CE St George's Chapel, Windsor Nov 28th 2012

[DracoM]

CE St George's Chapel, Windsor Nov 28th 2012


Order of Service:


Introit: Behold, the tabernacle of God (Harris)
Responses: Philip Moore
Psalms: 136, 137, 138 (Atkins, Lang, Ley)
First Lesson: Jeremiah 31: 1-9
Canticles: St John's Service (Tippett)
Second Lesson: Matthew 15: 21-31
Anthem: O Lord, grant the Queen a long life (Francis Pott) (Choirbook for the Queen)
Hymn: O for a thousand tongues to sing (Arden)


Organ Voluntary: Litanies (Jehan Alain)



Richard Pinel (Assistant Director of Music
Timothy Byram-Wigfield (Director of Music)

[Simon]

Don't know the Tippett service - we never did it. But Sir M. could write well for choral forces, so here's hoping. I'm told that FP has made a good job of his offering, but of course well have to see. When I had the book to look at it was one I didn't read through closely.

The Harris introit is lovely, as one would expect. I like Moore's responses. (Just personal opinions, of course!)

Looking forward to it.

[Miles Coverdale]

Don't know the Tippett service - we never did it.

Oh, I'm sure you'll like it.

[Simon]

When was it written?

[Vile Consort]

1961 according to the publisher's website.

[ardcarp]

Don't know the Tippett service - we never did it.

(Simon)

Oh, I'm sure you'll like it.

(Miles C)

Simon,

I suspect a little irony in Miles' reply. I hope you'll like it, but I ha' me doots.

[Finzi4ever]

(Simon)

(Miles C)

Simon,

I suspect a little irony in Miles' reply. I hope you'll like it, but I ha' me doots.

If you want a pre-listen(?), it's on the Johnian website (free membership required):

http://www.sjcchoir.co.uk/archive/canticles

[DracoM]

Not sung it, but have been at services with it, and I remember thinking 'so what'? I suppose it might be good to hear it without all the attendant material around actually being on site?

[DracoM]

If you want a pre-listen(?), it's on the Johnian website (free membership required):
http://www.sjcchoir.co.uk/archive/canticles

Can someone explain why on earth a Cambridge college website wants all that personal identity stuff just to hear archives??

[Miles Coverdale]

I've haven't seen a copy in a while, but I seem to remember it saying when it was commissioned and when it was first performed (there being about 18 months or so between the two) and some wag writing a comment to the effect that that was how long they took to learn it. Can't honestly say I miss it.

[Gabriel Jackson]

I've haven't seen a copy in a while, but I seem to remember it saying when it was commissioned and when it was first performed (there being about 18 months or so between the two) and some wag writing a comment to the effect that that was how long they took to learn it. Can't honestly say I miss it.

All the score says is that it was commissioned for the 450th anniversary in 1961 and premiered in March 1962. No information about when it was commissioned, or when it was completed and delivered...

I find it bizarre that this piece always provokes so much anxious comment - it's hardly shockingly avant-garde (it is 50 years old!) or outrageously difficult!

[Simon]

Well, I wasn't anxious, Gabriel. (Though I'm starting to wonder now... )

Not really -only joking.

I was and still am looking forward to hearing it.

IIMSS, the age of it is irrelevant. There were some great pieces written at that time, as well as some appallingly awful ones.

I'm no great admirer of Sir M's music, though I've enjoyed parts of A Child. I'd like to see it all through, live, one day.

[Wolsey]

I'm told that FP has made a good job of his offering, but of course well have to see. When I had the book to look at it was one I didn't read through closely.

Francis Pott's O Lord, grant the Queen a long life was sung by the choir of New College, Oxford in the ill-fated live relay of Wednesday 30 May when a thunderstorm caused a power failure during transmission. The service was broadcast in its entirety on Sunday 3 June. The anthem was commissioned for St George's Chapel ten years ago, and - to my ears - Pott's distinctive harmonic language and use of eight-part texture work well.

[Keraulophone]

When this terrific piece was discussed re CE St Paul's Cathedral 1/2/2012, Miles Coverdale put a big smile on my face recounting that

"Legend has it that after one performance, the Dean of whichever cathedral it was started the Creed by saying 'I still believe in God …' "

Sometimes that goes through my mind after singing certain other 'challenging' settings... (no names).

[DracoM]

Beware: this one is not repeated on Sunday, of course.
It will I hope be available on iPlayer for seven days from Wednesday.