Radio 3 Carol Competition

[teamsaint]

I certainly hope so : I think expertise is to be valued.

But post #53 didn't really specify expertise in any specific area.

[vinteuil]

But post #53 didn't really specify expertise in any specific area.

... I think I'm more interested in the views of people who know stuff than in an audience vote.

I suspect you're more committed to notions of democracy than I am

[teamsaint]

... I think I'm more interested in the views of people who know stuff than in an audience vote.

I suspect you're more committed to notions of democracy than I am

I agree about expert views and popular votes.

But there are lots of people with formal musical training who have no specific expertise at all in this area,and plenty of people without formal training ( type unspecified), who do.


democracy? do me a favour.

[jean]

Surely "knowing something about it" is neither here nor there in a competition where people are supposedly voting for their favourite carol. It's just a matter of personal taste, isn't it?

If they were all much of a muchness I might agree, but have you heard them?

I would be very interested to know which one you chose, because I would value your opinion.

[aeolium]

If they were all much of a muchness I might agree, but have you heard them?

I haven't, as it happens, since I'm not really interested in the idea of a carol competition. I just found surprising the implication that in a form so fundamentally popular in its origins and history as the carol (as Jeremy Summerly has very eloquently been demonstrating on R4X of late) expertise and knowledge were thought essential in deciding on a favourite.

would be very interested to know which one you chose, because I would value your opinion.

It's kind of you to say that, but I don't know why my choice would have any bearing on your choice of a favourite. It's such a matter of personal taste, surely?

[french frank]

If they were all much of a muchness I might agree, but have you heard them?

Surely, the whole point of these national polls is to find the one that is most popular? No one believes it will necessarily end up with the most accomplished piece of work winning. The dominant factor is likely to be public taste: it is possible that those most likely to choose the 'most accomplished' one will be the people least likely to participate in the poll.

[Nick Armstrong]

I still haven't learnt that posting something does not reveal the 'tone of voice' which it was meant to convey.

When your tongue is in your cheek (or of course if you have one eye closed), you can always add a from the selection, indicated by a yellow round smiling face, to be found above the text box...

[teamsaint]

...and if choral professionals spot a gem that doesn't win, then hopefully they will take it up anyway.

( I had a listen, and FWIW I would agree that the Burgess ,and also the Silk sound the strongest, but my overriding impression ( aside from the Burgess) is of an over reliance on the piano parts to carry the carols).

[aeolium]

Surely, the whole point of these national polls is to find the one that is most popular? No one believes it will necessarily end up with the most accomplished piece of work winning. The dominant factor is likely to be public taste: it is possible that those most likely to choose the 'most accomplished' one will be the people least likely to participate in the poll.

Yes, and what's more, the competition is not even asking for people to choose "the most accomplished" - just to vote for "your favourite".

[Historian]

When your tongue is in your cheek (or of course if you have one eye closed), you can always add a from the selection, indicated by a yellow round smiling face, to be found above the text box...

Thank you; haven't really ventured into the realm of the emoticon yet. Perhaps I'll give it a try next time.

Having checked, I normally do a 'quick reply' when what I need is to 'Go advanced'. Going to stop now before I start sounding even more like Mr. Rees-Mogg.

[Nick Armstrong]

Thank you; haven't really ventured into the realm of the emoticon yet. Perhaps I'll give it a try next time.

Having checked, I normally do a 'quick reply' when what I need is to 'Go advanced'. Going to stop now before I start sounding even more like Mr. Rees-Mogg.

[Rupert P Matley]

I have had formal musical training. It does not necessarily mean I know what I'm talking about.

However, the Burgess setting didn't do it for me, despite the advantage of being unaccompanied. It sounded like a cut and paste of several 20th C. carol settings to my ears and whatever one thinks of the words by Roger McGough, Burgess didn't do them justice with her music. Not in my opinion.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I have had formal musical training. It does not necessarily mean I know what I'm talking about.

This is a good point. There are many contributors to this forum who have excellent musical pedigree. But often their views are poles apart from one another. It's exactly the same for those without musical training.
The universality of music means that we can all appreciate its greatness (or otherwise). Those without training might find it more difficult to compose or perform it (though there are some who challenge that also).

[CallMePaul]

I am pleased tp see that Ann Burgess has won this year's competition! The BBC Singers seemed genuinely pleased too - their applause did not sound merely polite.

Let us hope that this deserved winner does not suffer the fate of last year's winner, which seems to have disappeared into oblivion.

[BBMmk2]

Is it me, or does the selection of finalists, seem dull?