CE 22.1.25: St Lawrence Church, York [R] (Ebor Singers)

[Pulcinella]

From St Lawrence Church, York, with the Ebor Singers.

Introit: O Lord, the maker of all thing (Mundy)
Responses: Sarah MacDonald
Psalms 108, 109 vv1-4, 20-30 (Hanforth, Goss, Jackson)
First Lesson: 1 Kings 19 vv9b-18
Canticles: Evening Service in F (Coleridge-Taylor)
Second Lesson: Mark 9 vv2-13
Anthem: The Star Anthem (Bull)

Paul Gameson (Director of Music)
David Pipe (Organist)

Recorded 14 January.

[french frank]

Reminder: Today at 15.00

[jonfan]

The three highlights for me were the Coleridge-Taylor canticles, the anthem and the voluntary. The anthem, new to me, was beautifully sung; the canticles rarely done and worthy to be performed more often. I enjoyed the variety of styles and periods,

[DracoM]

Vol was tops for me.

[mopsus]

I had not encountered Bull's Star Anthem before I sang it in Bath Abbey a year ago, although at the time it was written it was extremely popular, occurring in many sources (according to Wikipedia). Maybe there wasn't a good modern edition? Epiphany is generally rather over-supplied with good anthems for what can be a rather short season, although this year it is long enough for more of them to be used.

[Pulcinella]

I had not encountered Bull's Star Anthem before I sang it in Bath Abbey a year ago, although at the time it was written it was extremely popular, occurring in many sources (according to Wikipedia). Maybe there wasn't a good modern edition? Epiphany is generally rather over-supplied with good anthems for what can be a rather short season, although this year it is long enough for more of them to be used.

Perhaps as it is also known by its full title: Almighty God, which by the leading of a star?

[jonfan]

Perhaps as it is also known by its full title: Almighty God, which by the leading of a star?

Trinity College Choir, Cambridge, are singing it at Tuesday’s CE, 18.15 on their web channel.

[Keraulophone]

The Bull 'Star' anthem is a beautiful work. I was lucky to dep last Tuesday in the cathedral when we sang it. It really cries out for viols, as heard in this 1-P-P (though negating the verse / full contrasts) performance with Fretwork:

https://youtu.be/AdFoo3PE5Ww?si=LP_Cjd-uWssa2cOY

[mopsus]

Perhaps as it is also known by its full title: Almighty God, which by the leading of a star?

No, I would have recognised the music if I'd sung it before under any name. And I wasn't aware of Bull as a composer of church music.

[smittims]

I think that was the most beautiful 'Mag and Nunc' I've ever heard, Bach and Vaughan Williams notwithstanding. Well done SC-T.

[jonfan]

The Bull 'Star' anthem is a beautiful work. I was lucky to dep last Tuesday in the cathedral when we sang it. It really cries out for viols, as heard in this 1-P-P (though negating the verse / full contrasts) performance with Fretwork:

https://youtu.be/AdFoo3PE5Ww?si=LP_Cjd-uWssa2cOY

it certainly does cry out for viols K, thanks for this beautiful link. It can’t be possible for viols to make any aggressive sounds!
John Bull was certainly a very talented musician but quite a lad as well! The Archbishop of Canterbury said of him “he does as much marring of virginity as he does playing his organ and virginals.”

[vinteuil]

John Bull was certainly a very talented musician but quite a lad as well! The Archbishop of Canterbury said of him “he does as much marring of virginity as he does playing his organ and virginals.”

... I think the quote is -

"the man hath more music than honesty and is as famous for marring of virginity as he is for fingering of organs and virginals."

... which is much more satisfactory, inasmuch as much more salacious from an arch bishop

[oddoneout]

it certainly does cry out for viols K, thanks for this beautiful link. It can’t be possible for viols to make any aggressive sounds!
John Bull was certainly a very talented musician but quite a lad as well! The Archbishop of Canterbury said of him “he does as much marring of virginity as he does playing his organ and virginals.”

It's not impossible but not usually required of them...

[jonfan]

... I think the quote is -

"the man hath more music than honesty and is as famous for marring of virginity as he is for fingering of organs and virginals."

... which is much more satisfactory, inasmuch as much more salacious from an arch bishop

Thanks for correction; my memory ironing out the juicier bit!

[DracoM]