Nine Lessons and Carols 24th Dec 2011 [R4 4 live ] 25th Dec [R3 / 2 p.m. ]

[Anna]

The tedium arises from the blandness of style and generality of phrasing
rather than the choice of music.

For me, this is when Christmas starts, listening to this whilst in the kitchen, windows steaming up, cooking a ham and stock and general kitchen prep. Although I would like to hear, would it be possible, are they on permanent contract to the BBC, maybe something a little different one year? But, it puts me in the mood and I have my Christmas jumper on!! I have not yet succumbed to the antlers!

[Nick Armstrong]

For me, this is when Christmas starts, listening to this whilst in the kitchen, windows steaming up, cooking a ham and stock and general kitchen prep. Although I would like to hear, would it be possible, are they on permanent contract to the BBC, maybe something a little different one year? But, it puts me in the mood and I have my Christmas jumper on!! I have not yet succumbed to the antlers!

[Anna]

Oh, believe me Duckie, you don't want to see me in antlers! Small children have been known to flee in abject terror ........... and had their belief in Rudolph shattered, shattered, beyond repair. I am now working closely with Victim Support.

[Parddu]

I've been a regular listener to this since all my life just about and when Aged Father bought his reel to reel tape recorder back in 1962 we used to record the service and listen to it at intervals during the year. I've still got the tapes up in the attic. The 1968 service has yet to be beaten. I didn't hear today's in its entirety but had an ominous feeling when the 3 Kings seemed to be on galloping racehorses rather than proceeding at a stately pace on their camels. I'll listen to it again tomorrow

[Anna]

The announcement at the end of the radio programme said the televised programme today would be a different selection, which seems odd. So is it one performance for radio and another for tv? However, I loved the broadcast. I always do. When we have our Nine Lessons we have Elizabeth Poston's Jesus Christ the Apple Tree, I like that.

[Petrushka]

The announcement at the end of the radio programme said the televised programme today would be a different selection, which seems odd. So is it one performance for radio and another for tv? However, I loved the broadcast. I always do. When we have our Nine Lessons we have Elizabeth Poston's Jesus Christ the Apple Tree, I like that.

The radio and TV service are quite different with the latter being recorded earlier this month (Dec 11, I think). It is the official start of Christmas for me too and, much as I love it, there are, as I recall from my own Parish Church choir days 40+ years ago, many excellent carols that never get a look in or have not done for many moons.

[Alison]

The Tansy Davies was ok - but then straight into Rutter sugariness. A horrid juxtaposition !

[Anna]

The Tansy Davies was ok - but then straight into Rutter sugariness. A horrid juxtaposition !

Well, I did think I managed the descants, standing by the kitchen sink. quite well Well, the neighbours didn't complain nor did they say they preferred the Willcocks to that Cleobury nonsense.

[Nick Armstrong]

The Tansy Davies was ok - but then straight into Rutter sugariness. A horrid juxtaposition !

The Tansy Davies was (to quote my Agèd P who has listened to the service annually since the days of Boris Ord) "summat an' nowt"... for the southerners, something and nothing.... I agree, and too long I thought.

The discovery for me this year was the Bob Chilcott - haunting. Is it well known among choir folk, (which we are not)?

And it was beautifully sung - sadly, the exception, we thought: too much of the singing was spoiled by unruly sounds (again) from the gents, exemplified by the soloist in 'Three Kings'... a horrible bleat in the voice which reminded me of some of the singers my grandmother used to like. Has the John Hanson vibrato come back into style? Nasty to listen to, and you could hear him and others straining in the back rows in many of the pieces.

EDIT: as they were for Renée Fleming at the RFH the other week, I think the Radio 3 microphones are terribly cruel for voices. The choir and the gents esp. sound much sweeter in the TV broadcast currently on. We've noted that before.

[Nick Armstrong]

Well, I did think I managed the descants, standing by the kitchen sink. quite well Well, the neighbours didn't complain nor did they say they preferred the Willcocks to that Cleobury nonsense.

The final cadence of the descant to 'Once in Royal...' is awfully naff (I mean when King's do it, Anna - I'm sure your carolling over the pots was transcendental (like your mixed fruit stuffing !)

[Jamiewhall]

I can't understand how you can justify describing the soloist as 'horrible' and 'nasty'. Whatever your personal taste, your criticism is in no way constructive. Just unpleasant and possibly hurtful. (Although I'm sure the chaps at King's are well aware just how little weight should be given to many of the opinions expressed on these boards.)
Though this service comes at the end of a long term for men who are in their early 20's at the oldest, and live radio broadcasts are not the most comfortable of performance situations, I thought the soloist in question was pretty classy and I never cease to be amazed by the quality of this back row. For what my opinion is worth.

[VodkaDilc]

I thought that Cleobury's descants were verging into self-parody - it was wonderful to hear the Willcocks versions in the last two hymns. Is there a more moving descant than the Willcocks penultimate verse of O come all ye faithful?

[Nick Armstrong]

I can't understand how you can justify describing the soloist as 'horrible' and 'nasty'

I didn't. I said we thought the bleat in his voice was horrible, and that sort of vibrato nasty.

I wouldn't say anything against the soloist, I'm sure he's a great bloke.

Peace and goodwill to all men. But you won't get me to like a bleaty vibrato....

[mangerton]

Is there a more moving descant than the Willcocks penultimate verse of O come all ye faithful?

Probably not, VodkaDilc. The part that always gets to me in the Willcocks version is the BFAD chord on "Word" in the final verse. I've sung the Willcocks versions of "O come" and "Hark" ever since I sang the descants (not long after C for C One was first published), and without them my Christmas would not be complete!

[VodkaDilc]

Probably not, VodkaDilc. The part that always gets to me in the Willcocks version is the BFAD chord on "Word" in the final verse. I've sung the Willcocks versions of "O come" and "Hark" ever since I sang the descants (not long after C for C One was first published), and without them my Christmas would not be complete!

Agreed!! It amuses me that some hymn books give (or gave - I cannot claim to be much in touch with them these days) strict instructions that the last verse should only be sung on Christmas morning. It seems peculiar to hear it at around 4.20 on a winter evening ("Born this happy morning"). But I wouldn't have it any other way.