CE Three Choirs Festival 10th August 2011

[DracoM]

CE Three Choirs Festival
@ Worcester Cathedral
Sung by the choirs of Worcester, Hereford and Gloucester Cathedrals



Order of Service:


Introit: The Lord is my Shepherd (Howells)
Responses: Tomkins
Psalms: 53, 54 (Lucas, Goss)
First Lesson: Isaiah 49: 8-13
Canticles: Naylor in A
Second Lesson: Romans 8: 35-39
Anthem: Still in remembrance (Jackson Hill) - First performance
Hymn: King of glory, King of peace (Ballards)


Organ Voluntary: Rhapsody no. 3 in C sharp minor (Howells)




Christopher Allsop (Assistant Organist)
Adrian Lucas (Master of the Choristers).

[BBMmk2]

There seems a lot of Howells being played this year! I am not complaining mind! The Directror of Music at the posh school where I work has recorded a cd of Howells music for organ.

[EdgeleyRob]

There seems a lot of Howells being played this year!

Nothing wrong with that.
If I'm being picky though more of his non choral music would be nice ( maybe at the Proms ?)

[gainasbass]

I'm looking forward to Naylor in A, which I haven't heard for years; a delightful (usually) unaccompanied double choir setting of the Mag and Nunc.

I wish I could be in Worcester for the event. Best wishes to Lucasorg and everyone concerned for a very successful Festival!

[Norfolk Born]

Nothing wrong with that.
If I'm being picky though more of his non choral music would be nice ( maybe at the Proms ?)

I'd like to hear some Herbert Howells at the Proms ... and some William Alwyn...and some Alan Rawsthorne...and some John Ireland...and some Gerald Finzi... and some works by Grace Williams and other neglected British composers.

[EdgeleyRob]

I'd like to hear some Herbert Howells at the Proms ... and some William Alwyn...and some Alan Rawsthorne...and some John Ireland...and some Gerald Finzi... and some works by Grace Williams and other neglected British composers.

...and some Rubbra...and some Stanford..and some Lloyd...and some - oh forget it. I think we must be living in fantasy proms dreamland!

[Simon Biazeck]

...and some Rubbra...and some Stanford..and some Lloyd...and some - oh forget it. I think we must be living in fantasy proms dreamland!

I think we may be, but we can dream. My own fantasy Prom is Howells' Piano Concerto No 1. Glorious!

[moeranbiogman]

Lloyd's Symphonic Mass - a major choral work - still awaits its Proms premiere and, correct me if I'm wrong, a performance at the Three Choirs.

[EdgeleyRob]

Lloyd's Symphonic Mass - a major choral work - still awaits its Proms premiere and, correct me if I'm wrong, a performance at the Three Choirs.

Which is a shame

[colonial]

I'd like to hear some Herbert Howells at the Proms ... and some William Alwyn...and some Alan Rawsthorne...and some John Ireland...and some Gerald Finzi... and some works by Grace Williams and other neglected British composers.

Vernon Handley and Richard Hickox both would have made brilliant Proms programmers in this regard. I too would love to hear the Howells Piano Concerto in a live performance.

[DracoM]

I do hope you will all be able to comment on the upcoming Three Choirs CE?

[DracoM]

I'd been truly looking forward to this CE from the very heart of England.

On paper, the constituent parts seemed to be there - Howells, Naylor, excellent choirs, distinguished conductors i/c with terrific track records- Mr Lucas's last performance as DoM Worcester before he sets out on a new career path [ many, many good wishes btw ], one of the most central festivals on the English musical calendar, and yet, and yet....

Key to my disappointment was I'm afraid, the almost unending and truly lumpen anthem by Jackson Hill - another one of the current breed of American composers that seemed to be discovering the Anglican cathedral tradition in the last 20 odd years and writing for it in a style that is less interestingly inventive than most run of the mill late 19th composers. Howells wrote far, far better music than this with a lightness of touch, a sureness of melodic invention and appropriateness of setting that left Jackson Hill miles adrift. And the thing went on and on and on and on saying nothing. On site, maybe it was totally different I fully accept.

Secondly, for some reason I simply could not put a finger on, the assembled choir sounded a bit stiff, a trifle ill at ease, with a treble line that felt a tad under-powered and had the odd slightly wobbly moment too. OTOH, basses were good more or less throughout.

Thirdly, sorry, but the tone of the lugubrious celebrant set a dirge-like funereal tone from the very first word as did the music - and actually, how very strange that for earlyish August we had what was virtually a requiem CE from the very start to the very end. How weird? As keynote marker for a music festival??

Just can't explain it, but to me the mix seemed altogether so utterly unlike the individual characters of the three cathedrals involved as we have heard them over the year.

Possibly those who were there will shoot this posting down in flames, but I remain puzzled as to why I just could not make myself respond to or like much of this service.

[salymap]

I enjoyed CE from Worcester and just wish I were there for the whole of the Three Choirs Festival. It's too
long since I visited Worcester.

[mercia]

how very strange that for earlyish August we had what was virtually a requiem CE from the very start to the very end. How weird?

I thought I heard mention at the beginning that it was by way of a (slightly early) commemoration of the 9/11 bombings.

[Magnificat]

Draco,

I think the best you can say about this broadcast is that it was probably as good as you could expect when the three choirs are dragged back into action right in the middle of their holidays.

I remember saying on the old BBC board that I think it is quite unfair on the choristers, men and DoM to be expected to produce any sort of polished performance in these circumstances. Why on earth is this Festival still being held in the middle of August? Is this so sacrosanct? Surely it can be moved to a more convenient time for those performing in it and even, perhaps, those who attend it.?

I enjoyed the Naylor in A which has always been a favourite of mine.

VCC