CE King's College, Cambridge: Wed 22nd January

[Vox Humana]

I'd have liked the plainsong done alternately by boys and men rather than unison throughout. This was often the practice for psalms in the Anglo-Catholic tradition, where they only joined together for the Gloria.

It is only the relatively recent Anglo-Catholic tradition though. The original (i.e. pre-Reformation) tradition is to alternate the two sides of the choir, both sides (as you point out) joining for the Gloria. Anglican chant is thus closer to tradition in this respect. You may guess which I would prefer! :)

[ardcarp]

Just looked at my own copy of Briggs and Frere, the 1902 edition, ed. John Stainer. It was bequeathed to me by a splendid old fellow, Bill Tartellin, now long deceased. He was in the foreign service working in the Sudan, and moonlighted as organist of Khartoum (presumably Anglican) Cathedral. Inside the front cover is:

CLERGY HOUSE LIBRARY
KHARTOUM

A treasured possession.