Duruflé Requiem - Trinity Cambridge - Filmed in Paris - Released on Ash Wednesday

[jonfan]

An example of a film maker showing the production of high art

Yes with no expense spared, SL has a baton instead of the pencil!

[Keraulophone]

Yes with no expense spared, SL has a baton instead of the pencil!

The pencil might not have been visible in the dim light!

I'm still trying to take all of this in. The sound is impressive through decent headphones, but it's good news that an audio CD will follow on Hyperion, along with a CD of choral works by David Briggs that they recorded a few days earlier in the same church (for November release). David assisted Harrison Cole with the registration of the Duruflé, which I think you can hear, for example, at libera eas de ore leonis (deliver them from the lion's mouth).

As others have said, it is particularly moving to see and hear such youthful voices sing a Requiem, particularly this one, and in this church.
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[Caussade]

The pencil might not have been visible in the dim light!

I'm still trying to take all of this in. The sound is impressive through decent headphones, but it's good news that an audio CD will follow on Hyperion, along with a CD of choral works by David Briggs that they recorded a few days earlier in the same church (for November release). David assisted Harrison Cole with the registration of the Duruflé, which I think you can hear, for example, at libera eas de ore leonis (deliver them from the lion's mouth).

As others have said, it is particularly moving to see and hear such youthful voices sing a Requiem, particularly this one, and in this church; one feels Duruflé's presence in this place, where he made a famous recording, on the previous organ, for EMI of Poulenc's Organ Concerto in the presence of the composer.
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The Poulenc recording was made in St Etienne du Mont, Durufle's own church, I think.

[Keraulophone]

The Poulenc recording was made in St Etienne du Mont, Durufle's own church, I think.

Thanks, you are quite correct. February 1961.

[Curious]

and then after the heavenly In Paradisum we watch the singers amble off as though they’re going for a McDonald (as they might be but we don’t need to see that).

Is there not something to be said for the honesty of this video? A group of students* gathering in the middle of the night to sing the music of Maurice Duruflé? I have no doubts that the singers gave their all during the performance and am quite frankly not surprised that they are mentally and physically exhausted by the end.

The fact that life carries on as normal post these 40 minutes of serenity is testament to how special these 40 minutes are. How rare is it to find this level of engagement with such fine music? Too often, recordings are overproduced and too 'perfect' (e.g. Voces8). It lacks rawness and edge.

*To reduce them to students is unfair, as this recording rightly stands up to professional ensembles.

[Vox Humana]

Well said, Curious.

[ardcarp]

TCC is definitely at the peak of Oxbridge College choirs at the moment, partly due at least to Sid Layton. As you yourself say, Curious, it is possibly unfair to refer to them as 'a group of students' because in one way they are, and in another, untypical. I dare say there is a mix of personalities, and no doubt the film maker had that in mind...and used it to contrast the ordinary with the sublime. In another sphere, it is the same sort of thing as lay clerks singing a wonderful Evensong, followed by a visit to the nearby pub for a few rounds and the occasional smutty joke. Been there, done that. The human is a strange animal.

[jonfan]

Is there not something to be said for the honesty of this video? A group of students* gathering in the middle of the night to sing the music of Maurice Duruflé? I have no doubts that the singers gave their all during the performance and am quite frankly not surprised that they are mentally and physically exhausted by the end.

The fact that life carries on as normal post these 40 minutes of serenity is testament to how special these 40 minutes are. How rare is it to find this level of engagement with such fine music? Too often, recordings are overproduced and too 'perfect' (e.g. Voces8). It lacks rawness and edge.

*To reduce them to students is unfair, as this recording rightly stands up to professional ensembles.

I'll be buying the Hyperion disc of this performance. I understand there were several evening sessions to produce the video at the height of the hottest summer. Was there miming to the sound track?
The standard of singing is of the highest.

[Keraulophone]

Was there miming to the sound track?

No.

[jonfan]

No.

The Lingen performance was obviously one take and therefore visually I find that the more rewarding to look at. But hey, what luxury to have two!!

[MS0]

It's interesting to compare this - which deserves every single plaudit thus far accorded to it - with TCC's livestream of the same work in liturgical context during 2020. It's an equally impressive performance, showing SL's marvellous ability to get consistent brilliance from his forces, no matter how much they change over the years:

https://youtu.be/c-RiYOpaYVw

[ardcarp]

Too often, recordings are overproduced and too 'perfect' (e.g. Voces8). It lacks rawness and edge

I saw Voces 8 live last year. I too had always thought the recordings were often, as you suggest, over-produced. I have to say that in a crowded parish church, where the sheer number of people soaked up any natural reverb, the group sang with the same miraculous precision.

[Keraulophone]

It's interesting to compare this - which deserves every single plaudit thus far accorded to it - with TCC's livestream of the same work in liturgical context during 2020. It's an equally impressive performance, showing SL's marvellous ability to get consistent brilliance from his forces, no matter how much they change over the years.

So true.

The massive resources of the Ste-Eustache organ do elevate the Paris version, IMO. There is also their liturgical performance since the Paris filming, on 13 November 2022 in Trinity College chapel. Katherine (my daughter) says she prefers her mezzo solo in this service:

https://www.youtube.com/live/kKUUToOI8Uc?feature=share

Personally, and having sung it so many times this way, I feel the work most deeply in the context of a Requiem Mass with congregation, for example on Remembrance Sunday, as above, or at a funeral.
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[Curious]

From my understanding, there were indeed several evening recording sessions but each session was a full performance, with no patching.

I.e the relief felt at the In Paradisum is an honest one that comes in the context of what went before, and not artificially created.

[Nick Armstrong]

I don't know why, perhaps it's a strange harmonic progression, but there are two or three bars in the In paradisum that always jar for me: at the turnover in the vocal score, so the three bars from figure 101 (Chorus angelorum). I think I want a different resolution on the lor of lorum.


PS: Very envious of Nick!

Oh lor…! The lor of angelorum is one of my favourite bits!!

I’ve watched the Paris video now. Very good performance indeed.

And I must say, it cemented my preference for the organ-only accompaniment… especially when the massive sonic resources of that instrument and building are available. For some reason, I just don’t need orchestral sounds in this work (I would almost say they cheapen it) - I could do without the cello in the Pié Jesu, if I’m completely honest