CE St Davids Cathedral Festival Wed, 1st June

[DracoM]

CE St Davids Cathedral Festival Wed, 1st June


Order of Service:


Introit: O praise the Lord (Batten)
Responses: Leighton
Psalms 4, 5, 6 (Buck, Wesley, Battishill)
First Lesson: Genesis 42:17-38
Canticles: Howells in B minor
Second Lesson: Matthew 18:1-14
Anthem: To heaven's door (Geraint Lewis) Festival commission, first performance
Hymn: How shall I sing that majesty (Coe Fen)


Organ Voluntary: Postlude de Fête 'Te Deum Laudamus' Op.21 (Léonce de Saint-Martin)


Assistant Director of Music: Simon Pearce
Organist and Master of the Choristers: Oliver Waterer

[DracoM]

Live today @ 3.30 p.m.

[jonfan]

A visit to St Davids is always a highlight of the CE year and today's service did not disappoint. Radio Times unusually described it as 'a devotional service' but that is what it was. The Batten set the prayerful mood followed by sensitive psalm singing to match the St John's of a few weeks back. What a challenging sing for all but especially for the trebles who sounded as fresh at the end, with a soaring descant to Coe Fen, as they did in the Howells with spine tingling crescendos on the final chords. What a beautiful blended sound they make. Geraint Lewis's new piece enhanced the text admirably with dense chords and exciting organ accompaniment for Simon and the organ to relish! A surprise kept for the end.
Good to hear St Ignatius prayer in Welsh as well.
Thank you St Davids; a service to treasure.

[ardcarp]

I have just heard this CE, Jonfan, and agree absolutely with your comments. I am always amazed how good are some of the cathedral choirs in what one might think of as far-off places! The top line (girls 8 - 18) was very splendid, and the ensemble was especially praiseworthy. I liked too the director's unhurried tempi in the Howells (one of my favourites) and in the Leighton responses. I guess the whole thing must have been sound-engineered well too, because nothing was ever drowned out...a perfect balance IMO.

Thank you St David's.

[DracoM]

Agree.

[jonfan]

It is into the fourth year that the music has been lead by the Waterer/Pearce partnership and the quality and confidence of the top line has clearly benefited from a stable team. The last three DOMs moved on after two years which cannot have helped with recruitment and retention. The city has a permanent population of a large village so the achievements are even more remarkable.