Chapel of St John's College, Cambridge Wed, May 2nd 2018 [L]

[DracoM]

Chapel of St John's College, Cambridge [L]


Order of Service:


Introit: My beloved spake (Julian Anderson)
Responses: Leighton
Psalms 12, 13, 14 (Goss, Hylton Stewart, Stanford)
First Lesson: Hosea 13: 4-14
Canticles: Gloucester Service (Howells)
Second Lesson: 1 Corinthians 15: 50-58
Anthem: Dum transisset Sabbatum (Taverner)
Hymn: Ye choirs of new Jerusalem (St Fulbert)

Voluntary: Organ Symphony No 6 in G minor, Op 42 No 2 (Finale: Vivace) (Widor)


Glen Dempsey & James Anderson-Besant (Organ Scholars)
Andrew Nethsingha (Director of Music)

[DracoM]

Reminder: today @ 3.30 p.m.

[Keraulophone]

The dreaded John's Button was pressed in only the eighth minute!

Is this a record?

Amazing singing as usual from the finest college choir in the country (and probably the world).

[DracoM]

I'd rate them alongside the Drome. As a COLLEGE choir, yes, maybe....but CCCOx?

[Scapulargolem]

Organ vol played excellently by James Anderson-Besant

[DracoM]

A service stepping across many centuries in 50 minutes singing tested every department.
Liked the Anderson.
Not sure I like the psalms sung quite as theatrically as that, but chacun etc etc.
Gloucester canticles handled deftly.
Bravest of all was the Taverner which demanded much of both trebles - already much tested elsewhere - and altos. Respect to both.
Tuning good.

Agree about the vol. Bit sudden after the Taverner, but as I said above, we were on a Cook's Tour, so why not.....!!?

Good to have so vibrantly 'live' a choir at last.

[ardcarp]

A great CE, IMHO, and thanks BBC for letting us have it live and so well balanced. (I wondered if 'the John's button' would be mentioned! Never heard it applied to the Leighton like that.) Some may have found the often languid tempi not to their taste, but the choir was so amazingly well-trained...and seemingly capable of anything....that they could respond to AN's meticulous direction to the minutest degree. Wonderfully confident 'head-voice' trebles and a fine back row demonstrating both full-voice singing and whispering pianissimos. I found the contrast with 'The Other Place' interesting, where sometimes the tempi are driven. Here, the office of CE unfolded at a calm and dignified pace.

[DracoM]

Yes, AN's very careful control, everyone watching, disciplined, and miraculous breathing.
And, yes, the e ngineereing balance was as good as I have ever heard it from St John's.

Listened again to a bit, and the breath control alone was worthy of mention. Trebles working hard and a fine bunch they are.

[Y Mab Afradlon]

Could someone enlighten us as to what is "The John's Button"?

[Nevilevelis]

Could someone enlighten us as to what is "The John's Button"?

I think they are referring to the sfp cresc. as "applied" to Leighton's seting of 'The Lord's name be praised'... ? I'm not a fan of it even when a composer such as Howells asks for it - reminds me of '50's sci-fi soundtracks! I faintly recall similiar in the introit, which left me cold, I'm afraid. Not bad writing, though, I hasten to add.

NVV

[Y Mab Afradlon]

Ah ..... Thanks

[inquires]

Oh my Oh my! I have just listened to the broadcast on i-player. I am rarely tempted to comment on a broadcast but this must be an exception. Outstanding in every way and as for those Psalms... I have played them over four times! Some of the finest Anglican chanting I have heard in a very long time. One would be on the edge of seat in the chapel listening to that live. This is what Choral Evensong is all about.

[ardcarp]

Some of the finest Anglican chanting I have heard in a very long time

..and all the better for not being drowned out by the organ. It's always been my preference for the choir and its diction to be foremost, with the organ playing an albeit colourful supporting role. Done to perfection yesterday.

[inquires]

absolutely, organ was just right

[DracoM]

By using the term 'theatrical' in my posting above, I think I was wrong.

It's bang in the John's tradition to colour and project, and actually, re-listening made me realise how good the diction was AND that the way AN sculpted it allowed words to be USED and not glossed.

Only excuse for me is that I was taken aback at first hearing at how UN-CE, and un-run-of-the-mill it was and did a double-take.

Well, after a treble-take, I can see what was being done.

Me culpa.