Wedding music

[Mary Chambers]

I've just seen Paul Mealor on BBC Breakfast news. What a nice young man. He seemed quite stunned that his music had been chosen. I liked the piece - nothing startling, perhaps, but real music well sung.

The Rutter was just what I feared - banal, lightweight, no bite, as usual.

EDIT: Interesting sidelight: Paul Mealor said that his piece was originally a setting of Tennyson's poem 'Now sleeps the crimson petal', but since it was thought the words weren't quite appropriate for a wedding (though actually I'd have thought they were!) he tweaked it a bit using Ubi Caritas.

[salymap]

I did mention this elsewhere, but............how is the orchestra for such occasions formed? Are they the 'usual suspects' from the London orchestras or is there a regular list of players for such events. Sadly we don't seem to have many of such people on the MBs any more to answer this.

[Roehre]

I've just seen Paul Mealor on BBC Breakfast news. What a nice young man. He seemed quite stunned that his music had been chosen. I liked the piece - nothing startling, perhaps, but real music well sung.

The Rutter was just what I feared - banal, lightweight, no bite, as usual.

I fully agree. I'd like to hear more of Mealor.

[jean]

I liked it, too.

Mealor said that his piece was originally a setting of Tennyson's poem 'Now sleeps the crimson petal', but since it was thought the words weren't quite appropriate for a wedding (though actually I'd have thought they were!) he tweaked it a bit using Ubi Caritas.

That could explain the one thing that jarred - the ending ot the piece went Ubi caritas et amor, Amen which didn't make sense!

[mercia]

how is the orchestra for such occasions formed?

as I understand it, yesterday's orchestra was the fully-formed London Chamber Orchestra (resident at St John's Smith Square ?), conducted by Christopher Warren-Green

http://www.lco.co.uk/

[Richard Tarleton]

ah yes, of course, thanks

Did I see a tenor who normally turns out for the Sixteen and the Tallis Scholars there?

[Wolsey]

Did I see a tenor who normally turns out for the Sixteen and the Tallis Scholars there?

This is really nothing new as far as London lay clerks are concerned.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Well I missed the whole thing as I was with my son, climbing Illgill Head and Whin Rigg in the Lake District for the final day of my short holiday - wonderful weather, but my feet are very sore.

On returning home, I caught the BBC News 24 condensed version, which was very enjoyable. The Parryfest was no bad thing. In fact all the music seemed well chosen and appropriate. The BBC's over-reverential commentary was hardly as surprise; neither was the nausiating celebrity interview with the royal harpist. But what ruined it was neither of those - it was the hideously yucky, soppy, crooning pop song that the BBC thought they needed to superimpose on the end credits. I don't know what idiotic, crass, destructive moron came up with that idea

[Magnificat]

There is a report in the Daily Mail today which says that all the choristers will be paid £7,500 including the boys. Can this be true? It also says instead of their usual £85 fee which indicates that it is more than likely the men only.

No doubt the same applies to the other musicians involved.

I know they are professional singers and that TV broadcasting and other recording rights are involved but to me this seems obscene considering that this was essentially a religious service and not a commercial concert, although DVDs will be made and sold no doubt. But even then it will be the wedding that is the main reason for it being bought.

I don't know whether the music before the service which we didn't hear on TV will be heard on such a record but even so this is an extraordinarily large figure for what was involved.

I am not having a go at anyone and should like to think that they would have performed solely for the honour of doing so and would hope that perhaps after keeping say £1,000 the rest would be donated to the Royal Wedding Charities.

VCC

[Wolsey]

There is a report in the Daily Mail today which says that all the choristers will be paid £7,500 including the boys. Can this be true? It also says instead of their usual £85 fee which indicates that it is more than likely the men only.

No doubt the same applies to the other musicians involved.

I know they are professional singers and that TV broadcasting and other recording rights are involved but to me this seems obscene considering that this was essentially a religious service and not a commercial concert, although DVDs will be made and sold no doubt. VCC

Is it really any of our business what fees have been negotiated and paid to the musicians for this broadcast service - whatever figures they may be?

[ardcarp]

Well, if they do get 7.5K each, good for them. Bankers and footballers probably earn that in a minute. Earning a living as a jobbing singer isn't that easy, so I'm sorry Magnificat, I'm all in favour and not the teeniest bit envious.

[MrGongGong]

There is a report in the Daily Mail today which says that all the choristers will be paid £7,500 including the boys. Can this be true? It also says instead of their usual £85 fee which indicates that it is more than likely the men only.

No doubt the same applies to the other musicians involved.

I know they are professional singers and that TV broadcasting and other recording rights are involved but to me this seems obscene considering that this was essentially a religious service and not a commercial concert, although DVDs will be made and sold no doubt. But even then it will be the wedding that is the main reason for it being bought.

I don't know whether the music before the service which we didn't hear on TV will be heard on such a record but even so this is an extraordinarily large figure for what was involved.

I am not having a go at anyone and should like to think that they would have performed solely for the honour of doing so and would hope that perhaps after keeping say £1,000 the rest would be donated to the Royal Wedding Charities.

VCC

Maybe they could call in to the bank on the way home in their open topped Aston Martins (as we ALL KNOW how rich musicians are !!)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I didn't realise that there were still people alive who believed what they read in the Daily Mail.

[amateur51]

I didn't realise that there were still people alive who believed what they read in the Daily Mail.

[MrGongGong]

mrP evidently does

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eBT6OSr1TI