Merton College Advent Carol Service, 27 Nov 2022

[Vox Humana]

This is worth catching up with.

https://youtu.be/4KsAgixwI7Q?t=1552

Marlow: Advent Responsory
Hymn: Come, though redeemer of the earth
Byrd: Rorate caeli
Tranchell: People look east
Hymn: Hark, what a sound
Elgar: Benedictus
Hymn: On Jordan's bank
G. Jackson: Vox clara ecce intonat
Hymn: Hills of the north, rejoice
McDowall: O oriens
Hymn: O come, O come, Emmanuel
Howells: A spotless rose
Pärt: Bogoroditse Djevo
Hymn: Thou whose almighty word
Hymn: Lo, he comes with clouds descending
Voluntary: Vierne: Final (Symphony no.4)

The star turn for me was a cracking performance of Tranchell's 'People look east', which I am told is a new choir favourite. I didn't know it, but I'm quite smitten with it. The link above starts here.

[Vox Humana]

And hard on the heels of their Advent carols come their Christmas ones.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSFoVUojCMs

[smittims]

A tenuous connection, but I've just been listening to the organ of Merton College in an Argo record of Handel concertos with George Malcolm and Neville Marriner. Lovely acoustic too.

[Vox Humana]

A tenuous connection, but I've just been listening to the organ of Merton College in an Argo record of Handel concertos with George Malcolm and Neville Marriner. Lovely acoustic too.

I have only heard it online, but it is obviously a very fine instrument with some lovely choruses and tone colours. My only criticism is that it lacks any really blast-your-pants-off sizzle and fire at the loud end. Fabulous for Baroque music, but ultimately lacking something in the big Romantic pieces. It may be just my problem.

[jonfan]

Thank you V H for the link. There’s a truly high quality variety of Advent services on YouTube to last until Christmas Eve.

[Lordgeous]

And just dropped through my letterbox this month's BBC Music Magazine with accompanying CD: Carols from Meron College!

[mopsus]

I have only heard it online, but it is obviously a very fine instrument with some lovely choruses and tone colours. My only criticism is that it lacks any really blast-your-pants-off sizzle and fire at the loud end. Fabulous for Baroque music, but ultimately lacking something in the big Romantic pieces. It may be just my problem.

The current Dobson organ was 'Merton's 750th birthday present to itself' and installed around the time of the anniversary in 2014. It was preceded by a Walker instrument which I would guess was the one used in the Malcolm/Marriner recording? This was an unsatisfactory instrument in various ways - it was I believe paid for by a donation, on condition that it was built to the specifications set by the donor. The predecessor of the Walker went to St Andrew's Church Old Headington, for which it was far too big!