CE Royal Holloway, University of London Wed, 27th Feb 2019 [L]

[DracoM]

CE Royal Holloway, University of London


Order of Service:


Introit: King of Glory, King of peace (Walford Davies)
Responses: James Buonemani
Psalms 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131 (Pike, Chard, Archer, Atkins, Purcell)
First Lesson: Isaiah 52 v.13 – 53 v.6
Canticles: St Mark’s Service (Gerald Near)
Second Lesson: Romans 15: 14-21
Anthem: In pace (René Clausen)
Hymn: Let all the World (Luckington)

Voluntary: Alla Marcia (Ireland)

Liam Condon (Senior Organ Scholar)
Rupert Gough (Director of Choral Music)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0002rwj

[zola]

Organist Liam is music director at our parish church. Sadly, but as is the nature of such things, we will lose him in August after he has graduated from Royal Holloway and will go to be organ scholar at Lichfield Cathedral.

[ardcarp]

Reminder: CE from Royal Holloway at 3.30 today.

[ardcarp]

Lovely sound and good ensemble from this choir. Especially impressive at 'full tilt' with sopranos soaring skywards. The Walford Davies was a brave piece to open a live broadcast, with its exposed lines. The Responses were interesting...I enjoyed them...but I can see that some might be thought a shade too long, almost taking on a life of their own! I liked the canticles too. I wouldn't mind if I never heard the (very well sung) anthem again! It belongs to a genre where 'beautiful sounds' seem to be the only element. Any shape or structure eluded me. But maybe that's my problem.

[DracoM]

<< Any shape or structure eluded me. But maybe that's my problem. >>

It's not!

[jonfan]

Agree with ardcarp, a lovely sound and immaculate ensemble. Every phrase was sung with great expression and communication. Good having book ends of Herbert’s poetry. The Walford Davies captured the ear in a playful way at the start and was given an exquisite performance of this delightful miniature. The contrasts in the psalms were well communicated. I enjoyed the responses and the canticles, showing that the beautiful sound can have steel as well; there’s a power to the choral sound when needed and the engineering allowed the soaring soprano lines to come over thrillingly.
I enjoyed the anthem which seemed to start simply and then to divide into many parts giving a beautiful richness of sound; the whole was a fitting remembrance of the terrible holocaust and a peace which music and prayer can attempt to bring.
Thank you all for a beautifully rich experience including the prayers, lessons and the Ireland voluntary.