CE Bath Abbey 19.i.Xl

[weston752]

VCC

You could hardly be more wrong! And as the boys are broadcasting this Sunday, and were last broadcast on Christmas Day in 2008, you can hardly say that they are being passed over. For a parish church, normally singing on Sundays only, I'd say we were doing pretty well for airtime!

[Magnificat]

Fair enough but it would l be good to hear them sing CE with the men next time it comes from Bath.

VCC

[DracoM]

I think we may be in danger of forgetting the ahem! commenrcial aspect here. If, in a city like Bath, on a high prestige programme like CE, the girls are heard more regularly, and pace Weston in term of R3's CE in recent years that IS the case with Bath Abbey, then girls / their parents might feel more encouraged to audition for the choir. If you don't showcase the boys on such high profile progs, it can - not saying it does at all but....- can become a self-fulfilling prophesy that fewer boys apply.

We have long debated on these and R3 threads about this, and it has to be true that, aesthetics aside for some, recruiting girls is certainly a safer option in terms of long term reliability, long term familiarity with repertoire, and long term awareness by choir of DoM's requirements.

In such contexts, the subjectivity of personal preference of course rears its head.

[decantor]

I confess that I personally always to prefer to hear a boys' unit sing CE if one is available - I like the reassurance that the tradition is still going strong, that boys are learning to sing, and that we have DoMs who take the trouble to recruit and train them, especially in establishments without benefit of choir school. Naturally, I also like the sound they make, which somehow matches the repertoire.

However, I did not find myself pining for the boys during the Bath CE. The girls offered a true cathedral-type sound, and had a fresh quality that made me think that a fair number of them must be at the lower end of the age spectrum. They presented the chosen music list with conviction and without showiness, such that the music played its appropriate role in adorning the liturgy. The fact that the chosen list also appealed to me enormously was a welcome bonus, as was the fact that the priest who offered the final prayers had the most wonderful voice for the task - she should be co-opted at once into the BBC's religious department! I thus join the chorus of applause and gratitude for a memorably fine service.

[bach736]

"Bath Abbey - where Earth and Heaven meet"

They certainly did.

[Lizzie]

I confess that I personally always to prefer to hear a boys' unit sing CE if one is available - I like the reassurance that the tradition is still going strong, that boys are learning to sing, and that we have DoMs who take the trouble to recruit and train them, especially in establishments without benefit of choir school. Naturally, I also like the sound they make, which somehow matches the repertoire.

However, I did not find myself pining for the boys during the Bath CE. The girls offered a true cathedral-type sound, and had a fresh quality that made me think that a fair number of them must be at the lower end of the age spectrum. They presented the chosen music list with conviction and without showiness, such that the music played its appropriate role in adorning the liturgy. The fact that the chosen list also appealed to me enormously was a welcome bonus, as was the fact that the priest who offered the final prayers had the most wonderful voice for the task - she should be co-opted at once into the BBC's religious department! I thus join the chorus of applause and gratitude for a memorably fine service.

What a truly wonderful service. I just managed to LA in the library and enjoyed every uplifting moment of it. I don't recall hearing the Joubert Canticles before but, found them glorious. I adore the Whitacre anyway but, teamed with the Part a little later, wow! The Durufle was a wonderful close to a splendid programme. The organ really has such a wonderful sound ... The whole CE was one which really brought me that little closer to God.

I thought the girls and men sounded superb and as well-drilled as any cathedral choir I've heard over a very long time. Thank you all so very much for it, clergy and musicians alike.
Very best wishes. Liz

[ardcarp]

I wonder if anyone else heard Sunday Worship from Bath Abbey with the combined boys' and girls' choirs? It featured musical psalm settings by Stephen Faux. Usually I dislike this 'popular' piano and small instrument ensemble genre. But these were really quite interesting. The recording levels were odd though. The girl soloists were very much to the fore, as were the instruments. The choristers, however, were afar off which I thought was a shame. The hymns didn't quite work for me, because along with the unison treble line were some distant male voices (not choirmen) singing along at the (approximate) octave. Still, I suppose congregatons have to be tolerated!

