View Full Version : What's your favourite set of 20th C. Responses
Finzi4ever
24-09-11, 16:06
Following in the worst tradition of Channel 4 Top 10 anythings and this board's recent questions on Te Deums and cassock colours, I ask you to name your top sets of responses but only from the last century. The Tudorbethan ones are a given.
Despite their ubiquity, Rose & Leighton have to be there, to which I would want to add Radcliffe, and a wonderfully cheesey set by Jason(?) Smart who I believe had some Bristol connections - anyone help me out here on anything else he's written or where I can get a score now of his set?
I would have thought Clucas was also firmly established in the repertoire now, alongside BR and KL. There's also a nice set by Philip Moore. But a favourite? Nothing clear-cut, I'm sorry/glad to say.
Y Mab Afradlon
24-09-11, 20:28
Jason Smart wrote the setting while he was organ scholar at Windsor. They were broadcast a few times from there during Christopher Robinson's time. Here's a link to where he is at the moment http://www.paigntonparishchurch.co.uk/the-people/
Y Mab Afradlon
24-09-11, 20:31
The Howells setting are supreme - as long as you have a Priest that can sing the intonations and a choir that can sustain the intensity of the music.
Chris Watson
25-09-11, 11:34
If I may be controversial (!), I think that the Howells are wonderful music but inappropriately long and complicated as responses. Clucas Leighton and (my favourite) Rose get the balance between musical invention and liturgical appropriateness just right, I think. Anthony Piccolo wrote a lovely set for Allan Wicks at Canterbury (although they do stray a little towards the Howells problem), and Richard Lloyd's second set (for Durham) are beautiful. But having sung them yesterday, I was reminded that Smith take some beating!
Another vote for the Lloyd second set. If I had composed that third Amen I could die happy.
Y Mab Afradlon
25-09-11, 19:21
Any votes for the Spicer set published by Basil Ramsey? or Richard Shepherd...... or Michael Walsh?
Colonel Danby
25-09-11, 19:41
I agree with Howells as among my favourite, but didn't Brian Kelly produce a setting himself? His work for Anglican worship is glorious...as a student at Durham University I spent many happy times at the Cathedral at Evensong and Matins, and I'm sure that Kelly was often performed there.
Shephard, and I agree with Chris Watson about Howells.
Rose and Clucas get my vote.
Magnificat
26-09-11, 00:11
Harold Darke for boys' voices are lovely but rarely heard these days. Simon Preston used to do them at WA and they were heard on CE sung in that beautiful broadcast from Bramdean school years ago.
VCC
Bullock in D
26-09-11, 10:31
Definitely Tunnard's responses which he wrote for Birmingham Cathedral.....and what about the Sumsion ones written for Durham Cathedral....?
The cloak of anonymity
26-09-11, 12:13
Rutter for ATB. Makes a change from the Tallis responses that are usually rolled out....
AscribeUntoTheLad
26-09-11, 13:44
Rutter for ATB. Makes a change from the Tallis responses that are usually rolled out....
Speak for yourself. I haven't sung the Tallis responses for ages.
Harold Darke for boys' voices are lovely but rarely heard these days [....] they were heard on CE sung in that beautiful broadcast from Bramdean school years ago
I remember it well. I wonder how many cathedrals do a top-line only (or for that matter men's voices only) evensong these days? And why not brcadcast one? There's some lovely repertoire (too much to list, but) eg It is a thing most wonderful/Ireland or Mag and Nunc in D/ William Harris also from that Bramdean broadcast.
Finzi4ever
26-09-11, 15:43
I agree with CW on the Howells setting and should also add the Shephard as an essential mainstay into the repertoire. Thanks to YMA for the Smart info: are his Responses published and available?
I understand that Southwell do a boys only and a mens only as part of the normal schedule, though I haven't heard either this year, having only caught the full choir when I've dropped in.
Magnificat
26-09-11, 19:27
I remember it well. I wonder how many cathedrals do a top-line only (or for that matter men's voices only) evensong these days? And why not brcadcast one? There's some lovely repertoire (too much to list, but) eg It is a thing most wonderful/Ireland or Mag and Nunc in D/ William Harris also from that Bramdean broadcast.
ardcarp
Modays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at St Albans are sung by the boys on their own.
I agree with everything you say. I've heard some absolutely lovely services there especially when there are half a dozen or so boys who really know what they are doing.
I see they were singing Jeremiah Clarke's Evening Hymn tonight and I can hear past soloists doing all the embellishments on the last verse now - absolutely beautiful.
VCC
Y Mab Afradlon
26-09-11, 20:43
[/QUOTE]Thanks to YMA for the Smart info: are his Responses published and available?[/QUOTE]
Have you looked in your inbox?
Brassbandmaestro
26-09-11, 20:53
This is a diufficult one! Too difficult for me to seperate.
Y Mab Afradlon
26-09-11, 21:45
Does anyone rate the Bernard Naylor ones written for St Paul's London?
Finzi4ever
28-09-11, 16:07
Thanks to YMA for the Smart info: are his Responses published and available?[/QUOTE]
Have you looked in your inbox?[/QUOTE]
I have indeed and have duly contacted you - thanks again for the heads-up on JS
Piccolo are quite wonderful. Shepherd are quite good. I also agree about the Lloyd. Michael Nicholas did a set which are fun. There's also a set (very early) by Philip Stopford which are pure Gorgonzola.
Radcliffe? Simple but effective
Finzi4ever
30-10-11, 18:25
Quite agree - in my top 3 prob.
Quite agree - in my top 3 prob.
Quite liked the Martin set sung at Westminster Abbey the other day. Tried to find if they are published but can't see them anywhere. Any ideas?
moeranbiogman
30-10-11, 20:26
Alan Ridout? I sang these once in Norwich..rarely done, but worth much more attention.
gainasbass
01-11-11, 01:23
Tim, re the Matthew Martin responses. In particular see posts 31 and 40 in the recent Westminster Abbey CE thread.
The other day in Sidney Sussex, I noticed that the newly bound sets of Chapel responses include those by Gabriel Jackson.
So congratulations, GJ, you're in the top17!
John Scott has in the least year written a set for St T NYC.
Keraulophone
21-02-12, 12:43
A personal rank order of SATB sets in our current rep:
1. Rose – desert island set (but must include bass low Ds)
2. Smith – so familiar, but still great
3. Leighton – invigorating, and that final unresolved Amen!
4. Radcliffe – calming balm
5. Sanders (not the feeble Dresden Amen set) - impressive in reverberant acoustic
6. Byrd – close to perfection
7. Shephard – well-crafted and colourful
8. Clucas – simple but effective
9. Tomkins – only a small measure of his genius invested here
10. Ayleward – a characterful standby
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