CE Canterbury 1.xii.X

[Magnificat]

A bit of a curate's egg of service singing - wise I thought.

The treble soloist in the Lloyd is very exposed and has to be very good. The boy just about pulled it off but was rather screechy at times.

The psalms were poorly sung.

The rest was OK but as stated above on the whole it was disappointing.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Magnificat, I love your avatar.

[Magnificat]

I've decided to reveal my identity on this new message board.

Regards,

VCC

[secret squirrel]

just 'Listened Again" and it sounded to me as though the solo was shared...

UNderstandable, really, given the broadcast, but if I am correct, one stood out more and (with hindsight, obviously) could easily have done it on his own.

Anyway, a bit academic now. Well sung and it brought back memories!

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VCC, you look so adorable - as if you have just got your claws out or done a piddle on the Persian (carpet) and come seeking 'forgiveness' ... until next time!

[DracoM]

Yes, at least at the very start there seemed to be two trebles, but later on at the very end, I thught trebs were very divisi and there was a stratospheric final note - solo, I think.

[ardcarp]

The posts are perhaps a touch negative. Let me say a big thank you to Canterbury for their broadcast, which I very much enjoyed.


"I fear I found the psalm singing erm……well, just a bit messy."

Well, Draco, it seems that more than half the cathedral/college choirs are wedded to some sort of idiosyncrasy in their psalm singing. Does mannerism creep in as a result of doing it too often? I don't think Canterbury's psalms were 'poorly sung' as some have suggested. It's just that their method was to chant the reciting note in rapid equal note-lengths (rather like Daleks) but to drag out the final syllable, quite regardless of natural emphasis. If this is the style David Flood wanted, then why not? They certainly got on with it, some trebles ever eager to start the verses off! Indeed the Lloyd was a brave choice to open a live broadcast!

[DracoM]

ardcarp

I have to admit, the broadcast acoustic really fazed me. It just swam, and lacked the kind of clarity that I think choirs deserve. No-one's fault, just how it is in Canterbury. Psalms, as you and I have discussed before, are a real testing ground, and on this occasion, I wasn't too convinced.

I mean, if there is a fast repeating series of notes in that acoustic, then on radio they are going to come out a bit lost and 'muddy' as one poster put it. Now, of course, they aren't going to change the house style for one broadcast!

Whatever, the Lloyd redeemed everything for me.

[Finzi4ever]

I'm glad the Lloyd is such a hit with all on here. I echo all your comments on the undoubted bravery of opening a live broadcast with it, hence the sensible doubling up on the solo line. What didn't really come over/off (but how could over some meagre loudspeakers?) is the sense of space and distance required in the piece: if anything the trebles sounded closer and louder than the men chanting. Nevertheless I enjoyed every minute of it. Thanks to Team Cantuar.