[Lizzie]

I wonder if anyone else heard Sunday Worship from Bath Abbey with the combined boys' and girls' choirs? It featured musical psalm settings by Stephen Faux. Usually I dislike this 'popular' piano and small instrument ensemble genre. But these were really quite interesting. The recording levels were odd though. The girl soloists were very much to the fore, as were the instruments. The choristers, however, were afar off which I thought was a shame. The hymns didn't quite work for me, because along with the unison treble line were some distant male voices (not choirmen) singing along at the (approximate) octave. Still, I suppose congregatons have to be tolerated!

I heard it on the way to Winchester and very much enjoyed it. Though Shaun Bowers' organ accompaniments very good too. Old mate of mine so might be slightly biased! Liz

[Lizzie]

I wonder if anyone else heard Sunday Worship from Bath Abbey with the combined boys' and girls' choirs? It featured musical psalm settings by Stephen Faux. Usually I dislike this 'popular' piano and small instrument ensemble genre. But these were really quite interesting. The recording levels were odd though. The girl soloists were very much to the fore, as were the instruments. The choristers, however, were afar off which I thought was a shame. The hymns didn't quite work for me, because along with the unison treble line were some distant male voices (not choirmen) singing along at the (approximate) octave. Still, I suppose congregatons have to be tolerated!

I heard it on the way to Winchester and very much enjoyed it. Though Shaun Bowers' organ accompaniments very good too. Old mate of mine so might be slightly biased! Liz

[bach736]

Lizzie - why do all your recent posts come up twice? Is this the new stereo?

[Lizzie]

Lizzie - why do all your recent posts come up twice? Is this the new stereo?

No idea! Probably twitchy thumb via my mobile!

[decantor]

I wonder if anyone else heard Sunday Worship from Bath Abbey with the combined boys' and girls' choirs? It featured musical psalm settings by Stephen Faux. Usually I dislike this 'popular' piano and small instrument ensemble genre. But these were really quite interesting. The recording levels were odd though. The girl soloists were very much to the fore, as were the instruments. The choristers, however, were afar off which I thought was a shame. The hymns didn't quite work for me, because along with the unison treble line were some distant male voices (not choirmen) singing along at the (approximate) octave. Still, I suppose congregatons have to be tolerated!

Intrigued by your post, ardcarp, I went to the iPlayer. I confess that my prejudices do not allow me to find that sort of service very uplifting, though it was conducted with perfect decorum. The Faux psalm-settings (there's a pun in there somewhere!) were indeed more interesting than usually emerge from such ensembles, and the second (or third?) of them was quite powerful; there was stylistic unity, even if the style was like upbeat Finzi. Unfortunately I got it into my head that much of the music would be a suitable sound-track for a TV doc about a family of squirrels in the Forest of Dene! Much was staked on the girl soloist, and she did them proud (especially at 8.00am!). The treble chorus was indeed at a distance, but it had commendable gusto and penetration; I thought the congregational sounds were 'discreetly' suppressed by the Beeb - almost to the point of indiscretion!

[weston752]

Might be slightly mistaken too, I'm afraid Lizzie - it was Marcus Sealy playing and Shean directing!

[bach736]

That's very interesting, Weston, as obviously you were there, yet Radio Times gave Peter as co DOM and Shean as organist! There were no verbal music credits at the end - so Continuity were playing it safe.

[Lizzie]

That's very interesting, Weston, as obviously you were there, yet Radio Times gave Peter as co DOM and Shean as organist! There were no verbal music credits at the end - so Continuity were playing it safe.

Thanks Bach! Began to doubt my literacy there! In that case, well done both boys! Enjoyed it rather a lot. Love the round of that organ. Liz