Carols for Christmas Day: From Winchester Cathedral

[Phil]

Sorry Typo. K.J. probably still mesmerised

[Lizzie]

Sorry Typo. K.J. probably still mesmerised

Phil's at that funny age... L

[Birthe]

difficult though they are, I think the semi-quavers in 'For unto us a child is born' would have been more successful if the whole movement had been at a quicker tempo

I'm not sure that we would have heard any semiquavers at all if it had been sung at a faster speed - all definition from the Choir and Orchestra would have been lost in the rather generous acoustic. For a "live recording" (ie one that hadn't been edited every bar like a CD recording), the counterpoint came over well to my ear.

[mercia]

I'm not sure that we would have heard any semiquavers at all if it had been sung at a faster speed

perhaps you're right, I thought the choir's articulation was not good

[Y Mab Afradlon]

Phil's at that funny age... L

I have it on very good reliable authority that he's only 50

[Lizzie]

I have it on very good reliable authority that he's only 50

So I believe - his neighbour told him so!

[Magnificat]

KJ did what she had to do quite well, I thought. The bass was awful, and I hated the over-dramatised readings.

(Why don't the girls get to wear surplices?)

These 'girls' were,I would say, young women mostly 16 to 18 as far as I could tell. They were very good indeed but I do think that a distinction should be made between what most people would regard as girls i.e. 8 to 14 year olds as for boys and what most would regard as young adults. There will be a difference in what can be expected from these age groups. Also it was obvious what you were listening to on TV but it might not necessarily be so on radio.

[Lizzie]

These 'girls' were,I would say, young women mostly 16 to 18 as far as I could tell. They were very good indeed but I do think that a distinction should be made between what most people would regard as girls i.e. 8 to 14 year olds as for boys and what most would regard as young adults. There will be a difference in what can be expected from these age groups. Also it was obvious what you were listening to on TV but it might not necessarily be so on radio.

Hello MagCat! I believe our girls start at Year 6/7 and go on to age 17. We had a new intake in Sept and they seem to be integrating very well from what I hear week by week. Simon does a wonderful job with then and one of the things I personally find is that, 'live', both boys and girls gel well together. They all always look as though they are taking great pleasure in what they are singing. Separately, the sounds are distinctive, together, also unmistakable IMO. Separately or together, diction and articulation are always of very high and tight quality - again IMO. I'm very proud of them all - but then you already know that! Best. Liz

[ardcarp]

Just got back to the UK and watched the Winchester programme (which we had pre-recorded). I thought it was excellent...with the readings done by professionals and commendably short. My grand-daughter burst into fits of giggles when she heard Lemalu warbling his way de profundis through one of 'her' Christmas songs. Ms Jenkins sounded fine, looked like a barby doll, and clearly had a full symphony orchestra secreted away in some remote triforium. (Was she miming or karaoke-ing?) I thought the Winchester choirs did a great job, the boys sounding fine and the girls ditto with added poise. Quite a few of the gents have been there a while, but still cut the mustard IMO. Given that it was a composite programme I thought it worked well and avoided producer gimmicks. Very enjoyable.

[subcontrabass]

Ms Jenkins sounded fine, looked like a barby doll, and clearly had a full symphony orchestra secreted away in some remote triforium. (Was she miming or karaoke-ing?)

The information on the programme webpage suggested that she was miming to a track from a CD. If so, why did she need a hand-mike?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

The information on the programme webpage suggested that she was miming to a track from a CD. If so, why did she need a hand-mike?

I didn't notice this, but it could have been used to add "authenticity" if it was being "faked".

[Lizzie]

Just got back to the UK and watched the Winchester programme (which we had pre-recorded). I thought it was excellent...with the readings done by professionals and commendably short. My grand-daughter burst into fits of giggles when she heard Lemalu warbling his way de profundis through one of 'her' Christmas songs. Ms Jenkins sounded fine, looked like a barby doll, and clearly had a full symphony orchestra secreted away in some remote triforium. (Was she miming or karaoke-ing?) I thought the Winchester choirs did a great job, the boys sounding fine and the girls ditto with added poise. Quite a few of the gents have been there a while, but still cut the mustard IMO. Given that it was a composite programme I thought it worked well and avoided producer gimmicks. Very enjoyable.

Welcome home ardcarp! Hope you had a lovely time and so pleased you enjoyed the Winchester offering. I think it took the best part of a week and testament to all the Boys, Girls and Men that they all made their enthusiasm obvious even though very tired. We breed them tough in Winchester! Miss J doesn't do it for me although I couldn't do what she can. We always have a Symphony Orchestra in the Virgers' Vestry, 'just in case'! Mr L did it for me even less and I DEFINITELY couldn't do what he does, even with the flu I presently have! :smile: Liz

[Y Mab Afradlon]

Ms Jenkins sounded fine, looked like a barby doll

Is that the Welsh spelling of Barbie or something quite different lol

[ardcarp]

At the risk of being age-ist and sexist, I'm the wrong age and sex to know how to spell the brand. But here's something I promise you is from memory:

Llanfairpwllgywngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantisilio gogogoh

...any good?

[Lizzie]

At the risk of being age-ist and sexist, I'm the wrong age and sex to know how to spell the brand. But here's something I promise you is from memory:

Llanfairpwllgywngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantisilio gogogoh


...any good?

Does it for me! Mind, I AM easily impressed...! :wink: