CE Eton Choral Course Wednesday, Dec 13th 2017

[DracoM]

CE Eton Choral Course

Recorded in the Chapel of St John's College, Cambridge


Order of Service:


Introit: The truth from above (Vaughan Williams)
Responses: Leighton
Psalms 69, 70 (Stainer, Mann)
First Lesson: Amos 9: 11-15
Canticles: Collegium Regale (Howells)
Second Lesson: 1 Romans 13: 8-14
Anthem: Vox dicentis clama (Naylor)
Hymn: O come O come Emmanuel (Traditional, descant Ledger)

Organ Voluntary: Overture to 'St Paul' (Mendelssohn, arr. W.T. Best)


Tom Winpenny (Organist)
Tim Johnson (Director of Music)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09hw383

[DracoM]

Reminder: today @ 3.30 p.m.

[ardcarp]

Another recording.

[DracoM]

.............ahem, correction: 'YET another recording'

OTOH, time of choral year pretty busy, so....would you want a BBC team fussing you about?

[DracoM]

Well, some of the finest young voices, blended, disciplined - best singing I've heard in a while.
Naylor is a huge sing, Howells is not for shirkers either, and the tenor solo was exquisitely done.
Basses struggled a tad but at that age they would.
Lovely to hear the John's acoustic less than stuffed and shuffling, hence giving a 'halo' round the sound.
And a fine vol too.

My only quibble would be the slowness of the Howells. Or do I mean 'nicely measured'? Hmm. Luckily, as said, the voices could cope and express at that pace, so who am I to dare an ahem?

[Y Mab Afradlon]

Echo your comments especially to the Tenor soloist in the Nunc.

[mw963]

Enjoyed it very much. I'd also single out the treble soloist in the Naylor, my immediate thought (rare I have to say) was to liken her singing to that of a lark, so clear and very moving. A moment of musical joy...

SWMBO observed that her voice was capable of shattering glass, but in the nicest possible way. Lest there be any doubt, it was meant as a great compliment.

The Mendelssohn is one of my favourites, I freely admit that in the face of those many people who sneer at him. I have the sheet music and it's beyond me how anyone can play it. Mr Johnson took it at spectacular pace too, I'd just have liked him to milk the rall at the end a bit harder! But terrific performance.

[DracoM]

One thing I didn't all that much care for was .....sorry.....the Ledger descant..........why, oh why?

[jonfan]

One thing I didn't all that much care for was .....sorry.....the Ledger descant..........why, oh why?

Why? Because IMO it’s the best descant to O Come, O come. (DW’s is not one of his best; quite unmemorable). Sopranos in our choir love singing this one with it’s bouncy syncopation. (PL’s descants for all the popular carols are worth investigating). The harmony played for the verses I’m sure wasn’t PL’s and the verse lines rushed on in a breathless way.
Apart from that a truly wonderful service, endorsing all the above comments. This is an example of YET another excellent unheard recording; let’s have more of them if they are of this standard.

[ardcarp]

One thing I didn't all that much care for was .....sorry.....the Ledger descant..........why, oh why?

Andrew Carter's arrangement is wonderful. Last verse spine-tingling.

[Cockney Sparrow]

Why? Because IMO it’s the best descant to O Come, O come...... (PL’s descants for all the popular carols are worth investigating).

Never posted in this corner of the board before, but I heartily agree - from my untutored point of view. I really don't enjoy many of the descants of recent years - I think the Ledger descants are wonderful, and of course those of Willcocks before him (but can't recall the Willcocks for "O come, O come.......). Having said that, I'll try to check out the Carter - another arranger composer whose work I also very much enjoy.

[Op. XXXIX]

The Mendelssohn is one of my favourites [...]

Wasn't it a stunning rendition? That glorious kinetic energy that Mendelssohn can unleash. Great service, thanks to all!

[ardcarp]

Never posted in this corner of the board before, but I heartily agree - from my untutored point of view. I really don't enjoy many of the descants of recent years - I think the Ledger descants are wonderful, and of course those of Willcocks before him (but can't recall the Willcocks for "O come, O come.......). Having said that, I'll try to check out the Carter - another arranger composer whose work I also very much enjoy.

Welcome to our small corner! Here's the Carter on Youtube (alas not a well synchronised performnce).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lODvUapUuH8

To hear it at its best, you'll need Advent at St Paul's (John Scott) the Hyperion CD.

[fsharpminor]

Enjoyed it very much. I'd also single out the treble soloist in the Naylor, my immediate thought (rare I have to say) was to liken her singing to that of a lark, so clear and very moving. A moment of musical joy...

SWMBO observed that her voice was capable of shattering glass, but in the nicest possible way. Lest there be any doubt, it was meant as a great compliment.

The Mendelssohn is one of my favourites, I freely admit that in the face of those many people who sneer at him. I have the sheet music and it's beyond me how anyone can play it. Mr Johnson took it at spectacular pace too, I'd just have liked him to milk the rall at the end a bit harder! But terrific performance.

Was it not Mr Winpenny, designated as 'organist' who played the Mendelssohn so finely?

[underthecountertenor]

Was it not Mr Winpenny, designated as 'organist' who played the Mendelssohn so finely?

Certainly was. A very fine organist. Anyone with an interest in organ music should check out his various recordings for Naxos (Messiaen, Malcolm Williamson), Resonus (L & M Berkeley, McCabe, Stanford) and Toccata (Williamson, Joubert).