CE York Minster [A] Wed. 10th June 2020

[DracoM]

CE York Minster [A] Wed. 10th June 2020
First broadcast 10 June 2009.


Order of Service:


Introit: Alleluia, laudate pueri (Jackson)
Responses: Francis Jackson
Office Hymn: Creator of the Earth and Sky (Deus creator)
Psalms: 53, 54, 55 (Macpherson, Crotch, Clark, Atkins)
First Lesson: Joshua 8: 1-29
Canticles: Jackson in G minor
Second Lesson: Luke 9: 11-17
Anthem: O All Ye Works of the Lord (Jackson)
Final Hymn: How Shall I Sing That Majesty (Coe Fen)

Voluntary: Diversion for Mixtures (Jackson)


John Scott Whiteley (Organist)
Robert Sharpe (Director of Music)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000jvwf

[DracoM]

Sadly ironic, given current news on York Minster Choir School.

[ardcarp]

Quite a Jackson-fest, and nothing wrong with that. I think he is still with us (aged over 100) but forgive me if I am wrong.

[Miles Coverdale]

It's my understanding that, when the time comes, the choristers will simply transfer to St Peter's School, which was originally the choir school anyway.

[Constantbee]

It's my understanding that, when the time comes, the choristers will simply transfer to St Peter's School, which was originally the choir school anyway.

Indeed. I heard this from a Friend of the Minster last week. Hoping the staff will get successfully redeployed, too. Sad to see such an ancient institution fold due to lack of finances.

Francis Jackson is still with us, I believe. I'm sure we would have heard by now if not.

[DracoM]

I wonder if the choristers already with bursaries / schols etc will have same arrangements transferred?
Just a thought. Because if not, will some just have to drop out?

[ardcarp]

I wonder if the choristers already with bursaries / schols etc will have same arrangements transferred?

One would hope so. The cathedral surely funds that sort of thing? It certainly ought to. Where would cathedral services be without choristers?

What a good CE that was! Apart from slight strain showing in the introit, the singing was forthright, energised and very well directed. Best repeat for weeks IMHO.

Francis J was a very able composer. Thinking of all the C&Os who have dabbled with composition, I reckon he was the finest craftsman. Incidentally, the Benedicite is very hard to set to music! It is unrelenting 'praise', it is unrelentingly repetitive...and if you're a tonal composer as FJ is, whatever do you do about key-structure? He handles it very well I think. Incidentally, the anthem slot is about the only place where Morning Canticles can find a home these days. I loved the lesser-known Jackson in G minor Mag and Nunc. So seldom heard. A pity.

[Resurgam]

I wonder if the choristers already with bursaries / schols etc will have same arrangements transferred?
Just a thought. Because if not, will some just have to drop out?

When I read the news in the paper I thought it pretty certain that the choristers would be able to continue in some way at a place like York; but I am more concerned about how cathedrals such as York, or even Westminster Abbey, will cope with a loss of income on the same scale from the overseas tourism which they depend on and which shows no sign of getting back to normal very quickly. As I said above a very ominous situation indeed.

[DracoM]

Fine, confident singing, and skilfully caught acoustic by engineers.
York is a fantastic place visually, spiritually, but for a recording engineer, just a bit of a quiet nightmare! Richly rewarding when as well caught as on this CE.

[ardcarp]

I am more concerned about how cathedrals such as York, or even Westminster Abbey, will cope with a loss of income on the same scale from the overseas tourism which they depend on and which shows no sign of getting back to normal very quickly.

...and I would add ALL the major cathedrals. It has always been a delicious irony that France, whilst maintaining that the state is secular, funds its historic cathedrals (over 100?) via the tax payer.

Leaving aside the rather special national icon of Notre Dame (for which 'crowd funding' has reached new heights) it is somewhat disturbing that the Macron government is having second thoughts:



France should emulate Britain and charge for entry to its churches and cathedrals, such as Notre Dame, according to President Emmanuel Macron’s newly-appointed heritage supremo.

Critics have responded by saying it is out of the question to charge people to access religious national heritage.

Stéphane Bern, 53, a TV presenter who specialises in heritage and royalty, was recently tasked by President Macron to find funds to prevent French cultural and historical sites from falling into disrepair.

He said that French cities like Paris no longer have the means to maintain their religious heritage and called on the government to allow sites such as Notre Dame or the Sacre Coeur to charge visitors.




Telegraph Nov 2017