CE Truro Cathedral Wed, 24th Nov 2021 [L]

[DracoM]

CE Truro Cathedral Wed, 24th Nov 2021 [L]


Order of Service:


Introit: A Hymne to Christ (Imogen Holst)
Responses: Rose
Office hymn: My spirit longs for thee (Amen Court)
Psalm 119: 1-32 (Hylton Steward, Wesley, Walmisley, Morley)
First Lesson: Genesis 11:1-9
Canticles: The Truro Service (Paul Drayton) (world premiere)
Second Lesson: John 5: 30-47
Anthem: i thank you God for most this amazing day (Eric Whitacre)
Hymn: Dear Lord and father of mankind (Repton)

Voluntary: Alleluyas (Simon Preston)


Andrew Wyatt (Assistant Director of Music)
Christopher Gray (Director of Music)

[Keraulophone]

*world premiere* - i.e. not even sung before in Truro Cathedral (...no pressure!).

The anthem is one of Whitacre's better efforts, IMO.

[Keraulophone]

Recorded the day before for future broadcast (looks like a 16th evening):

Introit O dulcis amor Jesu Caterina Assandra
Hymn 61 (NEH)
Psalms 82, 83, 84, 85
Canticles: Service in the Dorian Mode - Tallis Hymns 61, 292 (ii)
Anthem Lugebat David Absalom - Gombert
Hymn 292 ii (NEH)
Voluntary Praeludium in E minor - Bruhns

[DracoM]

Truro CE today.

[Keraulophone]

NB no Sunday repeat due to Advent service from SJC.

[DracoM]

Tough canticles very well handled.

[jonfan]

Tough canticles very well handled.

Yes indeed, nowhere to hide. Lovely service, thank you. Agree about the anthem.

[ardcarp]

What a lovely evensong...atmosphere in spoken word also dignified. Good that the 'celebrant' announced the choir forces at the start; boys, girls, lay clerks and choral scholars. So good to hear a 'trad' broadcast from a cathedral, and Truro is so very special for many reasons...acoustic, organ and of course a choir which is of first rate quality despite its remoteness in the far SW! By using the word 'trad' I did not of course refer to the music list which was adventurous and courageous for a live broadcast.

I was quite amazed at the way the trebles (boys and girls) coped with the high tessitura in the Paul Drayton canticles. Such an innovative Nunc. Often settings focus on the 'Song of Simeon' aspect maybe with a male solo. Here the men were clearly given melodic material, but the unusual thing was the weaving of the two treble parts above, which (according to my ears) included a top A. Now most choristers can belt out a top A...or above...in a no-holds-barred descant or similar, but here there was subtlety which must have taken a great deal of practice. Also a fine treble soloist/soloists here and there. In both the Mag and Nunc, it sounded as though the altos were negotiating some taxing stuff too, and I must add, succeeding with honours. In short I was quite taken with those Drayton canticles!

I did a slight inward groan at the thought of a Whitacre anthem, but I must say This Amazing Day was a pleasant surprise, and very well executed.

Thanks to all at Truro for a really great Evensong.

[jonfan]

Agree in spades Mr A with your excellent analysis, but I fail to understand what you mean by 'remoteness in the far SW.' That implies the rest of us are in the one place that isn't remote from everywhere else!

[cloughie]

Agree in spades Mr A with your excellent analysis, but I fail to understand what you mean by 'remoteness in the far SW.' That implies the rest of us are in the one place that isn't remote from everywhere else!

I agree - the ‘despite’ is a badly chosen word - singing can be good anywhere and there are many good singers in Cornwall!

[DracoM]

I agree too.
Thx, ardcarp

[anoncoward]

Singing of the highest order, particularly, as others have mentioned, in the canticles, which demanded and got a fearless and virtuosic performance. Meticulous attention to detail was in evidence throughout. I thought the organ accompaniment of the psalm was exemplary too: such sensitive use of colour and texture in response to the text. During the responses the cantor sounded like he was suffering from a bit of a cold, but good for him for battling on! Great to hear Simon Preston’s colourful Alleluyas. A really beautiful service, as is always the case from Truro.

[gradus]

I echo everyone else's laudatory comment - just full of delights.

[Keraulophone]

acoustic, organ and of course a choir which is of first rate quality despite its remoteness in the far SW!

Decantor, sometime of this manor, used to lend a different perspective by referring to the Southwestern Approaches being well provided for in these regards.
.