CE Rodolfus Choral Course Wed, 10th Nov 2021 @ 4 p.m. [R]

[DracoM]

CE Rodolfus Choral Course Wed, 10th Nov 2021
Selwyn College, Cambridge

Recorded 27 August 2021.
Order of Service:

Introit: Dona nobis pacem (Olivia Sparkhall)
Responses: Radcliffe
Psalms 53, 54, 55 (Stainer, Monk, Barnby, Smart)
First Lesson: Daniel 5 vv.13-30
Canticles: Magnificat and Nunc dimittis (Gipps)
Second Lesson: Revelation 7 vv.1-4, 9-17
Anthem: Lo, the full, final sacrifice (Finzi)

Voluntary: French Suite No 5 (Sarabande) (Bach)

Glen Dempsey (Organist)
Simon Toyne (Director of Music)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0011clw

[Vox Humana]

How wonderful to have the chance of hearing Ruth Gipps's canticles. This is surely their first broadcast. In fact, could it even be their first performance? They were written for the choir of Westminster Abbey where her son was a chorister, but I don't know whether they were ever performed. That the organ part goes off the bottom of the pedalboard a couple of times probably doesn't help. She wasn't really a church composer and didn't have a deep understanding of choirs (her solitary Anglican chant needs transposing down a third in order to make it singable for any length of time). Nevertheless it will be interesting to hear what a mainstream composer made of the texts. I remember her drawing my attention to how few composers dealt well with the 'bugbear word' (as she called it) in the Magnificat: handmaiden.

[ardcarp]

Forgive my ignorance, but is The Rodolfus the successor to Ralph Allwood's Eton Choral Course?
Good to hear the Finzi anthem too. Wonderful piece.

[DracoM]

Mr A would certainly seem to be billed as conductor on every other tx I have records of.

[Keraulophone]

is The Rodolfus the successor to Ralph Allwood's Eton Choral Course?

.

From their website: 'The Rodolfus Choir [founded in 1984] is a leading UK youth choir for young people aged 16-23, many of whom have attended a Rodolfus Choral Course (previously known as The Eton Choral Courses). Entry is by invitation after attending a choral course or by choir auditions in London every Autumn.'

[Subtuum]

.

From their website: 'The Rodolfus Choir [founded in 1984] is a leading UK youth choir for young people aged 16-23, many of whom have attended a Rodolfus Choral Course (previously known as The Eton Choral Courses). Entry is by invitation after attending a choral course or by choir auditions in London every Autumn.'

But it’s not the Rodolfus Choir singing, it’s members from a Rodolfus Choral Course (formerly Eton Choral Courses).

[Keraulophone]

But it’s not the Rodolfus Choir singing, it’s members from a Rodolfus Choral Course (formerly Eton Choral Courses).

Quite right, I misread. Possible future members of the Rodolfus Choir!

[DracoM]

Today @ 4 p.m.

[Magister Chori]

Regarding the new or unheard music of this broadcast: the canticles were a very interesting hearing, while the Introit didn't seem a model of good vocal writing.

Off topic: while hearing the anthem (well sung, even if I've heard some much more poignant performances), I was thinking of how many great anthems of the standard repertoire - which are even over-recorded in their version with organ accompaniment - have not ever been - at least in recent times - performed or recorded with the intrumental/orchestral accompaniments made by the composers themselves: Lo, the full, final sacrifice (Finzi), The twelve (Walton), Blessed city (Bairstow), Greater love (Ireland), My beloved spake (Hadley), Hear my words, ye people (Parry), Lord thou hast been our refuge (Vaughan Williams), O hearken thou (elgar), Give unto the Lord (Elgar), O how glorious is the kingdom (Harwood)... and perhaps some others I can't recall.
There's enough material for one or two CDs!

[DracoM]

Introit: Dona nobis pacem (Olivia Sparkhall)- very ear-catching!

[Keraulophone]

Off topic: while hearing the anthem (well sung, even if I've heard some much more poignant performances), I was thinking of how many great anthems of the standard repertoire - which are even over-recorded in their version with organ accompaniment - have not ever been - at least in recent times - performed or recorded with the intrumental/orchestral accompaniments made by the composers themselves: Lo, the full, final sacrifice (Finzi), The twelve (Walton), Blessed city (Bairstow), Greater love (Ireland), My beloved spake (Hadley), Hear my words, ye people (Parry), Lord thou hast been our refuge (Vaughan Williams), O hearken thou (elgar), Give unto the Lord (Elgar), O how glorious is the kingdom (Harwood)... and perhaps some others I can't recall.
There's enough material for one or two CDs!

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8055924--jerusalem

This 1991 Argo recording (available again as a Presto CD) with David Hill conducting Winchester Cathedral Choir and the Bournemouth SO is a classic of the kind. I think there was also a follow-up disc.

[Simon Biazeck]

https://www.prestomusic.com/classica...924--jerusalem

This 1991 Argo recording (available again as a Presto CD) with David Hill conducting Winchester Cathedral Choir and the Bournemouth SO is a classic of the kind. I think there was also a follow-up disc.

I adore that recording and didn't know that there was a follow-up. This, perhaps? https://www.prestomusic.com/classica...nation-te-deum

SBz.

[Keraulophone]

I adore that recording and didn't know that there was a follow-up. This, perhaps? [url]https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8036629--walton-belshazzars-feast-coronation-te-deum[/url

That one is a reissue of some of the same tracks plus Belshazzar. I think this RVW and Walton disc was the second one from the same forces:

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8042212--walton-vaughan-williams-o-clap-your-hands

[ardcarp]

What I liked about this CE was the careful blend of the choral sound, especially the ATB. I think this something rather special to choirs with young voices,
Gipps canticles fascinating. The sopranos certainly had their range tested to the full....tricky Glorias especially. The director had, I think, done an amazing job in preparing this CE, even if he had top-notch young voices at is disposal.

[Magister Chori]

https://www.prestomusic.com/classica...924--jerusalem

This 1991 Argo recording (available again as a Presto CD) with David Hill conducting Winchester Cathedral Choir and the Bournemouth SO is a classic of the kind. I think there was also a follow-up disc.

I know that recording: it's the only one existing for many of the pieces I've listed, while many others still remain unrecorded (most notably the Finzi and the Walton).