CE Durham Cathedral Wed, 12th November 2014

[DracoM]

CE Durham Cathedral



Order of Service:



Responses: Francis Jackson
Psalms 65, 66 & 67 (Taylor, Gray, Camidge)
First Lesson: Isaiah 6
Canticles: John Casken
Second Lesson: Matthew 5: 21-37
Anthem: Jesu, the very thought of thee (Cecilia McDowall)
Hymn: The sun is sinking fast (Binham)



Organ Voluntary: Sacrificium (Casken)



Francesca Massey (Sub-Organist)
James Lancelot (Master of the Choristers and Organist)

[ardcarp]

That was an enterprising choice of music, tackled without fear! The Casken Nunc seemed especially tricky, I thought. There were some lovely moments in the McDowell, a few high 'floated' treble notes which were perhaps a little forced elsewhere. But this was a taxing sing, so well done all at Durham. Superb playing from Francesca!

[DracoM]

'Enterprising'? Hmm, yes, very. Tricky, yes, very. Best use of very willing, very talented choir? Hmm. Good listening? Debatable. With that kind of music, I suppose you have to mike the choir close or it turns into undifferentiated mush in a big acoustic? Not my taste.

McDowall anthem had its moments, well sung, and after the Casken must have felt like a comfort zone.

Casken voluntary was gymnastic, exciting sonically, but structurally - not sure. Guy seems not to know when to put the final full stop, IMO. Like the 'Amens' in the canticles, maybe?

[ardcarp]

John Casken is a quite well-known composer:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Casken

That his music is not of the Whitacre/Lauridsen tendency is a big plus for me!

[DracoM]

<< not of the Whitacre/Lauridsen tendency! >>

Oh, yes, certainly agree with THAT!


I thought the eclectic nature of the McDowall was a good contrast.

[chitreb]

Another wonderful example of how superb our Cathedral organists and sub-organists are. I certainly preferred the Casken voluntary to the Casken canticles but also enjoyed the McDowall anthem very much.

[Vile Consort]

'Enterprising'? Hmm, yes, very. Tricky, yes, very. Best use of very willing, very talented choir? Hmm. Good listening? Debatable. With that kind of music, I suppose you have to mike the choir close or it turns into undifferentiated mush in a big acoustic? Not my taste.

McDowall anthem had its moments, well sung, and after the Casken must have felt like a comfort zone.

Casken voluntary was gymnastic, exciting sonically, but structurally - not sure. Guy seems not to know when to put the final full stop, IMO. Like the 'Amens' in the canticles, maybe?

Who's Guy? Do you mean Francesca Massey?

[ardcarp]

I think Draco meant that the piece was written to end in an undemonstrative way.