CE: Chapel of Merton College, Oxford 26.2.25 [L]

[Guest]

CE: Chapel of Merton College, Oxford 26.2.25 [L]

Order of Service:

Introit: O hearken thou (Elgar)
Responses: Smith
Psalm 119 vv81-104 (Day, Howells, Elgar)
First Lesson: Isaiah 52 v13 – 53 v6
Canticles: Dyson in D
Second Lesson: Romans 15 vv14-21
Anthem: Lord thou hast been our refuge (Bairstow)
Hymn: O thou who camest from above (Hereford)

Voluntary: Sursum corda (Elgar)

Francois Cloete (Organ Scholar)
Britten Sinfonia
Benjamin Nicholas (Director of Music)

[LayClerkJon]

Dyson in that glorious orchestration by Douglas Hopkins?

[Finzi4ever]

Back-to-back top Oxford college choirs, back-to-back Bairstow - what's not to like?

[Ein Heldenleben]

Merton have pushed the boat out with this orchestra. I wonder if they’ve paid for it all ? They are a pretty wealthy college - once famous for their food and setting their undergrads exams every term.

[vinteuil]

They are a pretty wealthy college - once famous for their food and setting their undergrads exams every term.

certainly their food was good....


.

[mopsus]

Merton have pushed the boat out with this orchestra. I wonder if they’ve paid for it all ? They are a pretty wealthy college - once famous for their food and setting their undergrads exams every term.

Merton definitely had good food when I was an undergraduate there, though of course the Fellows got the full benefit of the ex-Dorchester chef. I remember tests at the beginning of most terms - known as 'collections', although in my time University College was the one that had the reputation for pushing students hard. The other reputations Merton had - with some justification - was that there were many scientists, and that Mertonians didn't mix outside the College. I wasn't guilty of the latter slur, thanks to my musical activities.

Merton Choir is I think the only Oxbridge one that offers entrance choral awards to people who are going to other Colleges.

I can shed some light on how the orchestra has been paid for. Reed Rubin and Nigel Hamway have sponsored a Merton residency by the Sinfonia in 2025, including concerts in Oxford and London, recordings, masterclasses and this evensong.

[oddoneout]

I can shed some light on how the orchestra has been paid for. Reed Rubin and Nigel Hamway have sponsored a Merton residency by the Sinfonia in 2025, including concerts in Oxford and London, recordings, masterclasses and this evensong.

From Merton College website

https://www.merton.ox.ac.uk/news/radio-3-broadcast-launch-britten-sinfonia-residency-merton

From the Britten Sinfonia website, to be getting on with!

https://www.brittensinfonia.com/events/st-john-passion

https://www.brittensinfonia.com/events/messiaen-et-exspecto

[Pulcinella]

I see we have a new category of service: Orchestral Evensong.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Merton definitely had good food when I was an undergraduate there, though of course the Fellows got the full benefit of the ex-Dorchester chef. I remember tests at the beginning of most terms - known as 'collections', although in my time University College was the one that had the reputation for pushing students hard. The other reputations Merton had - with some justification - was that there were many scientists, and that Mertonians didn't mix outside the College. I wasn't guilty of the latter slur, thanks to my musical activities.

Merton Choir is I think the only Oxbridge one that offers entrance choral awards to people who are going to other Colleges.

I can shed some light on how the orchestra has been paid for. Reed Rubin and Nigel Hamway have sponsored a Merton residency by the Sinfonia in 2025, including concerts in Oxford and London, recordings, masterclasses and this evensong.

I can tell you one thing the Merton librarian has the most covetable office I’ve ever been in . Lord knows what the Warden’s must be like.

PS apologies buried the lead .
Congrats and thanks to Reed Rubin and Nigel Hamway for sponsoring the Sinfonia - another talented casualty of the (we don’t give a stuff about the ) Arts Council.

Presumably former undergrads who get the value of the Arts ?

[smittims]

I found this broadcast most rewarding. I'd often felt Bairstow had been underrated, ad this confirmed it. What a spledid anthem. And how nice to hear the 'Britten' Sinfonia play Elgar!

[jonfan]

An enjoyable service very well sung. Just a hint of strain for the singers at orchestral climaxes. Organ transcriptions of orchestral pieces usually work extremely well, saving money employing many musicians a good reason to start with. I can’t say the opposite succeeds for me, the Dyson and Bairstow sound better with organ IMHO. I enjoyed the experience and congratulations to all for the enterprise.

[Guest]

Yes indeed - all that above, but....but....is it actually Choral Evensong ...........or a PR exercise?

[jonfan]

Yes indeed - all that above, but....but....is it actually Choral Evensong ...........or a PR exercise?

Maybe a bit harsh Draco? Does Merton need PR? I felt the sung element of the service was still central.

[Guest]

OK, I'm wrong, or mistook the 'service' as PR.

[Guest]

rpt of 'CE' today @ 3 p.m.