CE Salisbury Cathedral Wed, 27th Jan 2016

[light_calibre_baritone]

I meant an extra or dep brought in for a particular occasion.

Whatever the constraints on rehearsal time that may apply to the regular choir, they will be able to work on a difficult piece over a period, and are unlikely to be restricted to a run-through in the service.

You say that, but at most cathedrals stand-alone rehearsals are very rare; treble lines will be well rehearsed as more time is available, LCs will be expected to know it.

Sarum may have had a ringer or two (then again they might not as they are a perfectly competent, tight 6 man back row), but a dep would also just have to turn up and 'do' it.

The 'arm chair' fantatic wasn't meant to upset anyone, if anything it's me getting annoyed/over-reacting a little at some of the guff that I read on here and just felt energised to get a thought or two down about preparation, or the lack of, and how it affects a performance - I've often felt words come second to the notes in much (but not all) choral music and would just love to hear more services where the sung words are given as much love as the spoken... I'd rather hear real attention to text and music in a simple piece than a seat-of-the-pants attempt at something much harder just because it's on the radio.

[Bullock in D]

I think that the really clever and most subtle organist accompanied the psalms most thoughtfully and sensitively. This is an art form in itself and goes unremarked upon week after week on these boards providing there are no accidents. So dreadfully difficult to do well....yet if the poor accompanist plays a wrong note it gets pounced upon. BTW what fantastic chants too.
Hats off to Salisbury. And what an organ too..(as well)

[ardcarp]

Komm Jesu Komm is tricky for any choir to perform (not 'getting the notes right', but all aspects of 'delivery') so it was a brave choice for Salisbury, and congratulations to the choristers for tackling it. As far as LCB's comments about text, I heard a distinct attempt to do vowel sounds (e.g. Yeesu not Yaysoo) the German way. How many times have we heard French or German choirs (and soloists) sing an English text with less than perfect pronunciation? And how many professional English choirs can do more than imitate how a native Germanchoir might sing in eighteenth century German?

I enjoyed hearing the Berkeley canticles, BTW.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

And how many professional English choirs can do more than imitate how a native German choir might sing in eighteenth century German?

Good point - but is this not also true of modern German choirs, too?

[jean]

Not to mention English choirs singing in Renaissance English (about which there have been whole threads...)

[ardcarp]

...or Latin. But don't let's start that again.

[Bullock in D]

So what about the actual choir then? Did anybody else think they sang a very demanding service very well indeed? BTW I found the Mag and Nunc very lukewarm.

[ardcarp]

Why don't you start us off with your critique, Bullock? I'm sure others will join in!

[jonfan]

Now that the dust has settled a little from the above comments I can say I thoroughly enjoyed this service with beautifully balanced sound within the choir and between choir and organ. The psalms were sensitively sung and discretely accompanied. The Bach was an exciting tour de force with a palpable tension of a live performance with no second chance. You could feel the choir's sense of relief as they sang the final hymn! Great Buxtehude to end with. Thank you Salisbury.