Temple Church - Ash Wednesday

[ardcarp]

Temple Church, London
Choral Evensong

Introit: Ach, arme Welt (Brahms)
Responses: Byrd
Psalm 51: Miserere mei (Allegri)
First Lesson: Isaiah 1 vv.10-18
Canticles: Second Service (Gibbons)
Second Lesson: Luke 15 vv.11-32
Anthem: Geistliches Lied (Brahms)
Hymn: Father, hear the prayer we offer (Cypress Court)
Organ Voluntary: Kyrie, Gott heiliger Geist BWV671 (Bach)

Director of Music: Roger Sayer
Associate Organist: Greg Morris.

[ardcarp]

Reminder...today at 3.30pm

[ardcarp]

Well, it looks like a one-man thread, wot with Draco being away! The Temple Choir sang as one would expect....soloistic men's voices, and boys with a pleasant bloom to their voices and definitely holding their own. Lovely treble soloists in the Gibbons, and of course a star in the Allegri.

The men who sing at The Temple are largely freelance singers who sing Matins on Sundays plus extra special services. They get paid a fair dollop for their attendance, and manage it all on a frighteningly small amount of rehearsal. This was a very different sound-world from that of St John's where Ash Weds CE has often come from. But vive la difference! I was impressed with the way Mr Sayer and the choir managed some slow and sustained passages (especially in the Brahms Geistiches Lied) without running out of steam.

[light_calibre_baritone]

Why does money need mentioning?

[Cockney Sparrow]

Why does money need mentioning?

Is it not allowed ?

[light_calibre_baritone]

Is it not allowed ?

Of course it's allowed; my question was not meant to be read in an aggressive tone, I'm just wondering why it needs including...?

[jonfan]

Beautiful service from what sounded like a large body of trebles. The Allegri was superb with very well engineered balance between the choirs. There is a lovely expressive feel to the choral sound with great attention to detail but still giving an impression that everything's caught on the wind or you'll miss it. Thank you.

[ardcarp]

Beautiful service from what sounded like a large body of trebles. The Allegri was superb with very well engineered balance between the choirs. There is a lovely expressive feel to the choral sound with great attention to detail but still giving an impression that everything's caught on the wind or you'll miss it. Thank you.

A lovely post, jonfan. Reading my #3 makes me sound grudging. Far from it! I was merely trying to explain to those who didn't know, the difference between the usual cathedral/college set-up and the extraordinary musical foundation of The Temple. I too enjoyed the service hugely.

I was wondering if, in the Allegri, anyone would comment on the 2nd treble line???

[mopsus]

I think Cypress Court is my favourite recent hymn tune, and the Gibbons Second Service my favourite canticle setting. But they've come round a bit quickly, at the expense of other settings. The hymn was last broadcast on CE less than 4 months ago, and the Gibbons barely 2 months ago.

[decantor]

I was wondering if, in the Allegri, anyone would comment on the 2nd treble line???

To my unreliable ears, the timbre of T2 sounded remarkably alto-like. I thought it odd, as the Gibbons displayed two perfectly competent treble soloists, and so dismissed the idea.

[ardcarp]

I don't claim any special aural acuity either, decs, but to me there were unmistkably alto/s taking 2nd treble in Allegri. Maybe a tad OTT in the tutti parts but sounding excellent in the favoriti.