CE Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford Wed, May 4th 2016

[Finzi4ever]

Thx.
So listing above is correct?

Nobody will be more relieved than he! Mildly amusing, though, that while the Radio 3 website does get the tricky separation between Christ & Church (Aedes Christi), it doesn't manage to display a picture of the cathedral. It could be argued, however, that the Hall is at least closer to a broadcast than the choir/quire of Boston 'stump' ever was.

[AscribeUntoTheLad]

Terrible suggestion jean. Fortunately Christ Church is one of the final bastions holding out against the introduction of girls' choirs.

Absolutely right. What an awful suggestion.

[Rise Shart]

Absolutely right. What an awful suggestion.

Quite....

[Magnificat]

Terrible suggestion jean. Fortunately Christ Church is one of the final bastions holding out against the introduction of girls' choirs.

That's very brave reply.

Considering the atmosphere existing in most universities at present I'm sure you must have invaded somebody at CC's safe space!

VCC

[ardcarp]

OK everyone. We all know who holds which views about what, and frankly the topic is Could we not concentrate on the broadcast and maybe post some comments about the music? I have only heard this CE from the Nunc to the end so far, so look forward to catching up.

[DracoM]

I am in so many minds about this service.

Psalms disciplined and brisk enough tempi in chants that must be not unfamiliar to the choir.
Seemingly interminable hymns - but then again, must not be ungrateful - it's not often we get many verses.

The canticles were what made me think. The back rows were in fine form, delivering enlivening singing, some decent solos, right on their game. so far so good. The trebles were for the most part rendered either very nearly inaudible by that enthusiasm / engineering balance in the bigger tuttis or they sounded very, very young indeed and more or less at their limits. Yes they certainly gave it all they had, don't get me wrong! But not the CCC Ox one hears on record.

But from acquaintance, I know this is to be an intimidatingly dry acoustic - CCC Ox often record in other venues eg Merton much of the time, and I imagine that could make more than a little difference to how the treble timbres would hang up. In CCC, you have to work hard a a treble to emerge from the ruck.

Then that made me go on to wonder why - as ardcarp shrewdly asked up thread ref the organ and this repertoire - in such an acoustic, under broadcast conditions, and with the organ as specified, why choose so rhetorical, robust and extrovert a series of pieces as Darke in F in which the men are prominent and the Walton Te Deum [which seems to me to be just this side of a shout from start to finish? A Walton fan I ain't ] both of which would seem to cry out for huge acoustics eg WAbbey to make their full impact ?

So much wanted to like this. So much wanted to hear them singing a cappella. .

[ardcarp]

Quote from website:

Although Christ Church Cathedral Choir is 500 years old, it is justly famous for the youthfulness of its sound

The AT+B were certainly a terrific team, a combination of choral scholars and lay clerks, IIRC. We have had a couple of recent CEs where the choir's sound was well-matched and blended (if I may dare to use the B-word). I felt CCO's top line, whilst doing a great job, stood apart tonally from the rest.

I wonder why they chose Darke in F? I'll probably offend some, but (having sung/played it oft) I think it's a poor representative of the Anglican tradition. I agree with Draco that something unaccompanied would have been welcome, especially given CCO's expertise in the Tudor repertoire.

I am a Walton fan, and my impression of today's performance was one of great accuracy and togetherness...but ever so slightly dull? Shouldn't it sparkle a bit more? I'm perfectly sure Walton intended more rhythmic drive at the start. I'm not sure the Rieger's reeds were up to it either, especially high up in their register. The Te Deum's more reflective moments were done well though.

I don't know what the engineers were doing with the final hymn, but was the choir singing? It sounded like an indifferent parish church congregation.

[Fagotto32]

I think both these criticisms from DracoM and ardcarp are somewhat overblown. Personally my only thought was that "to be a light to lighten the gentiles, and to be the glory of thy people Israel" (in the Nunc Dimittis) could have been executed with a little more drama, perhaps with a greater sense of impending apocalypse?

I've not visited Oxford before: I must make it a priority before I retire (!) so I can hear these glorious choirs in person.

[greenilex]

Well worth stowing my knitting in a bag, shutting up shop and trotting across the road for such solos.

Do people think the Walton Te Deum is a strong reminder of its time, optimistic and energetic and scarred by conflict?

[Magnificat]

I felt CCO's top line, whilst doing a great job, stood apart tonally from the rest.

I wonder why they chose Darke in F? I'll probably offend some, but (having sung/played it oft) I think it's a poor representative of the Anglican tradition. I agree with Draco that something unaccompanied would have been welcome, especially given CCO's expertise in the Tudor repertoire.

I am a Walton fan, and my impression of today's performance was one of great accuracy and togetherness...but ever so slightly dull? Shouldn't it sparkle a bit more? I'm perfectly sure Walton intended more rhythmic drive at the start. I'm not sure the Rieger's reeds were up to it either, especially high up in their register. The Te Deum's more reflective moments were done well though.

I don't know what the engineers were doing with the final hymn, but was the choir singing? It sounded like an indifferent parish church congregation.

ardcarp

As Draco says the boys sounded very young to me too. Probably why they did Darke in F which is easy to sing leaving them to concentrate on the Walton which, unfortunately, I didn't think they pulled off at all. As Draco says surely this piece needs a much bigger space than is available at CC cathedral and a much bigger sound than these boys made to be effective. I agree with you both that one does rather expect to hear some unaccompanied Golden Age items from the Oxbridge Colleges.

Good to hear the choir sing the psalm chants properly for a change.

As regards the hymn at the end. There is usually a regular group of followers of CE who travel around the country with the broadcasts and no doubt the sound engineers like to give them and the local congregation a chance to sing in the foreground. When I last went to a transmission we were particularly encouraged to sing up by the producer.

I don't like that organ at all - a tinny old sound. I thought it really got in the way of the psalmody at times

VCC.

[ardcarp]

I don't like that organ at all - a tinny old sound

It's horses for courses. For the classical organ repertoire it's fine. The conception of it is a little strange though....many French names on the stop-list, but Germanic sounds emanating. I don't know the instrument apart from having heard it a few times 'live', mainly accompanying evensong.

I've not visited Oxford before: I must make it a priority before I retire (!) so I can hear these glorious choirs in person.

Yes, you must! Pity you missed NCO during Edward Higginbottom's long reign. That was an interesting experience.

[Pulcinella]

I've not visited Oxford before: I must make it a priority before I retire (!) so I can hear these glorious choirs in person.

Yes, you must, but why before you retire? Will you be too busy in retirement?


Just remember that there are still only very short terms during which the college choirs sing the services, in general.

[bull-scheidt]

I think both these criticisms from DracoM and ardcarp are somewhat overblown. Personally my only thought was that "to be a light to lighten the gentiles, and to be the glory of thy people Israel" (in the Nunc Dimittis) could have been executed with a little more drama, perhaps with a greater sense of impending apocalypse?

I would contend that ChChOx are one of the most dramatic choirs we've heard this year; indeed, some parts of this service merited a BAFTA nomination or suchlike.

[Fagotto32]

I would contend that ChChOx are one of the most dramatic choirs we've heard this year; indeed, some parts of this service merited a BAFTA nomination or suchlike.

Perhaps, perhaps. What are your views on the soft reed at the end of the Walton? I wasn't all that convinced by the choice of stop by Mr Driscoll-Smith

[DracoM]

Driskill-Smith