Chapel of King's College, Cambridge [L] R4 3 p.m. 24.xii.2018

[DracoM]

Chapel of King's College, Cambridge R3 [R] 2 p.m. 25.xii.2018


Order of Service:


Hymn: Once in Royal David's City (desc. Cleobury)
Bidding Prayer read by the Dean
Up! good Christen folk (Piae Cantiones)

First lesson: Genesis 3 vv 8-19 read by a Chorister
Adam lay ybounden (Ord)
Jesus Christ the Apple Tree (Poston)

Second lesson: Genesis 22 vv 15-18 read by a Choral Scholar
In dulci jubilo (arr. de Pearsall)
I saw three ships (arr. Simon Preston)

Third lesson: Isaiah 9 vv 2, 6-7 read by a representative of Eton College
Nowell sing we now all and some (Medieval)
Unto us is born a Son (arr. Willcocks)

Fourth lesson: Isaiah 11 vv 1-3a, 4a, 6-9 read by a Fellow
A spotless rose (Howells)
The Lamb (Tavener)

Fifth lesson: Luke 1 vv 26-38 read by the Master over the Choristers
Joys seven (arr. Cleobury)
Bogoróditse Dyévo (Arvo Pärt)

Sixth lesson: Luke 2 vv 1-7 read by the Mayor of Cambridge
What sweeter music? (John Rutter)
Stille Nacht (arr.Ledger)

Seventh lesson: Luke 2 vv 8-16 read by the Director of Music
In the bleak midwinter (Darke)
While shepherds watched (desc. Cleobury)

Eighth lesson: Matthew 2 vv 1-12 read by the Vice-Provost
O mercy divine (Judith Weir) (King’s College Commission 2018)
Sir Christèmas (Mathias)

Ninth lesson: John 1 vv 1-14 read by the Provost
O come, all ye faithful (arr. Willcocks)

Collect and Blessing
Hark! The herald angels sing (desc. Cleobury)

Organ voluntaries:
In dulci jubilo (BWV 729) (Bach)
Pièces de Fantaisie en quatre suites, Livre II op. 53: Toccata (Vierne)
Organ scholar: Henry Websdale
Cellist: Guy Johnston
Director of Music: Stephen Cleobury

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0001r0f

NB: live tx on R4 on Christmas Eve, but without the Vierne

[Pulcinella]

What does the cello feature in?
The new Judith Weir commission?

[DracoM]

At a guess - I would imagine so.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

At a guess - I would imagine so.

Yup.

http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/news/2018/king%E2%80%99s-announces-christmas-eve-carol-composer

[Nick Armstrong]

What does the cello feature in?
The new Judith Weir commission?

Yes - see p. 39 of the full service booklet available here: http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/sites/def...rvice_2018.pdf

[DracoM]

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/dec/21/kings-college-cambridge-choir-prepares-for-live-christmas-broadcast

Of interest?

[Nick Armstrong]

Interesting (to me, anyway ) but not surprising practically-speaking to see that the choir have bound books of all their music for the service:



.

A goodly queue at 7.45am already:



(Not my photo...)

[DracoM]

SC just on WATO.
Apparently, Stille Nacht sung in German was the first ever current foreign language i.e excluding latin to be sung at the KCC Fest - and being sung today.

How does the BBC backstage staff get through writing links / intros for this event and NOT mention Truro? Esp on a 'centenary'?

[subcontrabass]

How does the BBC backstage staff get through writing links / intros for this event and NOT mention Truro? Esp on a 'centenary'?

Ignorance is bliss.

[ardcarp]

Ref post #7. Bound [well, sort of] books of all the service including music happens in less exalted circles too. So much better than juggling sundry sheaves by candlelight. It does cost a bit though.

[oddoneout]

Truro[/B]? Esp on a 'centenary'?

Quite easily it would seem. Conspiracy theory would suggest suppression of the origins by vested interests, but I suspect it's far more mundane - doing things as quickly as possible to a minimum standard that'll pass muster with those in charge. Lack of/incorrect information is a recurring theme after all for forumites, but we don't have the clout to make our protests stick and Bishop Benson is in no position to comment. If Truro says(has said?) anything I imagine at best they'll get a vague apology but no public acknowledgement of the omission. This year's scripts have been written and the centenary won't happen next year.....

[Vox Humana]

Quite easily it would seem. Conspiracy theory would suggest suppression of the origins by vested interests, but I suspect it's far more mundane

Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by incompetence.

[Petrushka]

How does the BBC backstage staff get through writing links / intros for this event and NOT mention Truro? Esp on a 'centenary'?

It is so often the case that the originator/inventor of something is forgotten in favour of those who took inspiration from it and developed the idea to its full potential. To be fair, the King's service book (linked to in #5) does acknowledge the debt to Truro but also says that he idea came from G H S Walpole, later Bishop of Edinburgh.

Can't answer for BBC ignorance, though.

[ardcarp]

I thought the choir sang with its usual excellent tuning and ensemble. The trebles sounded more boyish and 'natural', which I rather liked...and they were certainly giving their all for Stephen Cleobury's last effort. Someone mentioned that Cleobury is given a Rolls Royce and drives it like a Mazda Sport over the speed bumps. A little harsh maybe! But surely Adam Lay Ybounden and A Spotless Rose needed a little more love and tenderness? Other pieces worked well with that approach, but I've just listened to Nativitas (NCO's Christmas mood disc) and it oozes musicality. Nuff said. As for the service content, I thought it was a good summation of the last 35 years' repertoire, and a mix that would have pleased the 'average music lover' whoever that is. Judith Weir's piece was very 'accessible' [whatever that means] with a harmonic language less spicy than in, for instance, Illuminare.

[DracoM]

Yes, past plummy stuff more or less gone [?], excellent diction as a result, real boyish energy to it - absolutely agree. And some of those descants across organ fff and congregation fff took some bashing out, plus syncopations, delayed entries etc.


................Were you listening, Daniel? And where to next?