Last Saturday, 1 October, 2011, I was privileged to attend Francis Jackson's organ recital on the occasion of the Third Anniversary of the Dedication of the Kenneth Tickell Quire Organ. As this was my first visit to the Cathedral for a number of years it was my first opportunity to hear the superb tone colours and power of this magnificent instrument, truly worthy of such a fine building.
As to FJ's recital, it was both most memorable and enjoyable, and easy to forget that the exponent was - all but a day - 94 years young! Well done Francis!
Evensong preceded the organ recital, and on my entering the nave I summised that the choir was in the quire (if you see what I mean!) practising for the service. I was immediately struck by the strength and tone of the treble line, and on venturing further eastwards I was pleasantly surprised to see that it was the girls singing with the lay clerks. At Evensong the service was extremely well ordered, the choir ably directed by the AO Christopher Allsop, with Adrian Lucas providing sensitive and exciting accompaniments to the psalms and Darke in F; and concluding with a spirited voluntary - a 'tuba tune' (not Cocker). The unaccompanied parts of the service, notably the Rose responses and the Stanford anthem 'O Living Will' were sensitively phrased and executed.
What I am saying about this service is two-fold. First, although on the face of it this was a 'normal' Saturday Evensong, it would have been more than appropriate as a R3 broadcast Choral Evensong (without the attendant preparation etc.), and obviating the need for (adverse) criticism, often justified, that has been expressed in these boards. Second, as someone who has been brought up to believe that the all male cathedral choir should be nurtured and encouraged, this service in particular convinced me of the valued place in the scheme of things which girls' top lines provide (especially when like those at Worcester they are well trained and disciplined) in removing some of the daily pressure from the boys. One additional point: to the best of my knowledge the Cathedral service list did not indicate whether it was the boys or girls singing the service. I am convinced that whether or not this was intended, it is the right course of action, for I admit that, had I been previously aware that the boys were not singing on that day, I would not have looked forward to the service as much. I now take comfort in the fact that whether it was either the boys or the girls, it was the choir of Worcester Cathedral and that, whilst the two top lines may be different in texture to some extent (and I have said previously that before I could see the choir practising, I could not tell it was the girls) this can only increase the choir's efficacy.
So, thank you Worcester Cathedral for providing such a fine instrument on which to enhance FJ's recital, and to the music foundation for demonstrating just how much an efficient girls' top line can add to quality of liturgical worship.
As to FJ's recital, it was both most memorable and enjoyable, and easy to forget that the exponent was - all but a day - 94 years young! Well done Francis!
Evensong preceded the organ recital, and on my entering the nave I summised that the choir was in the quire (if you see what I mean!) practising for the service. I was immediately struck by the strength and tone of the treble line, and on venturing further eastwards I was pleasantly surprised to see that it was the girls singing with the lay clerks. At Evensong the service was extremely well ordered, the choir ably directed by the AO Christopher Allsop, with Adrian Lucas providing sensitive and exciting accompaniments to the psalms and Darke in F; and concluding with a spirited voluntary - a 'tuba tune' (not Cocker). The unaccompanied parts of the service, notably the Rose responses and the Stanford anthem 'O Living Will' were sensitively phrased and executed.
What I am saying about this service is two-fold. First, although on the face of it this was a 'normal' Saturday Evensong, it would have been more than appropriate as a R3 broadcast Choral Evensong (without the attendant preparation etc.), and obviating the need for (adverse) criticism, often justified, that has been expressed in these boards. Second, as someone who has been brought up to believe that the all male cathedral choir should be nurtured and encouraged, this service in particular convinced me of the valued place in the scheme of things which girls' top lines provide (especially when like those at Worcester they are well trained and disciplined) in removing some of the daily pressure from the boys. One additional point: to the best of my knowledge the Cathedral service list did not indicate whether it was the boys or girls singing the service. I am convinced that whether or not this was intended, it is the right course of action, for I admit that, had I been previously aware that the boys were not singing on that day, I would not have looked forward to the service as much. I now take comfort in the fact that whether it was either the boys or the girls, it was the choir of Worcester Cathedral and that, whilst the two top lines may be different in texture to some extent (and I have said previously that before I could see the choir practising, I could not tell it was the girls) this can only increase the choir's efficacy.
So, thank you Worcester Cathedral for providing such a fine instrument on which to enhance FJ's recital, and to the music foundation for demonstrating just how much an efficient girls' top line can add to quality of liturgical worship.
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