Chapel of St John's College, Cambridge. Sunday, December 3rd 2017

[W.Kearns]

The Advent Procession at King's was last Sunday too. Someone on their Facebook page queried why it was a week before Advent Sunday and the reply was "The university term ends on Friday - so we have our Procession for Advent today."

As my daughter observes, 'They're just so ahead of the game.'

[NearlyHeadlessN]

Slightly harsh! As far as I know, the college Advent services have always been for the college's respective members and other University members, who rather than being 'special interest groups' are the THE intended congregation. So it must always have been the case that the services should take place during term time.

Quite so.

[DracoM]

Well, jolly lucky that the BBC just happened to be there on the right day to capture the wonder of it all so faithfully.
Ah, but maybe insiders at the Beeb knew this all along - it's just us plebs who were a bit puzzled.

[DracoM]

Anyway, HUGE sing for the choir and mighty stress for organist.

Big, complex harmonies, parts' interactions, solos - partic some testing treb solos - plenty of strutting statements and rhetoric. A bit as if the one we were awaiting the Advent of was a teeny tad deaf and needed encouragement to come our way, so we had to shout. And a Stanford Mag as well.

[BBMmk2]

I'll have to catch up on this later! I always enjoy this.

[Petrushka]

Quibbles about the date and timing aside, this was a magnificent service caught in splendid sound. Well done all round, I'd say!

[ardcarp]

I can't really complain as I was involved in Advent stuff myself and wouldn't have been able to hear St John's live, even if it were live if you see what I mean.
I agree with Alison though and do think LIVE broadcasts, especially on the major landmarks (Ash Weds, Easter, Advent Sunday, Christmas) should be de rigeur.
I only heard about St J's being pre-recorded from a fellow singer today, and he was fuming about it...even though he wouldn't have been able to hear it 'live' either!
Anyway, I look forward to hearing the service on i-player.

[Alison]

The unusually late Advent Sunday must have happened before!

And a live evensong from an Oxford college on Wednesday.

Time to get over it though and it was a thoroughly uplifting affair with sound quality probably the better for not being live.

[Petrushka]

The unusually late Advent Sunday must have happened before!.

Yes, every time Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday which should be about every 6 years!

Time to get over it though and it was a thoroughly uplifting affair with sound quality probably the better for not being live.

Couldn't agree more!

[subcontrabass]

Yes, every time Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday which should be about every 6 years!

Future occurrences are in 2023, 2028, 2034, 2045.

[Vile Consort]

Yes, every time Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday which should be about every 6 years!

56 times every 400 years so slightly less than one year in seven.

[ardcarp]

Time to get over it though and it was a thoroughly uplifting affair with sound quality probably the better for not being live.

I got over it, and listened via the cans into the wee small hours. Thoroughly enjoyed it, with just a few (very personal) reservations. I liked all the more 'modern' items (inc. Gardner's outrageously pop Gallery Carol!) with the exception of Comeau's Last and Greatest which began to adopt the persona of an overblown oratorio. An opinion formed on one hearing, so very much IMVHO. I also dislike Cleobury's Cherry Tree arrangement, fussily 'Kingsy', and losing the lovely folk-carol feeling (as captured by John's/Guest's version c. 1960). Some excellent singing under pressure in a packed Chapel; and some very tricky treble solos skillfully negotiated.

[Wolsey]

"...And furnished for so great a guest (Guest)!..."

Yeah, spotted the word-painting from the organ student.

[Finzi4ever]

"...And furnished for so great a guest (Guest)!..."

Yeah, spotted the word-painting from the organ student.

Excellent! Lovely to hear the Ian Shaw's 'maiden' again after too long a time: it's not done nearly enough, but then there are so many excellent versions of it (Hadley, Berkeley, Bax being perhaps the biggest hitters in popularity) and they don't require a harp. What is galling, however, and as happens too often, the BBC website muppets have put the wrong (jazz) Ian Shaw on their artists page! https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/artists/...b-79505b536caf instead of Ian - 'I'm giving up English cadences for Lent' - Shaw, former organ student at St John's and fine Sub-organist at Durham, before moving to Scottish Opera.