Carols from Trinity College, Cambridge - daily video till Christmas

[Keraulophone]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFYvFU6PwD8
What peerless singing even at so early in the new term and year.

Agreed, though there have been intensive daily rehearsals for two weeks before the start of term. Time to learn the Brahms Requiem, for example… coming soon.

[Vox Humana]

As an ardent lover of church music, but a bit wobbly on Christian Faith, you'll have to forgive my ignorance about Psalms. Yes I know all about the appointed Psalms for the day, but isn't there something called 'The Common Lectionary'? And doesn't that allow for rather less psalmody than the official portion?

Unfortunately, yes.

On the subject of psalm chants, I don't mind a bit about not naming the composers. After all, they're hardly great works of art, much loved as some are by habitual users.

Some might argue the same about the preces and responses.

[ardcarp]

Some might argue the same about the preces and responses.

Hmm. Not quite in the same league of banality...William Smith? Bernard Rose? And the Howells Responses...hardly ever done.

BTW I think the Psalms at TCC were being 'directed' by a Dec and Can soprano. It looked like that anyway.

[jonfan]

BTW, I once accompanied a young German visitor to an Anglican CE, and she said "Warum singen sie immer die gleiche Melodie?" (roughly translated as "Why do they keep singing the same tune over and over again?") Obviously she didn't hear much plainsong either.

There’s a similar famous quote from Dvorak sitting next to Lady Stainer at CE:’Why are they singing the same bad tune over and over again?’
There are chants that are mini masterpieces in their own right IMHO, eg by Walford Davies, Stanford, Thalben-Ball

[Vox Humana]

There are chants that are mini masterpieces in their own right IMHO, eg by Walford Davies, Stanford, Thalben-Ball

Precisely. The difficulty of writing a good chant is proved by the vast number of mediocre examples out there. There are over 20,000 known, but how many do we ever get to hear? 200 at most, if that. There's a very good reason for this (although I also suspect that there's also a large element of choirmasters sticking to their tried and tested favourites). I find Anglican chant a very interesting subject, although I have to admit to being rather nerdy about it.

[jonfan]

Precisely. The difficulty of writing a good chant is proved by the vast number of mediocre examples out there. There are over 20,000 known, but how many do we ever get to hear? 200 at most, if that. There's a very good reason for this (although I also suspect that there's also a large element of choirmasters sticking to their tried and tested favourites). I find Anglican chant a very interesting subject, although I have to admit to being rather nerdy about it.

http://trinitycollegechoir.com/webcasts/listen-again/browse/

Trinity's listen again browser should satisfy the most nerdiest of psalm nerds VH! It's possible to hear psalms performed in chapel over the last 9 years and with the composer of the chant clearly stated. Walford Davies' chant for Psalm 23 gives me goose bumps every time I hear it sung by TCC where the key moves to C# minor in the last verse.

[Vox Humana]

[Keraulophone]

Impressive Francis Jackson in G (‘Me in G’) Canticles (51’30) and Elgar Great is the Lord (1:09’45), with fine baritone solo, at Evensong yesterday.

https://youtu.be/a9RNVXcu0LU

Covid-delayed first attendance in situ next Sunday for Rubbra in A flat and Walton The Twelve, with TCMS The Marriage of Figaro the day before. Can’t wait!

[jonfan]

Impressive Francis Jackson in G (‘Me in G’) Canticles (51’30) and Elgar Great is the Lord (1:09’45), with fine baritone solo, at Evensong yesterday.

https://youtu.be/a9RNVXcu0LU

Covid-delayed first attendance in situ next Sunday for Rubbra in A flat and Walton The Twelve, with TCMS The Marriage of Figaro the day before. Can’t wait!

Agree! The baritone solo very fine indeed. The selected choruses from Brahms' Requiem at recent evensongs have also been beautifully done with delectable organ accompaniments and registrations.
Jealous that you are attending in person K; hope to in the New Year, fingers crossed!

[Keraulophone]

The selected choruses from Brahms' Requiem at recent evensongs have also been beautifully done

The complete Brahms Requiem will be performed in a ‘Musical Meditation for All Souls’ Day’, at 9pm on Tue 2 Nov.

Grateful to be able to be in the presence of such healing balm after 18 months of sorrow. It may well be webcast on their YT channel.