CE Gloucester Cathedral [L] Wed, 10th Oct 2018

[DracoM]

CE Gloucester Cathedral [L]
100th anniversary of the death of Sir Hubert Parry


Order of Service:


Introit: My soul, there is a country (Parry)
Responses: Dibble (based on Parry)
Psalm 132 (Parry)
First Lesson: Isaiah 51: 1-6
Canticles: Parry in D ‘Great Service’
Second Lesson: 2 Corinthians 1: 1-11
Anthem: Hear my words, ye people (Parry)
Hymn: Through the night of doubt and sorrow (Rustington)

Voluntary: Chorale Prelude on Croft’s 136th (Parry)


Jonathan Hope (Assistant Director of Music)
Adrian Partington (Director of Music)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0000p3w

[Bella Kemp]

One of the great joys.

[ardcarp]

I'm not sure which of the above joys you are referring to BK, but another joy is to be heard on R3 this evening at 6.45pm.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0000nkn

[Bella Kemp]

Thank you ardcarp. The whole of Choral Evensong is a joy but I certainly love Parry

[BasilHarwood]

Anyone heard the Parry CD that came with the latest edition of BBC Music magazine?

[Pulcinella]

Anyone heard the Parry CD that came with the latest edition of BBC Music magazine?

Still in its shrinkwrap here, I'm afraid, as is the even newer Virtuoso Violin one, but I ought to play it, as the next concert I'm singing in includes two of the Songs of Farewell.
And it's not the BBC Singers, either.

[BasilHarwood]

Still in its shrinkwrap here, I'm afraid, as is the even newer Virtuoso Violin one, but I ought to play it, as the next concert I'm singing in includes two of the Songs of Farewell.
And it's not the BBC Singers, either.

Well I guess... I’ll be intrigued to hear what you think; for my two cents I think it a noble effort but it’s lacking that more mature tenor and bass sound that really underpins thr sound, it’s all very top heavy - which might be the recording I suppose.

I can take or leave the pieces that aren’t the Songs of Farewell; they remind me of those dreadful Elgar part songs (and I love Elgar!!),

[ardcarp]

those dreadful Elgar part songs

..which ones do you have in mind, Basil?

[Pulcinella]

Well I guess... I’ll be intrigued to hear what you think; for my two cents I think it a noble effort but it’s lacking that more mature tenor and bass sound that really underpins thr sound, it’s all very top heavy - which might be the recording I suppose.

I can take or leave the pieces that aren’t the Songs of Farewell; they remind me of those dreadful Elgar part songs (and I love Elgar!!),

I can see (hear!) what you mean: a recording to dip into perhaps (which I may well do when I get the music for the pieces we're singing) rather than play right through in one session.
Their Naxos CD (songs by Bax, Delius, Warlock, Moeran, Ireland) seem to have had pretty favourable reviews.

[BasilHarwood]

..which ones do you have in mind, Basil?

The Shower.
Owls.
Zut, zut blah blah

Do I have to go on?

[ardcarp]

No, but I'll politely disagree. He was as good an orchestrator of voices as he was of instruments. Unfashionable though his unnaccompanied choral music (and occasionally choice of texts) has been in much of the twentieth century, the part-songs need re-appraisal IMHO. There is Sweet Music (Tennyson?) is both brilliant and beautiful, being written in two keys. And what's wrong with Torrents in Summer? A while ago I did the 5 Unnacc Part Songs (which included The Shower) and whilst the singers were initially sniffy about the prospect, they really became converted and gave them their all. One needs perhaps to remember that Victorians and Edwardians were not afraid of sentiment, as we are now, and their art needs to be judged in the context of its time, not ours.

Are we getting off topic?

[BasilHarwood]

No, but I'll politely disagree. He was as good an orchestrator of voices as he was of instruments. Unfashionable though his unnaccompanied choral music (and occasionally choice of texts) has been in much of the twentieth century, the part-songs need re-appraisal IMHO. There is Sweet Music (Tennyson?) is both brilliant and beautiful, being written in two keys. And what's wrong with Torrents in Summer? A while ago I did the 5 Unnacc Part Songs (which included The Shower) and whilst the singers were initially sniffy about the prospect, they really became converted and gave them their all. One needs perhaps to remember that Victorians and Edwardians were not afraid of sentiment, as we are now, and their art needs to be judged in the context of its time, not ours.

Are we getting off topic?

Yes we are! But that’s my fault.

We’ll agree to disagree with the part songs; yes sentimental is fine, but I just don’t like the music - too twee. Same for the Parry songs.

Now Grainger folk songs arrangements, that’s something worth singing!

Right... back to evensong.

[Cockney Sparrow]

No, but I'll politely disagree. He was as good an orchestrator of voices as he was of instruments. Unfashionable though his unnaccompanied choral music (and occasionally choice of texts) has been in much of the twentieth century, the part-songs need re-appraisal IMHO. There is Sweet Music (Tennyson?) is both brilliant and beautiful, being written in two keys. And what's wrong with Torrents in Summer? A while ago I did the 5 Unnacc Part Songs (which included The Shower) and whilst the singers were initially sniffy about the prospect, they really became converted and gave them their all. One needs perhaps to remember that Victorians and Edwardians were not afraid of sentiment, as we are now, and their art needs to be judged in the context of its time, not ours.

Are we getting off topic?

I don't mind it being OT - I'm sure it will get back On Topic.

I agree, very much agree with you ardcarp. I've gladly sung Elgar part songs, and I don't object to them at all. In the hands of a good conductor they can be made into something very well worth singing and hearing. (And yes There is Sweet Music was the first to get my attention as a listener - then others followed in singing them).

[DracoM]

Reminder: today @ 3.30 p.m

[ardcarp]

Lovely sound from Gloucester, engineers allowing the big acoustic to be enjoyed. Psalm really good, with that excellent Parry chant. Responses arr. Dibble were sung with gusto by the choir, though I wonder how many more outings they will get. Liked the final 'Amen' culled from Songs of Farewell. Obviously some good men at Gloucester, a fine treble line and a very musical musical director. [Haven't heard the anthem yet...will catch up.]