CE Chapel of Rugby School [L] Wed, Sept 6th 2023

[DracoM]

Hmmm! Well, who would have guessed that?

[Finzi4ever]

I assume 'The Chapel Consort' as announced at the end was the School Chapel Choir! Definitely adolescent lower parts...singing and blending very well indeed. Wasn't the 'My Cat Geoffrey' in the Britten fascinating? Usually an alto or countertenor solo, but here sung in the French 'haute contre' stye, i.e. by a tenor with an extraordinarily high range....no doubt a young man. Very effective.

Difficult repertoire very well performed. Full marks, Rugby.

Strange that the few Responses after the Creed (and the Lord's Prayer for that matter) were said, not sung. Is this a usual Rugby thing? I thought they'd dropped the ball for a moment.

As fabulous as it undoubtedly was, 'Chapel Consort' does admit to the fact that the Chapel Choir is liberally enhanced with what would uncharitably be labelled 'ringers'...and not of bells (or the 'boomer' as the Rugby tenor bell is nicknamed.

[ardcarp]

Today's Sunday Worship had also been recorded at Rugby. Impressive with choir, organ, instrumental ensemble and a chapel-full of pupils belting out the hymns. How many schools could do that...and I imagine it would be beyond the state-sector, sadly.

[DracoM]

Reminder: rpt today [Sunday] @ 3 p.m.

[Rolmill]

Strange that the few Responses after the Creed (and the Lord's Prayer for that matter) were said, not sung. Is this a usual Rugby thing? I thought they'd dropped the ball for a moment.

A church I sing evensong at occasionally usually does this - saying the Lesser Litany and Lord's Prayer before singing the remaining Responses. Not sure why, unless it's to increase congregational involvement.

[jonfan]

Agree with all the comments above, a stunningly sung service with excitement in communication, even in the huge chunk of psalmody. Britten captures the eccentric madness of Smart in his setting, daringly brought to life today. A very rewarding hour away from current problems, as the introduction stated.

[edashtav]

I assume 'The Chapel Consort' as announced at the end was the School Chapel Choir! Definitely adolescent lower parts...singing and blending very well indeed. Wasn't the 'My Cat Geoffrey'
in the Britten fascinating? Usually an alto or countertenor solo, but here sung in the French 'haute contre' stye, i.e. by a (young) tenor with an extraordinarily high range! Very effective.
Difficult repertoire very well performed. Full marks, Rugby.

Strange that the few Responses after the Creed (and the Lord's Prayer for that matter) were said, not sung. Is this a usual Rugby thing? I thought they'd dropped the ball for a moment.

Well, well, few Cathedral Choirs would risk a 16 minute cantata by Britten as an anthem at Evensong. It's a veritable choral compendium. To bolt on Tippett’s Mag and Nunc which is such a contrast, demands nerves of steel! One guesses that Choral music flourishes at Rugby because it is staffed with experts whose C.V.s show that recruitment is taken very seriously and with an expectation that recruits will be honoured to be interviewed, and , when asked to join, they don’t say,”No”.

The whole Service was sung with freshness and great characterisation.

Well done!

[ardcarp]

I assume 'The Chapel Consort' as announced at the end was the School Chapel Choir! Definitely adolescent lower parts...singing and blending very well indeed. Wasn't the 'My Cat Geoffrey' in the Britten fascinating? Usually an alto or countertenor solo, but here sung in the French 'haute contre' stye, i.e. by a tenor with an extraordinarily high range....no doubt a young man. Very effective.

Difficult repertoire very well performed. Full marks, Rugby.

Strange that the few Responses after the Creed (and the Lord's Prayer for that matter) were said, not sung. Is this a usual Rugby thing? I thought they'd dropped the ball for a moment.

[DracoM]

Well, a lot of that was deffo not for the faint-hearted, and all the more pleasing for the way all of it was carried.
Kept fingers a bit crossed in the Tippett, and loved the way the choir brought out Britten's love of young voices in 'Rejoice etc;. It had fun, cheek, reverence and a sense of excitement.
Many thx to Rugby.

[DracoM]

Reminder: today @ 4 p.m.

[ardcarp]

Indeed!

[edashtav]

Quite an enterprising CE. The Tippett and Britten (both of which I adore) aren't easy for....well I was going to say 'a school choir'....but Rugby are good.

And for sure, the Chapel Choir must have been practising in its long vacation. Admirable dedication.

[ardcarp]

Quite an enterprising CE. The Tippett and Britten (both of which I adore) aren't easy for....well I was going to say 'a school choir'....but Rugby are good.

[DracoM]

CE Chapel of Rugby School [L] Wed, Sept 6^th 2023

Order of Service:

Responses: Ayleward
Psalms 32, 33, 34 (Flintoft, Russell, Wolstenholme)
First Lesson: Judges 4:1-10
Canticles: Collegium Sancti Johannis Cantabrigiense (Tippett)
Second Lesson: Romans 1: 8-17
Anthem: Rejoice in the Lamb (Britten)

Voluntary: Five Short Pieces (Paean) (Whitlock)

Ian Wicks (Organist)
Richard Tanner (Director of Music)