CE Chichester Cathedral Wed, 25th November 2015

[DracoM]

Oh, a compliment! Altos who sounded the genuine article. And dead right in the repertoire skilfully chosen.
And yes, Chichester's almost chamber choir style - like that. Crisp and parts made to appear unforcedly. Don't agree the men were weak. They just were most especially NOT The Bullying Back Row Sound' that some of us find so wearying. A gentler brand, a gentler blend.

[makropulos]

Oh, a compliment! Altos who sounded the genuine article. And dead right in the repertoire skilfully chosen.
And yes, Chichester's almost chamber choir style - like that. Crisp and parts made to appear unforcedly. Don't agree the men were weak. They just were most especially NOT The Bullying Back Row Sound' that some of us find so wearying. A gentler brand, a gentler blend.

Completely agree with this. It was a smashing Evensong.

[chitreb]

Me too. Lovely balanced sound.

[ardcarp]

The men were a bit weak I thought.

Oh fie! An excellent band if I may say so. Listen to them in the Psalms. No-one bellowing away, just singing with well-supported voices and producing the sound (complemented by undemonstrative organ registration) that Mr Harrison clearly wanted.

It would be dull if all CEs sounded the same. Vive la difference. But I found Chichester's sound very appealing and the whole CE most gratifying.

[Keraulophone]

I found that a really superb evensong. Chichester is back to its tradition of clean unforced singing.... The homgeneity of the choir was a wonder to behold...no overblown singing... Those who know Chichester (a smallish cathedral with a lovely acoustic) will recognise this polished yet intimate CE as their house-style. Well done to them all.

These were very much my own thoughts, ardcarp. The gentlemen - quality (high) over quantity (six) in that intimate space; no bellowing here, but clarity. This broadcast took my mind back to John Birch's reign(!), when the choir was greatly esteemed and as their reissued recordings demonstrate (http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Treasury.../dp/B005DTE7UM). Their candle-lit Advent carol service was always a treat, sometimes culminating in Vox Dicentis sounding out spectacularly from the screen.

[jean]

Lovely alto soloist.

[Awkwardlistener]

Wonderful, reverential tone to the service. Choice of repertoire was bang on for a choir with Chichester’s particular attributes. Sound wise the choir reminded me a lot of Magdalen Oxford under Bill Ives; classy, small scale singing. The experience really felt like I was dropping in at the back of a cathedral on a cold November day to hear a choir unfussily doing what cathedral choirs have done for hundreds of years up and down the country, and doing it well.

I enjoyed the introit, with its shades of Nicholas Maw. Listening to the treble line I was impressed. It’s a world away for the continued trend across chapels and cathedrals in the UK towards a harder edged, more forceful sound (a sound I actually prefer, but that’s by the bye). The Chichester sound wasn’t all ethereal, breathy stuff. It was unforced with real natural bloom, subtle characterisation and colour. The Psalms were the highlight for me, wonderfully unaffected, polished and balanced. Canticles were simple enough, and made a contrast to the quasi-concerts some choirs insist on performing when on Radio 3.

One minor quibble, and I would maybe have to agree here with VCC, was that the men didn’t quite match up to the excellent trebles. Basses were near inaudible, tenors prominent by dint of their raw youthful sound with only really the altos singing with the care, and quality of the top line.

All in all though, a simple, beautiful service. Many thanks to all who contributed.

[ardcarp]

Having now listened twice through headphones, I am quite surprised about adverse comments about ATB. That bass soloist in the Weelkes had a voice to die for. Accurate, unforced and perfectly matched. Those 'verse' pieces just need the voices to pop in and out of the texture without making a big deal about it. And they did. Maybe also this was a fine effort by the sound engineers...so fine we didn't even notice it!

[DracoM]

Just listening again to the famous GG / St John's recording of the Ceremony of Carols. For me one of the vrey best recordgins of the piece.

Same mix of delicacy of treble tone as Chichester, of course the John's lads have real steel at the hard end eg Deo Gratias. Just thought, would love to hear the Chichester front line + organ in the Britten in that acoustic.

Anyone know if they've recorded it?

[ardcarp]

John Birch's reign

Indeed, he was a fine musician (not just an O&C!) and widely known as such. I remember him conducting The Chichester Psalms at a SCF back in the 1970s when it was altogether a grander affair than it is now. Absolute mastery.

[oddoneout]

I missed several bits of this CE but did manage to catch the anthem - what a joy, it quite made my day. For me there is something about a good alto voice and early english music that I find both satisfying and very moving.