borrow Finzi4ever's apposite Frank Doberman quotation: "Oi Radio 3! No!". Good service though.

[Pulcinella]

I could have done without her and her interlocutor in the previous introductory programme's use of the past participle "stood" as in "we are stood (sic)". To borrow Finzi4ever's apposite Frank Doberman quotation: "Oi Radio 3! No!". Good service though.

I suspect that there may be a traditional ecclesiastical/biblical rationale for its use, based on this somewhat convoluted sentence:

John 19:25-27

King James Version

Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

I certainly think of the three of them as being stood by the cross, but that might suggest that they were placed there.
One for Pedants' Paradise perhaps, though I think too that there's a fair degree of regional usage.
We were sat sitting in the bus when.....?

[AuntDaisy]

...
One for Pedants' Paradise perhaps, though I think too that there's a fair degree of regional usage.
We were sat sitting in the bus when.....?

Or on the Tram with Alan Bennett in Leeds?
Yes. I remember Stanningley Road...

[Ein Heldenleben]

I could have done without her and her interlocutor in the previous introductory programme's use of the past participle "stood" as in "we are stood (sic)". To borrow Finzi4ever's apposite Frank Doberman quotation: "Oi Radio 3! No!". Good service though.

Pretty sure hearing “ we were stood standing “ could be heard in Yorkshire with no one batting an eyelid. Though I think sometimes people in the regions deliberately lay it on a bit thick for the benefit of Metropolitan broadcasting organisations.
In the South west I’ve heard formulations like “ I goes park “ for “I went to the park” quite often. Being a teacher down here must be very frustrating.

[jonfan]

Yes although I was predisposed to be in a Scrooge like mood at Radio Three’s now three week long festival of carols starting today I think it’s been a pretty good effort so far. Although there was a regrettable sighting of The Lamb early on there’s been a lot that’s unfamiliar and some good non Carolling Christmas music . A break from some of the standard Sunday trivia,
I have never managed to successfully get to St Michaels Mount despite being South west based for decades . I’ve filmed it from the distance several times but for some reason the tides are never right or the ferry’s booked.

Yes, a worthy enterprise for Advent Sunday
Sarah Walker was at Cannon Hall near Barnsley, barely a couple of miles from me. She spoke about and played Gallery Carols and pub carols sung in the area around Sheffield, many dating back a couple of centuries. A new discovery was sung by the excellent Barnsley Youth Choir. The 1928 Oxford Book of Carols loftily ignored this treasure trove, gloriously corrected and celebrated with a comprehensive selection in the New OBC of 1992.

[oddoneout]

The St Johns boys and girls sing together as a single ensemble.

A trick was missed, I felt, on Petroc's visit to St Michael's Mount. It was a shame that carols that have their root in Cornwall were not explored. The Cathedral choir is clearly in good heart, which is great to hear under its new management.
RJ

Hah. This is Sam Jackson's R3 remember; just be thankful it wasn't 'your 100 best carols' on a loop through out the day...

[Ein Heldenleben]

Yes, a worthy enterprise for Advent Sunday
Sarah Walker was at Cannon Hall near Barnsley, barely a couple of miles from me. She spoke about and played Gallery Carols and pub carols sung in the area around Sheffield, many dating back a couple of centuries. A new discovery was sung by the excellent Barnsley Youth Choir. The 1928 Oxford Book of Carols loftily ignored this treasure trove, gloriously corrected and celebrated with a comprehensive selection in the New OBC of 1992.

Yes the Yorkshire edition really drilled down into the local Carol tradition and had a fresh non cliched regional sense. What I heard of the Northern Ireland and Welsh programmes sounded a tad more superficial.

[Petrushka]

https://trinitycollegechoir.com/wp-c...rvice-2024.pdf hy
‘Lo! He comes’ in its rightful place at the end of the service at Trinity College Chapel.

I've just watched the Trinity College webcast of their Advent Service on YouTube and have to say, I preferred it to St John's. The music was finely done especially Edgar Bainton's 'I Saw a New Heaven' and was more to my taste than St John's, fine though that was. There is a thrilling rendition of 'Lo! He Comes' which will blow your socks off. Just what the congregation need to send them out into the chill of a December night!

I heartily recommend this to all.

[jonfan]

I've just watched the Trinity College webcast of their Advent Service on YouTube and have to say, I preferred it to St John's. The music was finely done especially Edgar Bainton's 'I Saw a New Heaven' and was more to my taste than St John's, fine though that was. There is a thrilling rendition of 'Lo! He Comes' which will blow your socks off. Just what the congregation need to send them out into the chill of a December night!

I heartily recommend this to all.

Absolutely!
Avoid the organ music before service, not because of the playing quality, which was stunning with a superb Wachet Auf, but because of the appalling noise from the gathering congregation. The flight path at Heathrow would struggle to compete.

[Pulcinella]

Absolutely!
Avoid the organ music before service, not because of the playing quality, which was stunning with a superb Wachet Auf, but because of the appalling noise from the gathering congregation. The flight path at Heathrow would struggle to compete.

It was noisy in York too, before the official welcome.

Then silence from the congregation reigned as the choir assembled in position at the west end, and the last note of the voluntary ended as the minster bell struck 17:30. Very impressive to time the playing with such accuracy, I thought.