Chapel of Clare College, Cambridge [R] Wed, Feb 10th 2021

[Nick Armstrong]

It caught BBC Sounds out too, only recording once into the psalms.

Rectified now, it comes in very neatly just before the introit - which I enjoyed, ditto the Howells. The Coleridge-Taylor less so, and the psalms & hymn tempi weren’t well chosen, it seemed to me.

[ardcarp]

Thank so much for that link in post 27, SB

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67z4mjo3xLE

It was a terrific lecture by Patrick Russill (even if his speech recording was a bit flaky at times) and I had no idea of Howells' early connection with Westminster Cathedral and the amazing R.R. Terry. (I wonder if all DoM's at the Drome ended their tenure in less than happy circumstances?)

For those who haven't heard the lecture, it seems that the young RVW, Holst and the very young Howells were encouraged to provide liturgical works for Terry, some now lost and others little known.

Of the works played I knew only VW's Mass in G minior (not written for Terry, but given its first liturgical performance by him) Holst's Nunc Dimmittis and that amazingly original piece Mater Ora Filium by Bax. I'm intrigued by the latter, especially by the fact that it starts off quite simply, but gets more and more complex as you turn the pages...and in fact it's quite a difficult piece to sing and to tune; maybe the reason it's not done so often.

Thanks again Simon for bringing the lecture to our attention.

[mopsus]

(I wonder if all DoM's at the Drome ended their tenure in less than happy circumstances?)

Several have - in fact I was once told that all but one of the DoMs up to that time had been dismissed from the post.

[ardcarp]

Going back to Patrick Russill's lecture, he made the point about the motu proprio issued 22 November 1903 in which Pope Pius X decreed the sort of music appropriate to Catholic worship. Out with Italianate operatics and in with Gregorian plainchant and polyphony in the style of Palestrina.

One cannot help wondering if the building of the extraordinary new Westminster Cathedral plus this papal decree plus R.R. Terry's enthusiastic endorsement of it may have had more than a little to do with RVW's and Howells' and maybe even Holsts' musical styles. Especially the love of soaring lines. (Many other influences too, of course.)

[DracoM]

Is that because Catholic congregations perhaps supposedly appreciate the choral mix of the Drome choir less than an Anglican congregation might?
Or could it be that the CLERGY at the Drome appreciate it less?


BTW: Genuine Q - have no idea about likely answers.

[ardcarp]

The Pope's motu proprio of 1903 was of course aimed at the Roman Church worldwide.

If one wants to be learned:

http://archive.ccwatershed.org/media/pdfs/13/08/22/11-08-09_0.pdf

Or if Wiki will do:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tra_le_sollecitudini

(scroll down to 'Provisions')

I was merely pondering on the possibility of its affecting...to a small extent....the style of some early 20th Century English composers.

[Simon Biazeck]

Thank so much for that link in post 27, SB

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67z4mjo3xLE

It was a terrific lecture by Patrick Russill (even if his speech recording was a bit flaky at times) and I had no idea of Howells' early connection with Westminster Cathedral and the amazing R.R. Terry. (I wonder if all DoM's at the Drome ended their tenure in less than happy circumstances?)

For those who haven't heard the lecture, it seems that the young RVW, Holst and the very young Howells were encouraged to provide liturgical works for Terry, some now lost and others little known.

Of the works played I knew only VW's Mass in G minior (not written for Terry, but given its first liturgical performance by him) Holst's Nunc Dimmittis and that amazingly original piece Mater Ora Filium by Bax. I'm intrigued by the latter, especially by the fact that it starts off quite simply, but gets more and more complex as you turn the pages...and in fact it's quite a difficult piece to sing and to tune; maybe the reason it's not done so often.

Thanks again Simon for bringing the lecture to our attention.

You are most welcome! I have since learned that RRT was ahead of the Motu Proprio, albeit simply codifying what had been gathering pace in previous decades since Alfieri and then Proske** and others. (** Editors - the latter's monumental Musica Divina series has stood the test of time for editorial standards and content.)

SBz

[ardcarp]

A couple of co-incidences (entirely irrelevant to the thread title) arise from the newly-arrived copy of Choir and Organ.

1. From my post #30, referring to Gonville & Caius College, there is an article about Matthew Martin [late of this parish?] taking over the reins as Precentor and DoM.

2. The choral works of Vaughan Williams are discussed; he's this week's Composer of the Week; and he was also discussed above in relation to Westminster Cathedral's music.

[Simon Biazeck]

A couple of co-incidences (entirely irrelevant to the thread title) arise from the newly-arrived copy of Choir and Organ.

1. From my post #30, referring to Gonville & Caius College, there is an article about Matthew Martin [late of this parish?] taking over the reins as Precentor and DoM.

2. The choral works of Vaughan Williams are discussed; he's this week's Composer of the Week; and he was also discussed above in relation to Westminster Cathedral's music.

Martin Baker is giving a recital on the organ at Gonville & Cauis College at 17.00 today. It's live on Face Book and possibly on You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8SDi4mmvRA

SBz.

[ardcarp]

Thanks SBz. Missed that, but got Matthew Martin at G&C playing Titelouze on Youtube. Ideal organ for that, and good to have bits of the plainsong sung too. Maybe Martin Baker's recital will pop up in time.

[Simon Biazeck]

Thanks SBz. Missed that, but got Matthew Martin at G&C playing Titelouze on Youtube. Ideal organ for that, and good to have bits of the plainsong sung too. Maybe Martin Baker's recital will pop up in time.

Yes - it's up! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdcJqWYoFN4

SBz