Sir Stephen Cleobury (1948–2019)

[Edgy 2]

Very sad news

RIP

[Tony Halstead]

er... not 'Sir Simon' but Sir Stephen.

R.I.P.

[kernelbogey]

I have woken up to the fact (thank you Martin Handley) that Stephen had been Organ Scholar at my own College, St John's, though I cannot be sure I ever heard him play, as he is three years younger than I. I have not followed his career, though of course have heard much that he has conducted on Radio Three, but I have been moved by the tributes from David Hill, Judith Weir, Martin Handley, Sarah Walker and others this morning.

RIP,

[Pulcinella]

Yes, a great shock, despite knowing how ill he was/had been.
Our choir director had hoped to invite him to take a rehearsal for us.

RIP

[kernelbogey]

And isn't it always an extra shock when someone just a little younger than oneself dies...?

[doversoul1]

And isn't it always an extra shock when someone just a little younger than oneself dies...?

Yes, far too young.

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/nov/24/sir-stephen-cleobury-former-kings-college-choir-conductor-dies-at-70

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

[Nick Armstrong]

A moving tribute, a performance of the Ley/Henry VI Founder’s Prayer, was posted on the choir Twitter feed this morning, for those with access to such things: https://twitter.com/choirofkingscam/...757760001?s=21 Stephen Cleobury’s widow Emma replied that it was the last piece of music he listened to on Friday....

I also found touching, funny and real a post by a former KCC chorister and organ scholar:

I can’t help but imagine Stephen Cleobury’s first Sunday in heaven. The choir of angels haven’t properly prepared the plainsong and are now crapping themselves.

[vinteuil]

I also found touching, funny and real a post by a former KCC chorister and organ scholar:

I can’t help but imagine Stephen Cleobury’s first Sunday in heaven. The choir of angels haven’t properly prepared the plainsong and are now crapping themselves.

Matthew 22:30 has it that "... they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven... "

But clearly those at King's believe the angels retain other basic human functions


.

[mw963]

Desperately sad. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

[Historian]

er... not 'Sir Simon' but Sir Stephen.

Thank you: now corrected.

[Vox Humana]

I can only reiterate what others have said. It is so sad that he was not able to enjoy his well-earned retirement - although I wonder whether perhaps he might have preferred not to retire at all.

[Op. XXXIX]

I can only reiterate what others have said. It is so sad that he was not able to enjoy his well-earned retirement - although I wonder whether perhaps he might have preferred not to retire at all.

I do wonder that myself.

Like others I have long been familiar with his recordings and videos, and was able to attend several CEs at Cambridge. KCC toured the States (where I am based) several years ago and I was fortunate to attend one of those concerts. Strolling around at intermission one saw a who's who of local church musicians.

This was a particularly poignant CE for me -I recall the original broadcast- and the Brahms even more heart wrenching. (It works decently on piano four hands.) Sorry that there were some uncomfortable moments on the other thread, I preferred to post here.

[ardcarp]

It is a somewhat poignant co-incidence that December's Choir & Organ magazine reviews the recent book Christmas Eve at King's: 100 Yeras of Nine Lessons and Carols. Author Timothy Rogers mentions especially the commissioning of carols by contemporary composers under Stephen Cleobury's tenure.

https://www.waterstones.com/book/christmas-eve-at-kings/timothy-rogers/9781527247253

[cat]

Anna Lapwood devoted her hour-long BBC Radio Cambridgeshire show last night to the memory of Stephen. It includes early recordings he made such as at Westminster Cathedral, and a 1960 In The Bleak Mid Winter that (presumably) features him singing as a treble.

It's available here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07st0lx