Choral Vespers from Westminster Cathedral 25.i.17

[DracoM]

Choral Vespers from Westminster Cathedral
Feast of the Conversion of St Paul


Order of Service:


Introit: Sancte Paule Apostole (Palestrina)
Hymn: Excelsam Pauli gloriam (Plainsong)
Psalms 116, 126 (Plainsong)
Canticle: Ephesians 1: 3-10 (Plainsong)
Reading: 1 Corinthians 15: 9-10
Responsory: Confitebor tibi, Domine (Plainsong)
Magnificat octavi toni (Morales)
Motet: Buccinate in neomenia tuba (Croce)
Antiphon: Alma redemptoris Mater (Victoria)

Organ Voluntary: Prelude in E flat BWV 552 (Bach)

Organ Scholar: Alexander Pott
Assistant Master of Music: Peter Stevens
Master of Music: Martin Baker

[Lordgeous]

Just to mention that this Feb is the centenary of George Malcolm's birth. There will be a few events, including an exhibition celebrating the life and career of George Malcolm at Westminster Cathedral - May 9th - July 30th 2017. Details available soon.

Also:
Balliol College, Oxford
‘Unlocking Archives’ - Hilary Term 2017
Celebrating George Malcolm – a centenary exhibition at the college’s Historic Collections Centre (St Cross Church, next to Holywell Manor, OX1 3AU) February 20th – March 20th
George Malcolm (1917-97) was a world-renowned harpsichordist, conductor and choir trainer. From his work raising the standards of cathedral singing to his international playing career, he was a major figure in classical music for half a century.
Giles Dawson will speak about the exhibition on Monday 27th February at 1pm in Balliol’s Historic Collections Centre.

‘Unlocking Archives’ is an interdisciplinary graduate seminar series of illustrated lunchtime talks about current research in Balliol College’s historic collections; now entering a fifth year.
These talks are open to the public. Feel free to bring your lunch. The talk will last about half an hour, to allow time for questions and discussion afterwards, and a closer look at some of the Balliol special collections material discussed. archivist@balliol.ox.ac.uk gilesvdawson@gmail.com

[ardcarp]

Indeed George Malcolm was a great evangelist for the harpsichord (even if the type of instrument used by him is now seriously out of fashion). Does anyone remember this disc?

https://www.discogs.com/George-Malcolm-Mr-Malcolm-Goes-To-Town/release/9069848

I just had to get all the sheet music and play it...with the exception of The Flight of the Bumble Bee, which was (and remains) out of reach.

His most famous recording must be of Westminster Cathedral Choir and the Victoria Responsories for Tenebrae. There's also in the BBC archive a 'live' recording of Britten's Missa Brevis...written for WCC...with GM conducting and playing.

[Miles Coverdale]

There's also in the BBC archive a 'live' recording of Britten's Missa Brevis...written for WCC...with GM conducting and playing.

Thanks to the wonders of YouTube, you can listen to it here.

I'm fairly sure this was made during a service and is genuinely live. If it weren't I imagine they'd have done a re-take of the Gloria to eliminate the slip in the pedals very near the beginning.

[DracoM]

That inimitable sound of the Drome choir under Malcolm!

[Lordgeous]

Thanks to the wonders of YouTube, you can listen to it here.

I'm fairly sure this was made during a service and is genuinely live. If it weren't I imagine they'd have done a re-take of the Gloria to eliminate the slip in the pedals very near the beginning.

Indeed it was. The first performance of Britten’s Missa Brevis took place during Mass at Westminster Cathedral on 22 July 1959, during the last few weeks of George Malcolm’s tenure as Master of Music, attended by Britten and many prominent musicians. The lay clerks sang the plainchant propers from the Apse as usual that day, accompanied by Colin Mawby; however, the trebles sang from the Grand Organ tribune at the West end, unconducted, with George Malcolm sitting between them at the organ console. The BBC made a live recording of the Mass which was released by Decca as a 45, although the Sanctus was replaced by a recording made at Mass the following day which was deemed to be better. It was a very last minute decision by the BBC and there wasnt time for a rehearsal or balance check, I believe a single microphone was hung (mono only) and the performance captured 'on the wing', all the more remarkable for that. The combination of the boys’ tangible sense of connection with the music, the focus of their musical intent and the ‘Malcolm sound’ add up to a very compelling experience.

[DracoM]

Excellent background info - many thx.

[ardcarp]

The combination of the boys’ tangible sense of connection with the music, the focus of their musical intent and the ‘Malcolm sound’ add up to a very compelling experience.

Very aptly summed up if I may say so!

[Miles Coverdale]

The name John Hahessy is listed among the trebles on the 1959 recording. He went to make the first recording of Canticle II, Abraham and Isaac, with Pears and Britten in 1961, though he is listed as alto on that. Britten dedicated his Corpus Christi Carol to him.

He later sang as the tenor John Elwes, though I don't know why he changed his name.

[jean]

I was told it was because he was taken up in some way by the family of Gervase Elwes, but I've no idea if that's true.

He's an alto on the Victoria Tenebrae Responsories recording.

[edit] This suggests that it is true:

http://oxfordindex.oup.com/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.O003016

.

[french frank]

The BBC made a live recording of the Mass which was released by Decca as a 45

I seem to have that EP - a certain Michael Berkeley listed among the 'First sopranos'?

[ardcarp]

...and indeed his name appears, if blurred, on the YouTube page.

[mw963]

Shame we have to listen to a homily when we could have had the St Anne Fugue instead. Still, I realise that as far as our hosts this afternoon are concerned there's no contest.....

[ardcarp]

...but the choir sounded as good as ever. Fine full-bodied singing in the best WCC tredition.
I have a query. I listened to part of the broadcast via broadband, but about halfway through had to go to another room where the trad FM signal still reigns supreme. And my, was it better! I wonder why?

[DracoM]

IMO, Drome in cracking form.
Homily ....erm....yes.....a tad....well.......hmm.
In choral Vespers, the choir are hardly ever 'offstage', but they sounded fresh, up for it and utterly at home with language, idiom, occasion.

As good as we've heard for some time.