St Paul's Cathedral - archive broadcast

[Petrushka]

Believe me, when it comes to being a technical ignoramus I'm in a league of my own but had no problems with this at all. Dead easy.

http://www.inquiresandplaces.com/

I just clicked on Teamsaints link (copied above) and then clicked on the bars on the left hand side to access loads of stuff. There are various choral recordings, some go back to the early days of the gramophone, at the top and bottom of each web page.

For lovers of church music this is real treasure.

I see what you mean now! I can't get any sound from the recordings of the LP covers either. Can anyone help?

[Mr Stoat]

I see what you mean now! I can't get any sound from the recordings of the LP covers either. Can anyone help?

Phew! glad it's not just me!!

[gainasbass]

Psalms 23 and 111 sung by St George's Chapel Windsor Castle directed by Edmund H Fellowes and recorded c.1920 are a revelation! "In Quires" is a fantastic site. Thanks again teamsaint!

[Vox Humana]

I see what you mean now! I can't get any sound from the recordings of the LP covers either. Can anyone help?

It may or may not be of help, but I have read elsewhere of a case where inquiresandplaces worked on someone's PC but not on their iPad.

[Gabriel Jackson]

I see what you mean now! I can't get any sound from the recordings of the LP covers either. Can anyone help?

You're not meant to! There are sound files at the bottom and/or top of each webpage.

[Petrushka]

You're not meant to! There are sound files at the bottom and/or top of each webpage.

I know, but if you hovered your mouse over the pictures of the LP covers those arrows appeared which seemed to indicate a sound file. Too much to hope for I guess.

[Mr Stoat]

Psalms 23 and 111 sung by St George's Chapel Windsor Castle directed by Edmund H Fellowes and recorded c.1920 are a revelation! "In Quires" is a fantastic site. Thanks again teamsaint!

Got it sussed now! A revelation indeed!! give me lengthened syllables a la CCCO (and Guest at SJC) any day over the "clipping" of "Shepherd" and "nothing" Yuk!!

[secret squirrel]

I can't quite recacll the dates of Dearneley/Rose-Dearnley/Scott-Dearnley/Scott succession...

Sorry for the bump, but...
While I may be mistaken, I recall the following from my time there (not the entire duration, i should add, just 81-86...):

BMR joined as Sub Organist in 1974 and in 1977 became formally "Sub Organist and Master of the Choristers" until his [very untimely] 'resignation' in 1984; yet all the while CHD was "Organist" since his appointment (from Salisbury) a few years earlier (late 60s?) to his retirement (in 1990?).

JS was Organ Scholar (?) at both Southwark and St Paul's in his very early days there (1979/80?) and formally took over the "Sub Organist" title in 1984, but only the directing of the choir the year after BMR's resignation (not sure about whether or not he took on or not the "MoC" bit too then, sorry) and then became "Organist [and MoC ?]" on CHD's retirement.

So CHD was in charge for the 84/85 year (and the record "Lift Up Ye Heads" testifies to this, with CHD conducting and JS playing - one of the best records they ever made, IMVVHO!).

I believe AL was "Sub Assistant Sub Organist" (my term!) when all four were there, then Assistant Sub Organist after 1984, then Sub Organist from 1990.

I think that's right, and sincerest apologies to any / all if I am mistaken along the way, but I trust that clarifies a bit!

Yes, the 80s decade (well late 70s-late 80s) was to many the best that choir ever was, though today's lot aren't far off at all

[ardcarp]

Thanks SS.

[Magnificat]

Sorry for the bump, but...
While I may be mistaken, I recall the following from my time there (not the entire duration, i should add, just 81-86...):



JS took over the "Sub Organist" title in 1984, but only the directing of the choir the year after BMR's resignation (not sure about whether or not he took on or not the "MoC" bit too then, sorry) and then became "Organist [and MoC ?]" on CHD's retirement.

So CHD was in charge for the 84/85 year (and the record "Lift Up Ye Heads" testifies to this, with CHD conducting and JS playing - one of the best records they ever made, IMVVHO!).

:

SS

So JS did take on the directing (and presumably the training) of the choir well before this archive service as I remembered reading somewhere. The question remains therefore: why did CD give up the choir again so long before his retirement? Did he, in fact, lose his confidence after all BR's achievements? The choir of 84/85 would, of course, have been BR's in pretty much every respect.

VCC.

[Caussade]

SS

So JS did take on the directing (and presumably the training) of the choir well before this archive service as I remembered reading somewhere. The question remains therefore: why did CD give up the choir again so long before his retirement? Did he, in fact, lose his confidence after all BR's achievements? The choir of 84/85 would, of course, have been BR's in pretty much every respect.

VCC.

I rarely bother looking on here now, and this is exactly the kind of thing that reminds me why. I don't think I'm alone in finding your continuing denigration of Christopher Dearnley extremely regrettable. Surely even you can see that asking hypothetical questions about events involving deceased people that took place 30 years ago is beyond pointless. Are you hoping someone will jump up and confirm that, in fact, Barry was so marvellous no other musician could bear to be in the building with him?

[ardcarp]

Causade. We all know that certain topics are going to recur. People are, however, free to express their views within the limits of decency. Repetition doesn't cross the boundary! Perhaps what we need is more people (such as yourself) bringing to The Choir new, exciting (and preferably different) topics for discussion.

[DracoM]

Endorsed.

[secret squirrel]

SS

So JS did take on the directing (and presumably the training) of the choir well before this archive service as I remembered reading somewhere. The question remains therefore: why did CD give up the choir again so long before his retirement? Did he, in fact, lose his confidence after all BR's achievements? The choir of 84/85 would, of course, have been BR's in pretty much every respect.

VCC.

VCC,
Others have expressed their views on your question to me and I will answer it as best I can:

I WAS ONLY 11-13 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME (!); what would I have known about a man's 'confidence' or otherwise?!

I suggest you seek the services of a good medium and ask the man himself, if you really want to know...

I was only answering arcarp's question about the rather 'muddy' transition and who did what and when. From what I recall, CHD was a very kind man and while - as professional musicians all - the members of the choir might have had (boyish or adult) views on who was their 'preferred' Director (please remember all 4 organists directed a service in the course of a week or two...) CHD certainly gave some stability to what was a difficult time for many both in and away from the stalls.

As I will now, please give it a rest and leave the memory of a fine and respected musician be.

Sorry if that's a bit curt, but so be it.

[ardcarp]

I can confirm that Christopher Dearnley was indeed a very nice man. (I met him a couple of times concerning the editing of some Croft anthems in The Treasury of English Church Music Vol III.)