CE St Olave’s Church, York [R] Wed, 30th Nov 2022

[MS0]

Absolutely. For me, it's got something to do with the music being at the service of the liturgy rather than being presented in a specially-created/recorded 'act' of worship for radio which is, for me, akin to placing the music in a glass exhibition case in a museum simply to be adored. The music only comes alive when it's 'working' in its proper context.

For what it may be worth, I've been present for a few BBC Evensong recordings and they were actual services, listed on the cathedral's service sheet, for which congregations were warmly invited (but "please be seated by n.45pm") and with every aspect of the services in place and duly marked, as if there were no microphones present. Leaving afterwards, there was no sensation that the music had not been at the service of the liturgy, and every sensation that the music had taken place in context. The only thing that jarred - in one case - was that in anticipation of a broadcast date several months later, one service featured music that was very much out of season....