A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols [L] 25.xii.2020

[DracoM]

A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols [L]
The Chapel of King's College, Cambridge

Once in royal David’s city (Henry John Gauntlett, Sir David Willcocks, Arthur Henry Mann, Sir Stephen Cleobury)

Bidding Prayer read by the Dean

Adam lay ybounden (Boris Ord)

First lesson: Genesis 3: vv 8-15, 17-19 read by a Chorister
The Truth from Above (Vaughan Williams/arr. Christopher Robinson)

Second lesson: Genesis 22: vv 15-19 read by a Choral Scholar
How shall I fitly meet thee? (J.S. Bach)
A tender shoot (Otto Goldschmidt)

Third lesson: Isaiah 9: vv 2, 6-7 read by the Chaplain
In the bleak midwinter (Harold Darke)
Of the Father’s heart begotten (arr. Sir David Willcocks)

Fourth lesson: Isaiah 11: 1-4a, 6-9 read by a Fellow
The holly and the ivy (arr. Witold Lutoslawski)
A maiden most gentle (Andrew Carter)

Fifth lesson: Luke 1: vv 26-35, 38 read by a member of College staff
In dulci jubilo (Robert L. de Pearsall arr. Daniel Hyde)
The angel Gabriel (Philip Moore)

Sixth lesson: Luke 2: vv 1-7 read by a representative of the City of Cambridge
Sussex Carol (arr Ralph Vaughan Williams)
Away in a manger (arr David Hill)

Seventh lesson: Luke 2: vv 8-17 read by the Director of Music
While shepherds watched (arr Nicholas Marston)
The shepherds’ cradle song (Charles Macpherson)

Eighth lesson: Matthew 2: vv 1-12 read by the Vice-Provost
As I sat on a sunny bank (Elizabeth Poston)

Ninth lesson: John 1: vv 1-14 read by the Provost
O come all ye faithful (arr Daniel Hyde, Christopher Robinson, David Hill)

Blessing

Still, still, still (arr. Bob Chilcott)
Hark! The herald angels sing (arr Sir Philip Ledger)

In dulci jubilo BWV 729 (J.S Bach)
Improvisation on ‘Adeste, Fideles’ (Francis Pott)

Matthew Martin, Organist
[B]Daniel Hyde, Director of Music

https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl8t/2020/12/25

[DracoM]

Bump

[BasilHarwood]

Btw, the Radio 3 broadcast on Christmas Day is a repeat of the live Radio 4 broadcast from Christmas Eve.

[DracoM]

Cut vol? Usually do, or a fade out

[Magister Chori]

Quite interesting the fact that Matthew Martin is playing, since they still currently have two organ scholar...

Apart from this, I really like the inclusion of some new items (Chilcott, Lutoslawski and Poston) and other quite common but long unheard piece (Of the Father's love begotten and the Macpherson). But I would surely have avoided the inclusion of too many carols performed last year (Ord, the two Vaughan Williams, Moore and Carter).

The absence of the usually newly commissioned carol is such a shame, though suite understandable. Last year's one was fabolous, but - once more - I would have avoided its repetition (King's commissions from 1983: plenty of pieces to choose from...)

Moreover: I understand and appreciate the declared will to have new arrangements for choir alone of the hymns. But what can be the musical sense of merging different descants (look at what the program list for "Once in Royal" and "O come all ye faithful") into one single pieces, since some very good extended arrangements of the game are already in print?

Finally: totally incredible the necessity of the DoM to rearrange the Pearsall (which is already an arrangement!).

[DracoM]

Dr Pearsall and Mr Hyde?

Ahem...........mea culpa....................

[cat]

Moreover: I understand and appreciate the declared will to have new arrangements for choir alone of the hymns. But what can be the musical sense of merging different descants (look at what the program list for "Once in Royal" and "O come all ye faithful") into one single pieces, since some very good extended arrangements of the game are already in print?

Finally: totally incredible the necessity of the DoM to rearrange the Pearsall (which is already an arrangement!).

I think it's a bit too soon to start complaining about arrangements - we don't yet know what particular constraints they may be under this year such as reduced forces and distancing that may make these arrangements (or rearrangements) either necessary or desirable.

[Roger Judd]

I would imagine that Dan Hyde has asked Matthew Martin play because he doesn't have confidence in his senior organ scholar. The junior scholar wouldn't yet have had enough experience for so high-profile an occasion. I would also imagine that, because of the Covid restrictions on singing in churches and chapels, the organ scholars would have had vastly fewer opportunities for accompanying the choir and honing their skills. A very sad state of affairs of course, but probably a wise decision in the circumstances.
RJ

[DracoM]

.......drat! beat me to it!!

[Magister Chori]

I think it's a bit too soon to start complaining about arrangements - we don't yet know what particular constraints they may be under this year such as reduced forces and distancing that may make these arrangements (or rearrangements) either necessary or desirable.

No complain intended: I truly admire Daniel Hyde's achievements with KCC and just wanted to share some humble thoughts I've made as a musician when firstly read the program on how thinghs might have been nicer.

I agree that this year's circumstances are cleary exceptional, but no one is forcing the DoM to do a particular piece (except for the hymns) so, if you do not have the right forces for the Pearsall, just do another carol! And better alternatives also exists for the hymns.

However, we'll value thoroughly after the broadcast: maybe I'll repent from such an early judgement!

[Wolsey]

Cut vol? Usually do, or a fade out

It has surely been the custom for many decades to end the live transmission on Christmas Eve with the Bach and to include the second voluntary in its entirety on Christmas Day. In recent years, continuity announcers have sometimes drawn attention to this.

[Lizzie]

Relating to Organists...
There may be covid safety issues,, relating to the organ loft. There can only be one person in the loft at any time, everything needs to be cleaned down, in between changes of Organist. Also not known whether organ scholars might have been isolating, or online learning away from the College when recorded.
Just thoughts...

[mopsus]

Cambridge has been trying to keep its students in residence this term - if only because not everything in its world-class libraries is online. From what I know, students have been placed in bubbles, with one or two bubbles to a staircase, and tested frequently.

[Lizzie]

Cambridge has been trying to keep its students in residence this term - if only because not everything in its world-class libraries is online. From what I know, students have been placed in bubbles, with one or two bubbles to a staircase, and tested frequently.

In terms of covid safety in the Cathedral at Winchester, only one Organist is in the loft at any time, and sanitisation has to be carried out in between different services.

Longing for my turn to roll up my sleeve, and stick my arm out!

[ocarina]

Maybe the organ scholars got the opportunity to defer this academic year