Choral Vespers from the London Oratory 30th Nov 2011

[DracoM]

Choral Vespers from the London Oratory
Feast of St Andrew the Apostle


Order of Service:


Organ Prelude: Intonazione octavo tono (Giovanni Gabrieli)

Invitatory: Deus in adjutorium meum (Victoria)
Antiphons & Psalms: 110, 113, 116, 126, 117 (Victoria)
Hymn: Exsultet orbis gaudiis (Victoria)
Antiphon: Cum pervenisset (Plainsong)
Canticle: Magnificat primi toni (Victoria)
Antiphon of Our Lady: Alma Redemptoris mater (Victoria)


Organ Voluntary: Tiento de quinto tono (Francisco Correa de Arauxo)


Celebrant: The Revd Fr. George Bowen

Organist: Matthew Martin
Director of Music: Patrick Russill

[Anna]

Brilliant. I have a cd Totus Tuus Sum, Maria by the Choir of the London Oratory (directed by Patrick Russill), haven't played it for a while, will spin it before Wednesday.

[ardcarp]

What a pity there's no option for spoon-dropping at Vespers. (Or is there???)

[DracoM]

A reminder that this service is Wednesday, 30th @ 3.30 p.m

[DracoM]

bump

[DracoM]

Carefully managed, nicely sung, liked the acoustic that was well-handled by engineers, platitudinous homily rather spoilt the last fifteen minutes for me. Latin more obviously italianate and therefore fitting rather better with how the language was being sung in this service.

[Simon Biazeck]

Thanks Draco. As I was involved (intonations for first and third antiphons, psalms and the Office Hymn) I listened again with some anticipation and a little trepidation (!) but was particularly struck by the collective sense of the occasion's joy and reverence and, as you mentioned, how well the engineers caught the acoustic - quite a high mic. placement from memory. Of course, it always feels so different 'in choro', especially so in broadcasts when we stand in front of the organ/choir gallery. Congratulations too to our new organist, Matthew Martin whose superb musicianship shone through in accompaniment and solo work. I am always struck by how beautifully voiced Ralph Downes' organ is for that vast space.

[Finzi4ever]

Herewith the npor link for fellow-anoraks: a pretty unusual beast for its location, scale and voicing; particularly for the lack of any 16' on the Swell - space issues, or misplaced neo-classicism?

http://www.npor.org.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch.cgi?Fn=Rsearch&rec_index=N18498

Thanks Draco. As I was involved (intonations for first and third antiphons, psalms and the Office Hymn) I listened again with some anticipation and a little trepidation (!) but was particularly struck by the collective sense of the occasion's joy and reverence and, as you mentioned, how well the engineers caught the acoustic - quite a high mic. placement from memory. Of course, it always feels so different 'in choro', especially so in broadcasts when we stand in front of the organ/choir gallery. Congratulations too to our new organist, Matthew Martin whose superb musicianship shone through in accompaniment and solo work. I am always struck by how beautifully Ralph Downes' organ is for that vast space.

[ardcarp]

I was struck by how similar the voices sounded in the split choir sections. Very professionally sung and directed. Just occasionally I would have preferred a little less 'full voice' singing, because the effect (on admittedly poorish speakers) was that of sameness, where for me a little variety would have been welcome. But that is just nit-picking and personal preference. The service was done with dignity and with no unwarranted interruptions.

On the subject of Ralph Downes, he also designed the Walker organ in Buckfast Abbey...a much larger beast and capable of sounding very French...and one of the few English organs I know with a roller-schweller [is that how you spell it?]