CE Parish Church of St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol April 3rd 2013

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

What is the difference between 'a forum for the exchange and expression of opinion' and an arena in which to vent pet prejudices?

If you agree with someone, they have an "opinion" which they are "expressing"; if you disagree with them, they have a "pet prejudices" which they are "venting", perhaps? The main thing is the "exchange".

[mopsus]

I can confirm that St Mary Redcliffe is a wonderful building to sing in. Last month one of the bells there was replaced, so it now chimes the quarters without a 'clunk'. It is architecturally spectacular too, especially the exotic north porch. Well worth a visit if you are in Bristol (it is a short walk from Temple Meads station, on the way to the city centre).
I enjoyed the broadcast, though I must confess to missing the angels shouting for joy in the first hymn (even though it means only a half-rhyme with 'high').

[Simon]

What a miserable choice of music for a group of young singers. One of Bairstow's feeblest works, some formulaic and forgettable stuff by Panufnik and then more vacant meandering about.

Thet made a good job of the psalms, I thought - a couple of decent chants helped. But a shame we then had to wait till near the end to hear a truly magnificent tune. And no, I didn't mean that lightweight voluntary. I meant Maccabaeus: that's real church music.

The idea that to work with young people you have to programme "modern" stuff seems still to be prevalent in some quarters: it's total balderdash, of course. Give them truly great music, and they love it, however old it is. It's a tragedy that these youngsters don't get to shine with the great masters of the past, and have to plough through what in my opinion is second and third rate trash.

[DracoM]

Not mincing your words, I see, Simon .
BUT, hang on............
I think 'trash' is putting it a tad too strongly. I'd suggest that it would have been pretty taxing for the singers to perform in different ways, even if the impact for some in the congregation/audience might have been less challenging and inspiring.

As I said above, I have heard this and similar youth-based ensembles, and I have to agree in part that they rise to greater heights when the music in front of them has a bit more to it than some of the material we heard in Bristol. I truly do hope we can hear them in pieces that engage the heart a touch more.

[chitreb]

Just listened to this broadcast and I'm not sure it was the same service listened to by others judging by some of the comments so far. I am usually hypercritical about CE but just couldn't see the bad or trashy or formulaic in this. The choir seemed very well balanced and with nice tonal quality and excellent intonation - not easy to achieve in what is presumably an occasional choir. The organ too was well played and although the voluntary was unusual in a church setting I enjoyed it, and the final flourish made me smile. The various first performances were, I thought, well delivered and whilst time will tell whether they have staying power I didn't find them trashy or particularly lightweight. My one slight negative was the second psalm which I thought could have been delivered a fraction quicker.

[mopsus]

I think David Ogden's reason for giving the MYC lots of contemporary music to sing is that 'they've got the rest of their lives to sing Stanford'. I don't totally agree - unless they go on to be lay clerks there is a lot of great cathedral repertory that they're unlikely to do because it's too long (and, often, too difficult) for church choirs. Even after many years of Cathedral singing with visiting choirs there are a number of 'standard' pieces I've never sung.

[utterrutter]

Very interesting

I think David Ogden's reason for giving the MYC lots of contemporary music to sing is that 'they've got the rest of their lives to sing Stanford'. I don't totally agree - unless they go on to be lay clerks there is a lot of great cathedral repertory that they're unlikely to do because it's too long (and, often, too difficult) for church choirs. Even after many years of Cathedral singing with visiting choirs there are a number of 'standard' pieces I've never sung.

Interestingly, the next evening, the choir sang Stanford's Evening Canticles in Bb and 'Ye Choirs of New Jerusalem' with a group of younger singers in Bristol Cathedral. Additionally, the same night they sang a concert in St Mary Redcliffe with a programme including Bairstow (Let all mortal flesh) and Bainton (And I saw a new heaven), as well as the Radio 3 broadcast pieces. It is the RSCM's flagship choir - encouraging young singers to enagage with all kinds of repertoire, old and new. With all the great work that the RSCM does, I think it's so important to value the singers' contribution - many of them will have just finished a busy Holy Week.