CE Chapel of Eton College Wed, 13th July

[DracoM]

CE Chapel of Eton College
The first 2016 Eton Choral Course


Order of Service:


Introit: A new song (James MacMillan)
Responses: Rose
Office Hymn: Come down, O Love divine (Down Ampney)
Psalms 69, 70 (Chard, Attwood, Morley)
First Lesson: Isaiah 49: 8-13
Canticles: Solihull Service (Ben Parry)
Second Lesson: 2 Corinthians 8: 1-11
Anthem: Joy at the sound (Roxanna Panufnik)
Final Hymn: Tell out my soul (Woodlands)


Organ Voluntary: Pentolaccia (Edward Picton-Turbervill) - first performance


Organist: Christopher Whitton
Director of Music: Ben Parry

[DracoM]

Today @ 3.30 p.m.

[DracoM]

I suddenly realise that I think I may have heard the MacMillan piece only as sung by Boys and Men, so having women on top line was an interesting shift or perspective, and perhaps a revealing insight into my poverty of experience!

Decent singing, quite a lot more in choir than in most CE's, I would hazard, and by and large the top line was much the most dominant and professional sounding. Nice pacing,by Mr Parry, just a few uncomfortable moments in the responses perhaps - slightly unexpected, psalms OK-ish.

Panufnik: 'fraid it was a bit take it or leave it for me. Oddly enough, it sounded a bit dated, but competently sung.

[mopsus]

The introduction said there were sixty singers, if I heard it correctly. I often feel sorry for the tenors and basses who sing on choral course broadcasts (Eton or sometimes RSCM) because while they are undoubtedly gifted and promising singers, their voices are still gaining weight and maturity. I thought the repertoire chosen for this broadcast didn't flatter them.

[DracoM]

Agreed.