A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols 24.xii.24 @ 3 p.m. R4

[Wolsey]

I’m not sure about this comment. In the live broadcast it ended with Hark, the Herald…

[...]

The Festival (radio) ended with Hark! the herald angels; Carol from King's (TV) ended as cat correctly described.

[Wolsey]

[..]
I preferred the sound balance in this TV recording to the live Radio though as always the sound quality on the latter, on my newly repaired FM aerial , was much superior to Freeview. On radio I found the choir descants got a bit buried but this must be one of the most difficult indoor acoustics on earth in which to get a decent balance.
[...]

I find that the best sound quality is heard using BBC Sounds rather than FM, DAB or Freeview.

[Roslynmuse]

Yes, I've noticed that Daniel Hyde does seem to prefer slower tempi, in contrast to Stephen Cleobury who liked to keep things moving. Many carols are related to the dance so my own preference is for Cleobury. If you want slow, then the Willcock's recordings are for you as they sound quite ponderous by today's standards, much as I love them. My old choirmaster in the 1960s liked to keep them moving and often mentioned the dance connection so perhaps that explains my preference.

A bit off-topic, but I remember a friend telling me that David Willcocks was once conducting Holst's Hymn of Jesus, and in rehearsal the piece was sounding heavy and ponderous. Imogen Holst happened to be there and danced before the choir and orchestra and immediately the music danced too! I suspect this was an Aldeburgh Festival performance, paired with Delius Sea Drift, some time in the 1960s.

I too thought some of the items were rather slow today (yesterday). When Andrew Nethsingha was at John's I often felt his performances were similarly static.

[PeterboroughDiapason]

I thought the Rutter Nativity was taken at a slow tempo that a lot of amateur choirs would find a challenge . I thought quite a few of the tempi a tad slow tbh,

I thought if anything it was on the fast side actually. But beautifully sung.

[smittims]

It's been my impression generally, recently, that slower tempi are becoming fashionable in all sorts of music, from 'Have yourself a merry lttle Christmas ' to Ravel's Pavane .

I believe singers particularly, if not checked, like slow tempi so they can make the most of their long vowels.

[Barbirollians]

I am afraid I really disliked that fussy organ twiddling arrangement if I Saw three Ships. The Grayson Ives did little for me either.

[oddoneout]

I am afraid I really disliked that fussy organ twiddling arrangement if I Saw three Ships. The Grayson Ives did little for me either.

I reckon that 3 ships version was more suited to a Christmas carol concert than a service. Hearing it for the 2nd time yesterday(it was on the TV service the previous day) I just burst out laughing at the end, with all that organ show-off and wanted to applaud. I liked that it went at a good lick, as it can drag otherwise.
I got the feeling that the Ives was a 'careful' composition, perhaps with an eye to ambitious church choirs? I don't mean that in a negative sense, just that in other circumstances perhaps the response would have been different - or perhaps that text wouldn't have been chosen in the first place.
The Lassus was the high spot for me, but I also enjoyed Tavener's The Lamb - sorry folks but I like both hearing it when performed well, and also performing it - it's a good challenge for a choir that is very rewarding( for both choir and audience) when it comes off.

[cat]

Preston’s Three Ships is a regular item over the years and tends to alternate with the arrangement by Ledger. Both feature twiddly organ bits and both strangely tend to elicit complaints on social media. Perhaps people would prefer the version they sang in primary school.

[mopsus]

I appreciate the selection of fewer, longer choir items than in the past, which allows the inclusion of pieces such as the Lassus.

[Petrushka]

Preston’s Three Ships is a regular item over the years and tends to alternate with the arrangement by Ledger. Both feature twiddly organ bits and both strangely tend to elicit complaints on social media. Perhaps people would prefer the version they sang in primary school.

I'm not sure what the problem is with Three Ships. It's not a hymn but is the very essence of a joyful, folk dance derived carol and both Preston and Ledger capture this in their arrangements. My preference is for Preston with its final organ pay off, a shout of joy indeed.

[jonfan]

I wondered why the King’s organ student didn’t accompany the service, instead of Harrison Cole, late of Trinity?

[Petrushka]

I wondered why the King’s organ student didn’t accompany the service, instead of Harrison Cole, late of Trinity?

Something similar happened last year when Matthew Martin was roped in to play for this Service.

[justanorganist]

I believe Matthew Martin played for the Festival in 2020 during covid restrictions - not last year - and that the organ student Paul Greally played in 2021, 2022 & 2023. My understanding is that there is currently no organ student and that is why Harrison Cole played. Happy to be corrected.

[Simon Biazeck]

I believe Matthew Martin played for the Festival in 2020 during COVID restrictions - not last year - and that the organ student Paul Greally played in 2021, 2022 & 2023. My understanding is that there is currently no organ student and that is why Harrison Cole played. Happy to be corrected.

That's certainly true of 2023. Thank you. I can check with colleagues on Sunday about the other points.

[Wolsey]

I believe Matthew Martin played for the Festival in 2020 during covid restrictions - not last year - and that the organ student Paul Greally played in 2021, 2022 & 2023. My understanding is that there is currently no organ student and that is why Harrison Cole played. Happy to be corrected.

Having seen a long thread about this on Facebook with input from informed sources, this tallies with what I have read; Harrison is the assisting organist for this academic year. Someone had noted - rightly in my opinion - that it's becoming ever more frequent for those who have been awarded provisional organ or choral scholarship places to end up not being able to take up their places after all because they didn't achieve their academic offer. The days of leniency for musicians are long gone. Those here who are on Facebook are encouraged to read the long thread there (group: Choral Evensong Appreciation Society). The Carols from Kings producer has noted there that it contains unnecessary speculation and also says of the current situation that, "It’s quite complicated - but the future is bright".