Solemn Midnight Mass from Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral (BBC1)

[jean]

I hope it's all right to post this here, even if it is on television.


Messe Pour Deux Choeurs Widor
Mary’s Lullaby Rutter
Wexford Carol arr Noon
Videte miraculum Tallis
The Shepherds’ Farewell Berlioz
Credo III, Sanctus Mass VIII Gregorian
Toccata (Symphonie V) Widor

Dominus dixit ad me (Introit)

O come, all ye faithful

O little town of Bethlehem

In splendoribus sanctorum (Communio)

Silent night

It came upon a midnight clear

Hark! The herald angels

[Anna]

I had no idea this would be on television, thank you very much jean for letting us know.

[Simon]

Yes, thanks for the heads up, Jean. No TV here, but should be able to watch elsewhere now we know!

[DracoM]

Good stuff, jean. Many thanks.

[french frank]

I hope it's all right to post this here, even if it is on television.

It most certainly comes under the heading 'All matters choral'.

Could I also draw people's attention to the Calendar (top of homepage). It's open to anyone to post their upcoming events which will then also appear in the What's Going On section at the foot of the same page when the event is approaching.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

In spite of its controversial design, I've always had a soft spot for this cathedral, which doesn't have the hear-the-service-twice characteristic of the Anglican cathedral down the road.

[Mary Chambers]

In spite of its controversial design, I've always had a soft spot for this cathedral, which doesn't have the hear-the-service-twice characteristic of the Anglican cathedral down the road.

I've never been to a service at the Catholic cathedral, but for concerts it's been more not-hear-it-at-all, or at the most only-hear-it-a-bit. Both cathedrals have difficult acoustics.

The John Piper glass is fabulous, though.

[jean]

You do have to be careful where you sit. But I think it's easier to find somewhere you can hear well from than in the other one. Singing in it takes some getting used to as well, but it can be done.

The Sixteen like it so much they come back for their Choral Pilgrimage year after year!

[Lizzie]

I love singing in the Anglican Cathedral. Never had the chance of doing so in the Met Pot...

[Anna]

Did anyone see this? I will gather my thoughts and post tomorrow. In the meantime, did anyone notice the 20-ish old chorister of the shoulder length hair, aquiline nose and sulky Irish lips? He really should be in a Renaissance painting. He reminded me so much of Daffyd ap Gwilym in his poem Merched Llanbadarn

There was never a Sunday in Llanbadarn church
(and others will condemn it)
that my face was not turned towards the splendid girl
and my nape towards the resplendent, holy Lord.
And after I'd been staring long
over my feathers across my fellow parishioners,
the sweet radiant girl would hiss
to her campanion, so wise, so fair:
'He has an adulterous look —
his eyes are adept at disguising his wickedness —
that pallid lad with the face of a coquette
and his sister's hair upon his head.'

Sorry, a more serious post tomorrow!

[Nick Armstrong]

In the meantime, did anyone notice the 20-ish old chorister of the shoulder length hair, aquiline nose and sulky Irish lips? He really should be in a Renaissance painting.

Yes! I thought he looked straight out of a 14th century picture of some rather decadent Plantagenet Royal offspring

[jean]

They didn't sing the plainsong communtion antiphon and they didn't sing the Tallis.

I was disgusted.

[Anna]

jean, do you know the reason for that? Would it have been that choristers weren't able to get there because of the weather? The congregation looked rather sparse I thought and there was a mention of people not being able to attend.

Caliban, I'm glad I wasn't the only one who noticed that Chorister!!

[Met man]

Missing music

Because it was a live broadcast, the timings are dictated by the BBC, and as it was 6 minutes over time the night before, something had to go. Unfortunately it was the Tallis and Antiphon. The decision was NOT that of the choir or Mr Noon.

[Anna]

Oh, thanks for that Met man. So, according to the BBC, live is not live? I think we have heard that before?