Hooray! Here it is from the star witness:
Best wishes, MC, and thanks for your erudition.
ardcarp
Dear *******
The event you describe did happen, with some sleight of hand inasmuch as we had memorised a short passage which was sung gathered round the Choirbook (yes, the original) to give an idea of how our early 16th century predecessors would have sung from it! This was done at the time James McConnell was working on a book entitled “Treasures of Eton” (copyright P&F 1976) and a TV programme about the treasures was broadcast. The said programme brought about the changing all the chapel locks, and maybe others, because the insurance company feared it would attract unseemly interest from art thieves!
Of course you can sing from the original if you know how, but it is a very specialised art! Recently a facsimile of the book has been produced and I am happy to have a copy. There was an event at the Music Faculty in Oxford to mark completion of the publication. Sadly, I think I was the only Eton-connected person present. A group of musicologists involved with the publication sang items from the ECB – most from the Musica Britannica transcriptions that we used, but one of them sang from a photocopy of the original – so it really can be done and I have witnessed a performance!
Do by all means give me another ring; I shall be delighted to talk about it. Very best wishes,
Graham
The event you describe did happen, with some sleight of hand inasmuch as we had memorised a short passage which was sung gathered round the Choirbook (yes, the original) to give an idea of how our early 16th century predecessors would have sung from it! This was done at the time James McConnell was working on a book entitled “Treasures of Eton” (copyright P&F 1976) and a TV programme about the treasures was broadcast. The said programme brought about the changing all the chapel locks, and maybe others, because the insurance company feared it would attract unseemly interest from art thieves!
Of course you can sing from the original if you know how, but it is a very specialised art! Recently a facsimile of the book has been produced and I am happy to have a copy. There was an event at the Music Faculty in Oxford to mark completion of the publication. Sadly, I think I was the only Eton-connected person present. A group of musicologists involved with the publication sang items from the ECB – most from the Musica Britannica transcriptions that we used, but one of them sang from a photocopy of the original – so it really can be done and I have witnessed a performance!
Do by all means give me another ring; I shall be delighted to talk about it. Very best wishes,
Graham
ardcarp
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