CE Edington Priory, Wiltshire Wed, 20th August 2014

[DracoM]

CE Edington Priory, Wiltshire
Edington Festival of Music within the Liturgy



Order of Service:



Introit: Sweetest of sweets (Howells)
Responses: Smith
Psalm: 34 (Matthew Martin)
First Lesson: Joshua 24: 14-24
Antiphon: Veni sancte Spiritus (plainsong)
Canticles: St John's Service (Matthew Martin)
Second Lesson: 1 Peter 2: 4-10
Anthem: Laetatus sum (Victoria)
Final Hymn: Teach me, my God and King (Sandys)



Organ Voluntary: Dankpsalm (Reger)


Daniel Hyde (Organist)
Matthew Martin, Peter Stevens and Jeremy Summerly (Choir Directors)

[ardcarp]

Are there any details of which choir is singing what? They have three choirs, if I recall correctly; a boys' choir, a plainsong choir and a choral scholars' choir. And have they had the organ upgraded since I was there about 40 years ago? It was a bit of an old squeeze box, and I can't imagine the Reger being played on it!

[Caussade]

Are there any details of which choir is singing what? They have three choirs, if I recall correctly; a boys' choir, a plainsong choir and a choral scholars' choir. And have they had the organ upgraded since I was there about 40 years ago? It was a bit of an old squeeze box, and I can't imagine the Reger being played on it!

They have, very recently - details here http://www.harrisonorgans.com/wp-con...ton-Priory.pdf

[Miles Coverdale]

Are there any details of which choir is singing what? They have three choirs, if I recall correctly; a boys' choir, a plainsong choir and a choral scholars' choir. And have they had the organ upgraded since I was there about 40 years ago? It was a bit of an old squeeze box, and I can't imagine the Reger being played on it!

When I sang at Edington in the 1990s, the three choirs were referred to as the Schola (plainsong), the Nave Choir (men and boys) and the Consort (mixed voices). I don't think it's really correct to refer to the Consort as a choir of choral scholars, as there are/were some slightly older professional singers in it.

My guess would be that the Consort will sing the Howells and the Victoria, the Schola the plainsong, and the Nave Choir everything else.

The organ was replaced a couple of years ago. The old one, as well as being a bit rubbish, was nearly a semitone sharp. Stanford in C# was a bit trying.

[Matthew Martin]

Both the Consort and Nave will sing the Victoria. Well, that's the plan.

[ardcarp]

Thanks, both. In its early days, there was just one choir, comprising senior boys from a few places plus chosen men. Richard Seal directed it in 1970-ish.

[Wolsey]

The organ was replaced a couple of years ago.

Apologies for the terseness, but please could people check their facts before posting on a public medium? The installation of the new organ was, in fact, completed earlier this year, and the instrument was dedicated on Palm Sunday.

[Miles Coverdale]

Apologies for the terseness, but please could people check their facts before posting on a public medium? The installation of the new organ was, in fact, completed earlier this year, and the instrument was dedicated on Palm Sunday.

Very sorry, I'm sure. I didn't bother to check the accuracy of the phrase ‘a couple of years ago’ as I hadn’t realised the event was of quite such global significance. I shall hand myself in to the nearest police station immediately.

[DracoM]

It really is Wednesday this week, so...........here is the respectful reminder: CE today @ 3.30 p.m.

[DracoM]

There is evident sincerity and commitment in the service, and much work had clearly gone into it.
But every year I tune in to this CE I know we will have a close, boxy acoustic, encompassing three choirs each of whom need slightly different miking, and every year all three groups always sounds squashed and airless.

At the Festival itself, do each of the ensembles major in separate services, and this broadcast is the only one where all three operate together?

The group that IMO sounded most at home were the plainchant group - less is more? A stillness and cool expressiveness with unanimity and unity of purpose.

I'm afraid the Matthew Martin pieces will take some hard work listening again - challenging in musical structures and demanding both to sing and to listen to.

