Festival of 9 Lessons & Carols, King's College Cambridge 2013

[Alison]

Don't forget "pretentious". I'm sorry to twist the knife so uncharitably, but, really, a four-square hymn tune under full throttle just isn't the place to introduce a fretting fugue sung by a flock of twittering sparrows. With descants it really is a case of "less is more". The best ones I know all succeed because they produce something striking and arresting within an economy of means. Often they stay more or less note-for-note with the tune. Descants that try to be cleverly contrapuntal, cutting across the rhythm of the melody (often with heart-sinking delayed entries), invariably fail big time. A good descant enhances the tune. It partners it; it doesn't fight against it or demand primacy. It says, "What a wonderful hymn tune this is", not "What a good boy am I."

Absolutely spot on. Is there some sort of expectation that the Kings incumbent carries on the descant tradition set by his illustrious predecessors ?

[muzzer]

sacrifices, rituals and legal practices. All so relevant to our everyday lives.

sacrifices and rituals in legal practices, yes.

[ardcarp]

The best ones I know all succeed because they produce something striking and arresting within an economy of means. Often they stay more or less note-for-note with the tune.

I agree entirely about the need to avoid fussiness and silly academic tricks, and of course the first sentence in the quote above is true. But some fine descants are not note-for-note, and sometimes go along with a re-harmonisation. I suppose the most striking example (not a carol) is Howells' own descant to 'Michael' (All my Hope on God is Founded). The final verse of Andrew Carter's arrangement of O Come O Come Emmanuel is pretty darned good as well.

[ardcarp]

Having at last had a chance to listen to the Carol Service complete and without interruptions, I'd just like to say how good the blended sound of the choir was this year. Trebles more or less back to pure head-voices and ATBs well under control. I'd single out The Lamb and Illuminare as being especially beautiful. It's always hard to judge a new piece (i.e. the Musgrave) at first hearing. I suspect it could be sung/interpreted rather better, and maybe it needs another chance. As far as the congregational participation is concerned, it may well have been miked differently this year. The otherwise wonderful webcasts from St Thomas NY are marred by an appalling lag in congregational hymns. Mind you, those who have accompanied big services and a choir being conducted by someone who expects his beat to be followed whatevr the masses are doing will know how impossible the task is. Much better, IMO, to let the organist bounce the cong along and for the choir to be kept with it. (I'm not casting any aspersions on SC, 'cos I wasn't there and Kings isn't the easiest building when packed.)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Don't forget "pretentious". I'm sorry to twist the knife so uncharitably, but, really, a four-square hymn tune under full throttle just isn't the place to introduce a fretting fugue sung by a flock of twittering sparrows. With descants it really is a case of "less is more". The best ones I know all succeed because they produce something striking and arresting within an economy of means. Often they stay more or less note-for-note with the tune. Descants that try to be cleverly contrapuntal, cutting across the rhythm of the melody (often with heart-sinking delayed entries), invariably fail big time. A good descant enhances the tune. It partners it; it doesn't fight against it or demand primacy. It says, "What a wonderful hymn tune this is", not "What a good boy am I."

I couldn't have put it better myself.

However, a descant that adds a Gloria or something similar can be quite effective. Thomas F. Dunhill did a particularly fine one for IIt Came Upon the Midnight Clear. But it needs a good choir to bring it off. I remember being asked to sing it when at school, and it was a miserable failure. I revived it when I became a teacher myself. Same result. Maybe - one day…?

[Vox Humana]

Absolutely spot on. Is there some sort of expectation that the Kings incumbent carries on the descant tradition set by his illustrious predecessors ?

It seems to be more a case of each new DoM wanting to stamp his individuality on the service. This conversation between Messers Willcocks, Ledger and Cleobury says as much, at 09:00.

I suppose the most striking example (not a carol) is Howells' own descant to 'Michael' (All my Hope on God is Founded). The final verse of Andrew Carter's arrangement of O Come O Come Emmanuel is pretty darned good as well.

I'm afraid don't know the Carter so I might end up having to tweak my opinion, but as for Howells, I do wish he hadn't. Normally I'm a great fan of Howells, but I think it's dreadful. Rutter's is better.

[Vox Humana]

However, a descant that adds a Gloria or something similar can be quite effective.

Of course, Willcock's for "Sing choirs of angels" is also pretty contrapuntal - and clever in the way that it alludes to the Gloria of "Ding dong merrily" - but it still adorns the tune rather than competing with it. Probably another important point about descants generally is the rather obvious one of how good the descant is as a melody is in its own right. Willcocks's is so good that it wears its cleverness very lightly.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

The final verse of Andrew Carter's arrangement of O Come O Come Emmanuel is pretty darned good as well.

I sang in this when in the York Chapter House Choir (which was founded by Andrew Carter). The entire Carols by Candlelight concert was being recorded for broadcast on Radio 2 (yes, really). The problem was that it was treated as a processional hymn and the choir was unaccompanied for several verses, and we had a tendency to lose pitch before the organ finally entered. "Keep thinking upwards" was the instruction we were given by conductor Andrew Padmore. So "on the night" that's exactly what we did. When the organ finally entered, it was bang in tune, and we felt smug and self-satisfied for the rest of the evening.

At the end, we chatted with the organist, saying how relieved we were to have stayed at the correct pitch. The organist (Geoffrey Coffin) replied: "Oh, but you didn't. I had to transpose it up a semitone".

[hmvman]

While Shepherds Watched was at one time sung to the tune of On Ilkla Moor Baht 'at but it's rather difficult to make the words fit.

I've sung While Shepherds Watched several times in York this Christmas - all to the tune of On Ilkla Moor.. and people didn't seem to have too much trouble fitting the words. It's the only way to sing it for me now - much better than the rather dreary tune I knew before I moved from the deep South to GOC!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I've sung While Shepherds Watched several times in York this Christmas - all to the tune of On Ilkla Moor.. and people didn't seem to have too much trouble fitting the words. It's the only way to sing it for me now - much better than the rather dreary tune I knew before I moved from the deep South to GOC!

It' justba question of fitting a 4 line into a 6. line melody that puzzles me.

[hmvman]

It' justba question of fitting a 4 line into a 6. line melody that puzzles me.

Well, EA, the way we've been singing it is to repeat line 3 once and repeat line 4 twice. Thus:

While Shepherds watched their flocks by night
All seated on the ground
The Angel of the Lord came down
The Angel of the Lord came down
And glory shone around
And glory shone around
And glory shone around

Some of the more enthusiastic singers also add the 'echo' to line one:

"While Shepherds watched their flocks by night (flocks by night)…."

[ardcarp]

but as for Howells' [descant], I do wish he hadn't.

It's outrageous isn't it? That's why I love it.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Well, EA, the way we've been singing it is to repeat line 3 once and repeat line 4 twice.

Thanks for that. I've often wondered.

[mopsus]

The TV 'carols from King's' is sometimes not only recorded earlier, but a repeat of the previous year's Carols from King's broadcast. (The date in the closing credits gives it away if this is the case!) Years ago I was once invited to be in the congregation, and then the planned recording was scrapped and a repeat broadcast. I have noticed other repeats since then.

If you don't like Weir's Illuminare Jerusalem, be warned that it is the introit for Jan 8th's evensong broadcast.

I agree with Vox (if I may) about descants. In the last couple of years they have become common on evensong broadcasts and many I feel detract from rather than enhance the hymn they are a descant to.

[DracoM]

Agreed on descants.