Tenebrae: Sacred Songs - BBC4 12th April

[Rolmill]

Just wondering whether anyone watched this programme last night? The 20 singers of Tenebrae were each filmed/recorded separately and the results stitched together to produce a short programme of Easter-related choral music, including Allegri - Miserere, Purcell - Thou Knowest Lord, Lobo - Versa est in Luctum, Parry - My Soul, there is a Country.

I thought the result was impressively well-coordinated and especially enjoyed the Purcell and the Allegri. Certainly rather more together than our church choir's audio-only effort for our Easter Day service!

Is it unduly cynical to observe that it's good to see BBC TV acknowledging the existence of classical choral music (outside Cambridge, anyway) for a change?

[rauschwerk]

Yes, I watched it and enjoyed it a great deal. I could easily have done without the Allegri, but the Lobo was a particular highlight. Impressive sound engineering too, courtesy of Mike Hatch.

[subcontrabass]

[QUOTE=Rolmill;788338a short programme of Easter-related choral music,

[/QUOTE]

I could not see anything "Easter-related" in the music list. Good Friday, Lent, funeral - yes. Easter - no.

[Rolmill]

I could not see anything "Easter-related" in the music list. Good Friday, Lent, funeral - yes. Easter - no.

Yes, fair point, I incautiously based this on the BBC website description as "a programme of music for Easter". What did you think of the programme?

[Petrushka]

I could not see anything "Easter-related" in the music list. Good Friday, Lent, funeral - yes. Easter - no.

Genuine question here. Can you name any pieces specifically about Easter itself (as opposed to Eastertide) that would have been suitable for Tenebrae to sing in this programme? I have to say that I'm stumped! However, I'm no expert so I'm ready to bow down to anyone's greater knowledge. Easter has surprisingly little music to itself, compared to Christmas, and that's surprising considering it is the central point of the Christian faith.

[Old Grumpy]

Just watched this. I thought it excellent, both in execution and delivery. I am no expert, so I can't say it concerned me greatly that it the items were not in strict litergical context.

OG

[ardcarp]

I just took it as a gesture that the performing arts would not be quashed by our present circumstances, so good for them. Repertoire routine, but maybe it needed to be given the constraints.

[subcontrabass]

Genuine question here. Can you name any pieces specifically about Easter itself (as opposed to Eastertide) that would have been suitable for Tenebrae to sing in this programme?

Any of numerous settings of Victimae paschali laudes. Any of several settings of Surgens Jesus. Any of numerous settings of Haec dies.

[Vox Humana]

Any of numerous settings of Victimae paschali laudes. Any of several settings of Surgens Jesus. Any of numerous settings of Haec dies.

Also settings of Dum transisset sabbatum by Sheppard (x 2), Tallis, Robert Johnson (x 2) and Taverner (x 2.5), Barber and one by a chap called Ensdale that must be a contender for the worst piece of Tudor music ever written. There are also one or two worthwhile settings of Christus resurgens too - both Latin and English.

[jonfan]

A great technical achievement, which is not surprising as Mike Hatch was the engineer. Just good to let the music unfold without announcements and quite a feat to memorize all that, especially the polyphony. Wonderful voices and ensemble, but some singers were showing the strain of not being allowed a visit to the barbers for some while!

[Nevilevelis]

Genuine question here. Can you name any pieces specifically about Easter itself (as opposed to Eastertide) that would have been suitable for Tenebrae to sing in this programme? I have to say that I'm stumped! However, I'm no expert so I'm ready to bow down to anyone's greater knowledge. Easter has surprisingly little music to itself, compared to Christmas, and that's surprising considering it is the central point of the Christian faith.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bntlgAyP8n0&fbclid=IwAR3WVfE7teIoOIL6eQ4_TcfwSZt6ijHfMC8HofEWYUk3z7K0NwStppMeNC0

Also, selected mvts from Palestrina's Missa Papae Marcelli, although not Easter-related, would have been ideal. There are plenty of other settings of the Ordinary and Propers appropriate for the season, not least myriad settings of Regina Caeli, Byrd's Haec dies, Dum transisset sabbatum...

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=The+Choir+of+the+London+Oratory%2C+Patrick+Russill+

Too high-brow for the BBC, I'm afraid. I don't think they really set out to make it about Easter - a pity.

[BBMmk2]

Will catch up on this for sure!

[ardcarp]

Lovely sound from London Oratory, NV. Must buy that one when austerity is over. (Easter 2050 perhaps? )
Haec Dies is surely the piece which expresses Easter joy to perfection, especially where it starts to dance at et laetemur.

[Nevilevelis]

Lovely sound from London Oratory, NV. Must buy that one when austerity is over. (Easter 2050 perhaps? )
Haec Dies is surely the piece which expresses Easter joy to perfection, especially where it starts to dance in the 3/4 against 6/8 section.

Blimey!

Yes, Byrd - a hole in one.

Current mood: right mardy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vGzOpmwWus

Frohe Ostern und bleibt gesund!

NVV

[DracoM]

Blimey.