CE Oxford Blues Service transmitted on Wed, October 26th 2016

[DracoM]

CE Oxford Blues Service

Archive recording of a complete Jazz setting composed by Roderick Williams and sung in the University Church of St Mary the Virgin in 2006 by Schola Cantorum of Oxford


Order of Service:

Introit: Gray skies passing over (Williams)
Psalm 106 (Williams)
Readings: Isaiah 55 vv.1-9 and Mark 2 vv.15-28
Anthem: Sing unto the Lord a new song (Williams)
Hymn: I wish I knew how it would feel to be free (Tune: Billy Taylor arr Williams)

Organist: Robert Houssart
Piano: Colin Good
Bass: Jerome Davies
Drums: Charlie Stratford

Director of Music: James Burton

[DracoM]

This widely commented on CE this afternoon @ 3.30 p.m.

[Alain Maréchal]

Very well then, I comment. Not having intended to listen, assuming it was "not my sort of thing", I did listen, and was agreeably surprised. I have no idea whether it was good music or not, but I found myself wanting to snap my fingers (definitely not something I would normally do). It seemed a little contrived at times, attempting to achieve a "southern gospel"* sound, but it worked for me. I was impressed by the treatment of the Collects.

I had not realised it was an archive recording. One question to supply my ignorance: was this "Blues" or was this "Jazz"?

* I expect that is not the correct name, but as near as I can achieve.

[light_calibre_baritone]

Very well then, I comment. Not having intended to listen, assuming it was "not my sort of thing", I did listen, and was agreeably surprised. I have no idea whether it was good music or not, but I found myself wanting to snap my fingers (definitely not something I would normally do). It seemed a little contrived at times, attempting to achieve a "southern gospel"* sound, but it worked for me. I was impressed by the treatment of the Collects.

I had not realised it was an archive recording. One question to supply my ignorance: was this "Blues" or was this "Jazz"?

* I expect that is not the correct name, but as near as I can achieve.

The collects were my favourite bit... and Roddy Williams cantoring was magic; a talented bloke.

Presume most people would've turned off as it didn't contain any Charles Wood, Brewer or Sumsion.

[Finzi4ever]

The collects were my favourite bit... and Roddy Williams cantoring was magic; a talented bloke.

Presume most people would've turned off as it didn't contain any Charles Wood, Brewer or Sumsion.

Now, now: play nicely, children!
I remember it from the first time and knowing a lot of the people involved I need to be careful. Agreed about the collects, I enjoyed the canticles. The only unbearable aspect to me was the psalm, where the solo voices were awkward at best, well out of their comfort zone.

[Alain Maréchal]

another question to go with my previous, unanswered one: is the composer the baritone Roderick Williams, and was it he who sang the Collects?

(or him who)

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

and was it he who sang the Collects?

(or him who)

Colloquially, this is frequently used - but the grammatically "more correct" version is "he who".

("Who sang the collects?" "He did." = "it was he who sang the collects"

"To whom should we give our thanks?" "To him.")

[light_calibre_baritone]

another question to go with my previous, unanswered one: is the composer the baritone Roderick Williams, and was it he who sang the Collects?

(or him who)

Yes and yes it was.

[light_calibre_baritone]

Now, now: play nicely, children!
I remember it from the first time and knowing a lot of the people involved I need to be careful. Agreed about the collects, I enjoyed the canticles. The only unbearable aspect to me was the psalm, where the solo voices were awkward at best, well out of their comfort zone.

I could easily be talking about the General R3 audience, not forum members...

[Dafydd y G.W.]

Presume most people would've turned off as it didn't contain any Charles Wood, Brewer or Sumsion.

If you ask me, things began to go wrong when people began singing different parts. Ban organum now before its too late!

[Dafydd y G.W.]

Colloquially, this is frequently used - but the grammatically "more correct" version is "he who".

"Im wot"

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

If you ask me, things began to go wrong when people began singing different parts. Ban organum now before its too late!

[vinteuil]

One question to supply my ignorance: was this "Blues" or was this "Jazz"?

.

... I suspect a lame connotation with the university's colour, perhaps more usually associated with sporting events...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_Blue_(colour)

.

http://www.vincents.org/about/history/the-oxford-blue/