CE The Queen's Free Chapel of St George, Windsor Castle [R]

[DracoM]

CE The Queen's Free Chapel of St George, Windsor Castle [R]
Recorded 25 May 2021.


Order of Service:


Introit: Mother of God, here I stand (Tavener)
Responses: Smith
Psalm 113 (Atkins)
First Lesson: Isaiah 61 vv.1-3
Magnificat (Finzi)
Second Lesson: 1 Thessalonians 2 vv.1-12
Nunc dimittis: Stanford in C
Anthem: Give unto the Lord (Elgar)

Voluntary: Psalm-Prelude Set 2 No 3 ‘Sing unto him a new song’ (Howells)


Luke Bond (Assistant Director of Music)
James Vivian (Director of Music)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000wss9

[oddoneout]

There is going to be a great temptation to exercise both memory and vocal chords with this offering - Finzi and Elgar summer concert 2019, responses and nunc hard-wired. I had better remember to close the windows...

[Rolmill]

I believe they will also be singing Vaughan Williams' 'The Call'. Nice choice of music, looking forward to this.

[Peanut]

I believe they recorded this mattins for 'Sunday Worship' on Radio 4, broadcast last weekend, at the same time as this recording of Choral Evensong.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000wsh9

[Finzi4ever]

Massive sing with suitable voluntary to finish - it has all the makings of a classic, and 'no' I won't be bemoaning the fact that it should contain works crafted by others than dead, white, males, some of whom date from a colonial era (apropos news from Coll. Mag. Oxon mcr). Good music is good music.

[ardcarp]

Good to hear the Finzi Mag. I think it was only recently that some on this forum expressed the wish it were done more often on R3 CE. So thanks, Windsor! It's not difficult to sing, but it is difficult to do well. Stanford in C Nunc may not be a natural bedfellow, but given a demanding music list, maybe it was sensible to do something in frequent use.

[oddoneout]

Good to hear the Finzi Mag. I think it was only recently that some on this forum expressed the wish it were done more often on R3 CE. So thanks, Windsor! It's not difficult to sing, but it is difficult to do well. Stanford in C Nunc may not be a natural bedfellow, but given a demanding music list, maybe it was sensible to do something in frequent use.

I thought the Stanford was a rather good choice, a more reflective/contemplative counterpart to the energetic Finzi and Elgar. A most satisfying, and at times emotional, CE for me, I hope to hear the Sunday repeat.
The gents of the alto section had had their Weetabix that day I reckon - and that's not a criticism.

[Magister Chori]

St George Windsor Castle doesn't broadcast often on Radio 3 CE, but has recently had a great mediatical exposure after two weddings and a funeral which showed how marvellous the choir is. So I was looking forward to a superb Evensong... and so it was!
A truly great blending of voices, but most of all everything from the beginning to the end was sung in a deeply moving way, with great drama and plenty of expression, taking care of every detail. Stunning!

[Simon Biazeck]

There's at least one pure class voice on that alto line - the chap that sang at the Duke of Edinborough's funeral.

[DracoM]

<< great drama and plenty of expression, taking care of every detail.>>

Yes, indeed - very satisfying.
Vol pretty energetic too!

[Finzi4ever]

I thought the Stanford was a rather good choice, a more reflective/contemplative counterpart to the energetic Finzi and Elgar. A most satisfying, and at times emotional, CE for me, I hope to hear the Sunday repeat.
The gents of the alto section had had their Weetabix that day I reckon - and that's not a criticism.

It did indeed turn out to be a classic of its kind. Thank you to everyone involved, including the sound engineer. I may well be wrong but it sounded that it was again coming from West of the screen (tech. an ante-chapel, I suppose, rather than a nave? - Roger will correct me), certainly the acoustic enabled greater bloom and the bigger, West-facing stops of the H&H/Nicholson came through!

[Roger Judd]

Very definitely a Nave! Broadcasts and recordings have taken place in the Nave for many years, certainly since broadcasting in stereo. The acoustic is warmer than in the Quire. On this occasion, the choir was hugely spread out (see photos on Facebook) ... all the stalls have been removed, as has the general seating, so the acoustic was even more generous. The BBC engineered the broadcast superbly, IMO, and captured the choir (surely on the best form for many-a-year) and the organ splendidly.
RJ

[oddoneout]

Very definitely a Nave! Broadcasts and recordings have taken place in the Nave for many years, certainly since broadcasting in stereo. The acoustic is warmer than in the Quire. On this occasion, the choir was hugely spread out (see photos on Facebook) ... all the stalls have been removed, as has the general seating, so the acoustic was even more generous. The BBC engineered the broadcast superbly, IMO, and captured the choir (surely on the best form for many-a-year) and the organ splendidly.
RJ

I think it was after this broadcast that mention was made of the sound balancer who was just finishing his lengthy career with the BBC?

[Finzi4ever]

I think it was after this broadcast that mention was made of the sound balancer who was just finishing his lengthy career with the BBC?

I fear you may be confusing that with the BBC Sniggers concert from St Peter's Eaton Sq. broadcast the previous evening.

[jonfan]

Terrific singing, agree with all the plaudits above. The Tavener start drew one in to their space in a persuasive way. The Finzi and Elgar nicely complemented each other I thought using similar devices.
A truly classic CE.