CE Chapel of Merton College, Oxford 14th Oct 2015

[Chris Watson]

Why wouldn't they?

The most recent Tallis Scholars concerts I've seen have had a choir of 4-2-4-2, with sopranos and tenors often divided - so frequently two to a part.

Can we get back to the subject of Choral Evensong? An earlier suggestion of choral stiffening has let us seriously off-topic.

I must listen to the broadcast, particularly as the Bairstow is one of my favourite pieces of all time, but I must say that you are talking out of your posterior about us Tallis Scholars.

[Magnificat]

I've heard the choir live several times in the last few months. They are certainly proof that a good female top line can be as convincing as boys. I'm looking forward to hearing the wonderful Dobson organ again too.

VodkaDilc

A top line of 18 to 21 year old young women should certainly be as convincing as a top line of 9 to 13/14 year old boys. The latter should more reasonably be compared to a top line of girls in the same age range.

VCC

[jean]

Depends on what you are hoping to be convinced of, I suppose.

[ardcarp]

and I thought the organ came over superbly

It did....

http://www.dobsonorgan.com/html/instruments/op91_merton.html

[chitreb]

I particularly enjoyed the Bairstow.

[light_calibre_baritone]

VodkaDilc

A top line of 18 to 21 year old young women should certainly be as convincing as a top line of 9 to 13/14 year old boys. The latter should more reasonably be compared to a top line of girls in the same age range.

VCC

LOL! A group of 18 - 21 year old women should sound like just that - women, and NOT try to sound like anything else.

And the Tallis Scholars not blending with a university choir is utter tosh.

[Chris Watson]

LOL! A group of 18 - 21 year old women should sound like just that - women, and NOT try to sound like anything else.

And the Tallis Scholars not blending with a university choir is utter tosh.

We could really do with a 'like' button here.

Listening to the Bairstow as I type - sounds wonderful. Allan Wicks chose it for his last service at Canterbury in 1988 (along with Stanford in C) and recorded it for Guild a year or so earlier, and I've loved it ever since.

[DracoM]

Certainly share your praise for the Bairstow.

[mopsus]

Bumpers were certainly used on one earlier evensong broadcast - I know because I talked to one of them a few minutes after the service.