Sir David Willcocks' Memorial Concert: Tuesday 1st December

[mercia]

Bit surprised at the claim of the 'close relationship' with KCC too.

perhaps I misread the programme linked-to in post#9

[DracoM]

#9??
Erm..............?

[mercia]

Here's the programme.

post #9 ? from Wolsey ? page 12 I think

http://www.stephencleobury.net/uploads/3/1/9/8/31982081/dvw_memorial_concert_press_quality.pdf

[jean]

On p.12, Willcocks himself is quoted as saying

...[Britten] ...he was quite attached to the King’s College Choir. He wrote for boys’ voices in a number of works, including the War Requiem and the Spring Symphony...

But the Missa Brevis he wrote for Westminster Cathedral.

Britten invited the King’s College Choir to provide the semi-chorus in Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius in the recording which he made with Peter Pears and the London Symphony Orchestra Chorus. ... and the King’s College Choir provided the sort of ethereal background that Britten wanted...

He certainly wouldn't have gone to WC for an ethereal background of any sort!

[Roger Judd]

Britten certainly preferred a touch of the 'ragazzi' in a boys' chorus. For his own recordings he mostly used London groups - Emanuel School Wandsworth (Spring Symphony), Highgate School (War Requiem). The Missa Brevis was, memorably, written for George Malcolm and the boys of Westminster Cathedral. The Ceremony of Carols wasn't written with any choir in mind, and the first performance was given by the ladies of the Fleet Street Choir in Norwich Castle (Dec 5th, 1942). Voices for Today (written for the 20th anniversary of the UN) was recorded by CUMS in King's College Chapel (1966) conducted by Britten and DVW directed the College choristers, singing at some distance from the main body, where the more cutting sound he preferred wasn't so necessary. I sang on that recording, and my copy has BB's signature. Looking at it today for the first time since 1966, I'm startled by some of the text. As we debate going to bomb Syria, I read, "Justice is a better procurer of peace than war. Force is not a remedy ..." Plus ça change ...
RJ

[jean]

Britten certainly preferred a touch of the 'ragazzi' in a boys' chorus. For his own recordings he mostly used London groups - Emanuel School Wandsworth (Spring Symphony), Highgate School (War Requiem).

And Wandsworth School, more downmarket than either of those!

[DracoM]

Love the phrase ragazzi trebles. Dead right for choirs named!

Did not Ceremony of Carols get an early recording by a Danish Boys choir? VERY big 'continental' timbers, IIRC?

[underthecountertenor]

Did not Ceremony of Carols get an early recording by a Danish Boys choir? VERY big 'continental' timbers, IIRC?

Yes: the Copenhagen Boys' Choir conducted by BB. It's the recording that was chosen for the Decca complete works box, presumably for that reason (it may also be the first recording).
No Danish trees were harmed in the making of this recording.

[Bryn]

...
No Danish trees were harmed in the making of this recording.

Though, given the date of the recording, many rose thorns may have been plucked and honed in the cause of its reproduction.

[Nick Armstrong]

Love the phrase ragazzi trebles. Dead right for choirs named!

Yes! Great phrase from Mr Judd

[oddoneout]

Only one comment actually about the music broadcast last night?
I shall be diplomatic and say it was not what I was expecting.

[ardcarp]

Britten certainly preferred a touch of the 'ragazzi' in a boys' chorus. For his own recordings he mostly used London groups - Emanuel School Wandsworth (Spring Symphony), Highgate School (War Requiem). The Missa Brevis was, memorably, written for George Malcolm and the boys of Westminster Cathedral. The Ceremony of Carols wasn't written with any choir in mind, and the first performance was given by the ladies of the Fleet Street Choir in Norwich Castle (Dec 5th, 1942). Voices for Today (written for the 20th anniversary of the UN) was recorded by CUMS in King's College Chapel (1966) conducted by Britten and DVW directed the College choristers, singing at some distance from the main body, where the more cutting sound he preferred wasn't so necessary. I sang on that recording, and my copy has BB's signature. Looking at it today for the first time since 1966, I'm startled by some of the text. As we debate going to bomb Syria, I read, "Justice is a better procurer of peace than war. Force is not a remedy ..." Plus ça change ...
RJ

I agree so wholeheartedly with the sentiment Roger, and Mrs Ardcarp and I are at this minute shaking our heads in sorrow at the House of Commons vote.

That aside, may I thank you for bringing to my attention Voices for Today which, to my great shame, I did not know about. (I'm sure Mary C knows about it!)
The performance which I believe is the one you sang in is on Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkHjQLW8yjA

There is a recording in the BBC archives of George Malcolm playing and conducting simultaneously the Missa Brevis, apparently recorded live at some Big Occasion at Westminster Cathedral. Such a pity it is not available.

[Wolsey]

There is a recording in the BBC archives of George Malcolm playing and conducting simultaneously the Missa Brevis, apparently recorded live at some Big Occasion at Westminster Cathedral. Such a pity it is not available.

Are you referring to this recording of the premiere in 1959?

[Daniel]

That aside, may I thank you for bringing to my attention Voices for Today which, to my great shame, I did not know about. (I'm sure Mary C knows about it!)
The performance which I believe is the one you sang in is on Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkHjQLW8yjA

What an extraordinary piece of music! Many thanks for putting up the link.

[Nick Armstrong]

What an extraordinary piece of music! Many thanks for putting up the link.

Seconded! Thanks to Roger J (again!) and to ardcarp for revealing this piece, (of) which I'd never previously heard...