CE St Paul's Cathedral archive but tx Wed 28th Oct 2015

[DracoM]

CE St Paul's Cathedral

First broadcast on 28th January 2004.
John Scott's final broadcast at St Paul's



Order of Service:



Introit: O salutaris hostia (Tallis)
Responses: Michael Walsh
Psalm: 93 (MacFarren)
First Lesson: 1 Kings 18: 20-39
Canticles: St Paul's Service (Howells)
Second Lesson: Romans 8: 28-39
Anthem: Lord, let me know mine end (Parry)
Final Hymn: The spacious firmament on high (Carelle)



Organ Voluntary: Paean (Howells)


Sub-Organist: Huw Williams
Director of Music: John Scott

[DracoM]

Reminder: today @ 3.30 p.m.

[Finzi4ever]

Just caught the Mag & Nunc - superfluous to say, but can't stop myself... an overwhelmingly powerful and definitive performance in the space for which it was intended, that proves both a fitting tribute to, and reminder of the exceptional talent of John Scott.
Not sure I can bear the poignancy of the Parry still to come!

[Keraulophone]

Lord, let me know mine end Lord, let me know mine end and the number of my days, that I may be certified how long I have to live. Thou hast made my days as it were a span long; and mine age is as nothing, in respect of Thee, and verily ev’ry man living is altogether vanity. For man walketh in a vain shadow, and disquieteth himself in vain, he heapeth up riches and cannot tell who shall gather them. And now, Lord, what is my hope? Truly my hope is even in Thee. Deliver me from all mine offences and make me not a rebuke to the foolish. I became dumb and opened not my mouth, for it was Thy doing. Take Thy plague away from me, I am even consumed by means of Thy heavy hand. When Thou with rebukes dost chasten man for sin, Thou makest his beauty to consume away, Like as it were a moth fretting a garment; ev’ry man, therefore, is but vanity. Hear my prayer, O Lord, and with Thine ears consider my calling. Hold not Thy peace at my tears! For I am a stranger with Thee and a sojourner as all my fathers were. O spare me a little that I may recover my strength before I go hence and be no more seen.

In Memoriam, JGS.

[DracoM]

Finzi4ever, echo every word.

The dignified, sustained line beautifully spun, a choir that sang FOR each other, not against each other, shouldering lesser parts aside, and above all the pace and simplicity. When it#s done that well, you really do wonder how on earth St P's managed to lose JS at all.

And, too, a word to the precentor and lead cleric - absolute object lessons in how to present a service. Less is more, quiet, unfussy, no trip advisor claptrap.

[ardcarp]

I listened with awed attention, and found myself dewy eyed at the end. Has the Howells ever been done with such a combination of musicality and attention to detail? JS was not only a genius with choristers but also with getting back desks to think as a choir. The latter is an obvious thing, but is sometimes overlooked by Big London Voices!

This CE was such a fitting tribute...and words of the Parry were so poignant.

[DracoM]

[Simon Biazeck]

I listened with awed attention, and found myself dewy eyed at the end. Has the Howells ever been done with such a combination of musicality and attention to detail? JS was not only a genius with choristers but also with getting back desks to think as a choir. The latter is an obvious thing, but is sometimes overlooked by Big London Voices!

This CE was such a fitting tribute...and words of the Parry were so poignant.

It'd be great if you could just give praise when it's due without having a dig. What you are referring to is just a different approach or style of choral direction. The sound is precisely that which the professional directors want. I sing regularly with many of them, so I can assure you of this. Just because you don't like it, please don't characterize it as unruliness in the back row as you and others here have done and continue to do. That may be your impression, but that is not the dynamic on-site. Rant over!

For what it's worth I loved this service.

[subcontrabass]

Good to hear the Creed being SUNG at a Choral Evensong.

[Petrushka]

Good to hear the Creed being SUNG at a Choral Evensong.

We used to do that at every Evensong in my Parish Church choir days (1965 - 75). Perhaps it's not the norm any more?

[ardcarp]

It'd be great if you could just give praise when it's due without having a dig.

I think if you re-read my post, it is nothing other than a tribute to John Scott and the choir of St Paul's under his direction. I was most certainly NOT having a 'dig' at anyone my point being that he achieved what most of us regard as a fine choral blend using very professional singers. We've all heard examples (and I'm sure you have too, Simon) when the ensemble is less than ideal, the sum being less than the parts!

[mopsus]

We used to [sing the Creed] at every Evensong in my Parish Church choir days (1965 - 75). Perhaps it's not the norm any more?

Or to turn the question round - is there anywhere where they still do this? Sung Creeds are one of the most noticeable differences on vintage evensong broadcasts.

[ardcarp]

When it was common practice to intone the Creed in parish churches, say, 50 years ago, it was also quite common for the organist to supply a series of chords containing the reciting note in order to keep the congregation (and choir!) up to pitch. I remember as a teenage organist wondering how daring I could be with my elaborations on the note G before eyebrows were raised. I seem to recall flirting with A flat minor 7th on occasion.

[Simon Biazeck]

I think if you re-read my post, it is nothing other than a tribute to John Scott and the choir of St Paul's under his direction. I was most certainly NOT having a 'dig' at anyone my point being that he achieved what most of us regard as a fine choral blend using very professional singers. We've all heard examples (and I'm sure you have too, Simon) when the ensemble is less than ideal, the sum being less than the parts!

Oh, OK, but it still seems like that to me! Moving on...

[ardcarp]

Simon, I wonder if you heard Gesualdo's Sixth Book of Madrigals on Early Music Late?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06l3fxb

This really is some of the finest ensemble singing I've ever heard. Further from our dear old Anglican stuff it would be hard to get. The Collegium Vocale Ghent have fine solo voices and here they use them, with expressive vibrato at times. Yet are capable of 'honing in' on straight, perfectly tuned triads at cadence points. I was really blown away by their performance under Herrewgher, all underscored by a subtle lute doubling from Tom Dunford. Really worth a listen if you haven't already.