CE St Paul's Church, Knightsbridge, London [L] Wed, May 11th 2022

[DracoM]

CE St Paul's Church, Knightsbridge, London [L]
The BBC Singers

Order of Service:

Introit: Hear my prayer (Stephanie Martin)
Responses: Kerensa Briggs
Psalms 59, 60, 61 (Lucy Walker, Lucy Walker, Lucy Walker)
First Lesson: Genesis 2:4b-9
Canticles: Exeter Service (Nico Muhly)
Second Lesson: 1 Corinthians 15: 35-49
Anthem: Hymn to the creator of light (John Rutter)

Voluntary: Prelude on the ‘Old 100th’ (Iain Farrington)

Francesca Massey (Organist)
Sofi Jeannin (Chief Conductor)

[DracoM]

Reminder: today @ 4 p.m.

[ardcarp]

Few have commented on this CE. It was very professionally sung of course....and one could not help thinking how a BBC Singers CE would have sounded say 10 years ago when the sopranos and others were ultra wobbly. I enjoyed the introit and anthem best of all. They came over as especially well prepared and presented, and it was good to hear Rutter in less Rutter-ish mode! I have to tread carefully as I know a couple of those (probably) taking part. Sops very 'straight', likewise altos and tenors, especially the tenors who were quite restrained in the ensemble, but one bass was maybe a bit prominent and fruity, though obviously a most accomplished singer. The psalms were, IMVHO, bellowed out a bit...not too much subtlety there...especially as compared with John's last week which were almost too wonderful to believe. But good that Sofi Jeannin who maybe didn't imbibe the Anglican tradition from birth, made such a good job of it. I liked Francesca Massey's all-too-short fanfare-like postlude. Iain Farrington is the son of a friend of ours, and does a huge amount of arranging for professional orchestras and other groups. For anyone interested: https://www.iainfarrington.com/biography.html

[Y Mab Afradlon]

Pleasing to see three new chants from Lucy Walker which were well sung.

[Guest]

I rather liked the (unadvertised) hymn that I didn't know. Any info about it?

[ardcarp]

It was new to me too. Its luscious (traditional) harmony and expansive tune, sung in unison, reminded of the hymns sung lustily in public school chapels. However I looked in Hymns for Church and School (once named 'The Public School Hymn Book') and it's not there. The first line is, "Beyond the Hopes and Dreams of all Creation". So maybe someone has come across it?

[subcontrabass]

It was new to me too. Its luscious (traditional) harmony and expansive tune, sung in unison, reminded of the hymns sung lustily in public school chapels. However I looked in Hymns for Church and School (once named 'The Public School Hymn Book') and it's not there. The first line is, "Beyond the Hopes and Dreams of all Creation". So maybe someone has come across it?

A quick internet search gives the composer as Ghislaine Reece-Trapp, with the hymn getting its world premiere on Sunday, 8th May, 2022 (see https://www.lfccm.com/whatson/partic...e-reece-trapp/ )

[jonfan]

I hope those who condemn the BBCS before they open their mouths are stopped in their tracks after hearing this. This must be one of the finest liturgical offerings they have done since the days of Barry Rose's careful preparations. They sounded like a group that do this sort of thing in a cathedral every day. I enjoyed the Introit's teasing reference to Purcell and the very fine Rutter anthem, written I believe for the unveiling of the Howells' window in Gloucester Cathedral. The whole service very enjoyable.

[ardcarp]

A quick internet search gives the composer as Ghislaine Reece-Trapp, with the hymn getting its world premiere on Sunday, 8th May, 2022

Not one of the von Tra....no, that's silly! Strange that a contemporary composer should write a pastiche of someone like Armstrong Gibbs for instance.
Nothing wrong with that, of course. A very singable tune. It seemed the same view didn't apply to the composer of the psalm chants which were a little unconventional....but in a good way.