[mw963]

I agree with your comments about the acoustic, but never having set foot in the place I don't know if that's what it actually sounds like - it probably does I suspect.

I hesitate to comment on the organ as there are so many others here who know more about the subject, but I've just looked at the spec sheet (or at least the proposed spec sheet) and it confirmed my thoughts during the Reger, ie that it cries out for a Swell Octave coupler, given that there isn't a 4 ft reed anywhere to be found. Am I the only one who likes a Clarion 4 ft or at least something that makes a similar noise via extension? At £400,000 odd would it have been such an extravagance? Am I revealing my ignorance/prejudices?

[chitreb]

I had the privilege of singing at the Edington Festival in 1963 when the festival director was David Calcutt, the organist was Simon Preston, the Polyphonic Choir (today's Knave Choir I guess) included John Eliot Gardiner and the Plainsong choir included Richard Seal.

The trebles came from Exeter, Winchester, St Alban's, Westminster Abbey, Portsmouth, Christ Church Oxford and Chichester. All the men were from Kings College Cambridge and included Simon Carrington, one of the original King's Singers.

We sang a lot of Byrd, Weelkes, Tallis, Morley, Tomkins and Gibbons, which wasn't entirely to my taste but felt very suitable for those surroundings.

Wednesday CE was broadcast by the BBC. Whilst the acoustics of the Priory Church were somewhat different to the Cathedral acoustics we were used to, I don't recall feeling particularly boxed in. I wonder if the recording still exists somewhere.

[decantor]

I had the privilege of singing at the Edington Festival in 1963 when the festival director was David Calcutt, the organist was Simon Preston, the Polyphonic Choir (today's Knave Choir I guess) included John Eliot Gardiner and the Plainsong choir included Richard Seal.

The trebles came from Exeter, Winchester, St Alban's, Westminster Abbey, Portsmouth, Christ Church Oxford and Chichester. All the men were from Kings College Cambridge and included Simon Carrington, one of the original King's Singers.

Oddly enough, chitreb, I'd planned to attend that Festival in 1963 - it was the year I first heard of Edington's enterprise. A friend and I were intending to hire a car, but somewhere along the line the arrangements stalled. I might well have listened to the broadcast, though I have no specific memory of it. 50 years on, and I still haven't attended an Edington Festival.

It is always interesting to hear from where Edington draws its trebles. I have this quaint idea that it reflects well on a choral foundation if its choristers are prepared to turn out for a week in August.

I've always supposed that the acoustic at Edington is deadened by the packed congregations it attracts. To my mind, the Nave choir usually suffers the most from this, perhaps because of its positioning. But I did enjoy this latest broadcast - the wide variety in the music list suited me well.

[Matthew Martin]

There is evident sincerity and commitment in the service, and much work had clearly gone into it.
But every year I tune in to this CE I know we will have a close, boxy acoustic, encompassing three choirs each of whom need slightly different miking, and every year all three groups always sounds squashed and airless.

At the Festival itself, do each of the ensembles major in separate services, and this broadcast is the only one where all three operate together?

The group that IMO sounded most at home were the plainchant group - less is more? A stillness and cool expressiveness with unanimity and unity of purpose.

I'm afraid the Matthew Martin pieces will take some hard work listening again - challenging in musical structures and demanding both to sing and to listen to.

All three groups participate in most services so the broadcast is representative in that respect. Re the boxiness of the acoustic - it's a boxy acoustic….every year..

I'm glad you found my canticles challenging - I'd be most disappointed if all was revealed on a first hearing. Have you tried singing them? Don't worry - they're not difficult to put together. The Nave Choir only saw them first on Monday morning.

[teamsaint]

Trebles from Salisbury definitely sang at the festival around 1973/5, and quite likely before and after.
IIRC there was only one choir then. Dont recall where the other trebles came from, although I dont remember any from Winchester or Chichester being there.