Choral Vespers: Guildford Cathedral Choir tx 22nd June 2011

[decantor]

VCC, whether your remarks (Post #30) are intended as rebuke for me or apologia for him, I accept them almost without reserve. I tried to express only some doubts - a barely implied criticism - about BMR's methods, since no one will deny his successes. Even so, the occasion I described was a public, post-term, fun occasion where he had encouraged all present to relax; the lad in question was probably in his last 48 hours as a chorister, and was a volunteer guinea-pig. The flaming was surely misplaced, and embarrassed the audience almost as much as the victim. I'm afraid it may betray a deep insensitivity.

I taught boys of chorister age for 40 years. In sport, music, and academics, I witnessed boys delivering wonderful outcomes for teachers/coaches who scared the living daylights out of them. And only rarely were those boys really unhappy - their joy and pride in achievement generally overcame their discomfort in its achieving. But times have changed, as you observe. I have watched (partly on film) current DoMs conduct rehearsals where the rapport between Director and choristers is heart-warming, but the resultant music is less than spirit-lifting. I am fully aware of the tightrope that has to be walked, as you are too. When you extrapolate into the educational world at large, I share all your misgivings: I'd add that today's softly-softly zeitgeist is more damaging to boys than to girls.

My reservation? You say "but it is rather unfair to criticise him for being someone of his time and for what was his style." Maybe, but that remark could excuse too many excesses.

[decantor]

decantor, that sad little story is by no means uncommon ref BR, and my comments about the Guildford trebles were but the tiniest hint. Not sure that if your trebs are at their best singing mp it is useful to encourage your men to give it fuller throttle against them. In that Parsons, the boys virtually disappeared for bars at a time when the music suggests they ought to be quite audible, while, OTOH, the men proclaimed their own skills quite loudly. Balance? Or is that 'interpretation'?

Draco, I don't have a score of the Parsons, and don't know the work intimately. I simply loved the rolling sonorities that we heard in that archive CE, and was grateful for what seemed to be the enormous care taken in its preparation. If the composer wrote even more than we heard, then I eagerly anticipate the next performance. Of course, trebles often find it hard to hold their own at the low end of their tessitura - is that where the problem lay?

BTW, thank you for the "allegedly" disclaimer you added in your Post #29!

[Magnificat]

VCC, whether your remarks (Post #30) are intended as rebuke for me or apologia for him, I accept them almost without reserve.

I taught boys of chorister age for 40 years. In sport, music, and academics, I witnessed boys delivering wonderful outcomes for teachers/coaches who scared the living daylights out of them. And only rarely were those boys really unhappy - their joy and pride in achievement generally overcame their discomfort in its achieving.

My reservation? You say "but it is rather unfair to criticise him for being someone of his time and for what was his style." Maybe, but that remark could excuse too many excesses.

Decantor,

Only a mild rebuke, I know Barry was no saint.

It is interesting though that at St Albans which had and still has a voluntary boys' choir any of the latter could have cleared off if Barry upset them. Few if any did as far as I can recall.

I think he is best summed up by a chorister I knew who was recruited by and sang for Stephen Darlington, then sang for his successor Colin Walsh and then for Barry, whose mother ( who couldn't stand Barry as a person ) told me that her son considered him easily the most inspirational of the three.

VCC

[DracoM]

Ah, 'inspirational'....ye-e-e-s.

What a cornucopia of meanings can be compassed in that widely used adjective! From quietly awe-inspiring to ragingly tyrannical. In the one, learning and emulation dominate, and in the other naked fear of reprisal, and yes, indeed, out of both states surprising results can emerge. Being intimdated and living in fear of public humiliation can have a truly wondrous impact on one's attention span. Whether it engenders terror which tells itself it is respect, or love remains to be seen.

[Double Diapason]

I have to say I find all this criticism of BMR ridiculous! I have seen him in action several times, he has taken some rehearsals at my own church and I have played for him a few times. Yes he has high standards and is a firm believer in discipline including punctuality! In my book that is a good thing and is so often lacking by so many these days and in particular those who teach children. I have heard people say that they are afraid to discipline young choir members because they are afraid they will leave - what nonsense!!
No discipline=no standards=the end of the tradition.