CE Winchester College Chapel October 3rd 2012

[french frank]

I had assumed it was a well-known hymn tune but all the google hits seem to lead back to this programme.

Stogursey is a Somerset village (derived from Stoke Courcy, I think)

Yes, or de Courcy - hence stressed on the second syllable.

[ardcarp]

I can confirm that the tune Stogursey is indeed by Malcolm Archer. The words are from the pens of Michael Sayward and Peter Simpson. It is currently in the Winchester College hymnbook and not yet commercially available. However, along with a couple of other Malcolm Archer tunes, it will soon appear in the new Ancient and Modern. I've already jotted it down by ear....hope you don't mind, MA.

Hope that helps.

[Androcles]

Yes - thanks for all your help

[ardcarp]

Did nobody else listen? (And really I should apologise for fuelling the organ cul-de-sac...)

I think loads of people listen; and if they simply enjoy what they hear, feel no impulse to rush to their laptops or whatever. Similarly, if they find a broadcast execrable they may be too polite to cause embarrassment to the performers by carping [!] publicly. Some also may feel a bit intimidated by the frequent posters who appear to be frightfully expert about everything. It's certainly all bluff in my case, but I'm sure the real experts, such as Roger Judd for instance, are only too glad to hear anyone's thoughts or opinions and would not be in any way dismissive of them. And, Quillers, I do like a well and truly mixed metaphor.....

[ardcarp]

PS If you didn't listen, you've got about a day left. Definitely worth it.

[DracoM]

I think loads of people listen; and if they simply enjoy what they hear, feel no impulse to rush to their laptops or whatever. Similarly, if they find a broadcast execrable they may be too polite to cause embarrassment to the performers by carping [!] publicly. Some also may feel a bit intimidated by the frequent posters who appear to be frightfully expert about everything. It's certainly all bluff in my case, but I'm sure the real experts, such as Roger Judd for instance, are only too glad to hear anyone's thoughts or opinions and would not be in any way dismissive of them. And, Quillers, I do like a well and truly mixed metaphor.....

There is abundant evidence that a very decent number of pro practitioners come to these threads to get a sort of fix on how their services came over. And even better, they write in too. It's a community of doers and spectators we're after, whatever level of real or imagined competence. The guess might be that actually, per caput of those writing in, a very high proportion are now in / have been directly in the business. It's the interaction between all levels that makes this Forum work.

[Quilisma]

Ardcarp, I quite agree. I was merely responding to Draco's evident disappointment in finding no more reviews of the service within the new messages upon his return! As you'll see, I very rarely post on here now, and resurfaced merely to clear up any factual misunderstandings, as they always arise when it's Win Coll. But I got carried away, as is my wont. Ever since I was accused of staggering hagiographic sycophancy just for outlining the rationale behind a particular director's approach (not MDA that time), I have thought it best to keep my distance. At least when the same old ugly spats and indiscretions flair up on here over and over again I can take some consolation from not being implicated myself. I don't mean to sound self-righteous or anything, as to be honest I very rarely have anything interesting to add anyway (apart from general appreciation) and there's absolutely no reason for me to post on here unless I have something that really needs to be said. Many have told me they feel the same. After all, these are not "message boards of record", just a forum where a motley bunch of people (some of them very knowledgeable) type stuff more or less related to some things they may have listened to on the radio. They can be very informative, they can be very disinformative; a few read them avidly, some skim them occasionally, many don't read them at all, most don't even know about them; people in the profession know that a couple of anonymous contributors are only too willing to take any opportunity to condemn everything their personal bête noire does as fundamentally wrong and that they think he/she/it should take urgent note, and most react to this with a shrug as indignation can be counterproductive. So I'm not about much, but it's always a pleasure when I do return!

Surely it will be on iPlayer until Sunday, as that is a week after the repeat broadcast? But also don't forget the BBC Choral Evensong Underground Archive (http://wiki.seboldt.net/w/index.php/...ground_Archive), which seems to be updated fairly frequently although this broadcast hasn't yet arrived...

[Quilisma]

Ah, Draco. Well said. You are, of course, one of the great positives of these boards. If only everybody had such high standards! Although it seems that those who routinely misbehave aren't "around" at the moment...

And Ardcarp, thanks for commenting on my ungainly mixed metaphors. I'm out of practice and too much in awe of Twenty Twelve!

[Roger Judd]

... but I'm sure the real experts, such as Roger Judd for instance, are only too glad to hear anyone's thoughts or opinions and would not be in any way dismissive of them...

Absolutely, Ardcarp - I would never pretend to know all the answers. What is fascinating and heartening about this messageboard is that one pair of ears hears the same thing differently from another pair of ears - obvious really - so the breadth of discussion here is extraordinary, often very illuminating, and sometimes humbling.

Now to Winchester College - within a month of a new term/year starting, Malcolm Archer is able to present his choir as if it has been up and running for some months rather than a few weeks - remarkable. For me there were no moments of anxiety, just a service thoroughly prepared and excellently delivered, and boys through the age range really well trained, sounding fresh and lively - bravo.

Staanford's For lo, I raise up, although written in 1914, wasn't published until 1939, but received its first performance in St George's Chapel, Windsor some time in the early 1920s. Walter Parratt, then organist of the chapel, was a good friend of Stanford, who had moved to Windsor during the 1914/18 war.
RJ

[kslingsby]

I can confirm that the tune Stogursey is indeed by Malcolm Archer. The words are from the pens of Michael Sayward and Peter Simpson. It is currently in the Winchester College hymnbook and not yet commercially available. However, along with a couple of other Malcolm Archer tunes, it will soon appear in the new Ancient and Modern. I've already jotted it down by ear....hope you don't mind, MA.

Hope that helps.

What is the new A&M book, I've not heard about that, do you have any details?

[ardcarp]

What is the new A&M book, I've not heard about that, do you have any details?

No; I just heard this info on the grapevine. Maybe someone in the know could confirm?

[Philip]

No; I just heard this info on the grapevine. Maybe someone in the know could confirm?

http://www.newaandm.co.uk/

Looks like a very interesting publication, hopefully following in the spirit of the excellent 'Common Praise'. Seeing John Barnard on the editorial team certainly gives me some hope, from a musical point of view at least. I've requested a sampler, and may be tempted to buy a copy in the New Year. For churches buying in bulk the 35% grant until April 2013 is generous.

[secret squirrel]

As long as they keep to their [AMR's] original keys: Jerusalem the Golden in D , O Thou who camest in F and Angel Voices in D ... these being my "top 3 all time" favourite hymns!

[Quilisma]

SS:

[Op. XXXIX]

As long as they keep to their [AMR's] original keys: Jerusalem the Golden in D , O Thou who camest in F and Angel Voices in D ... these being my "top 3 all time" favourite hymns!

Great hymns, certainly!

Interesting that Jerusalem the Golden is in Db (easier to sing without the high F# I should think?) in NEH.

O Thou who camest is in E major in NEH, but Eb in the US Episcopal hymnal of 1982.

Angel Voices is in C major in NEH.

In my experience -which is considerable- modern congregations have trouble singing above an E, and IMO Jersusalem the Golden might be better in C. That is the key I play it in, though it undeniably feels very good under the hands in Db.

Could make for an interesting discussion!