Easter from King's BBC

[Choral Enthusiast]

I thought last year when the BBC didn't show ' Easter from King's', it was temporary and they would show it again this year, but I can't see it advertised.

A great pity for choral music, if it is not being shown. The 'Carols from King's' and 'Easter from King's' programmes reach people who wouldn't necessarily go to an Evensong or even beware of the amazing music available.

Also, Daniel Hyde, just like his illustrious predecessors, is doing wonderful things there and deserves a huge audience; it is inspiring to people (whether they are a fan of choral music or not) to hear fantastic music making. It is also so important that these great choral foundations are visible and heard, to secure their ongoing success.

[Petrushka]

I agree. However, it's inevitable that the Easter programme would never achieve the reach of the general audience in the way that the Christmas programme does. The music for Passiontide and Easter is very different from that at Christmas.

An additional factor may have been the logistics of recording two major services in that very busy Christmas period. I understand that the Easter recording was usually done a day or two after Carol's from King's was recorded in mid December and it must have been rather taxing for both the choir and chapel.

Happily, I've still got a few on my hard drive and I played the 2018 Easter from King's this last Sunday.

I wonder if anyone involved at King's is prepared to comment?

[mopsus]

An additional factor may have been the logistics of recording two major services in that very busy Christmas period. I understand that the Easter recording was usually done a day or two after Carol's from King's was recorded in mid December and it must have been rather taxing for both the choir and chapel.

'Carols from King's' used sometimes to be recorded weeks in advance. I was invited to be part of the congregation one year in the 1990s. And it was not unknown for the previous year's service simply to be repeated! The year was rendered in Roman numerals in the closing credits so this wasn't too obvious.

[Petrushka]

'Carols from King's' used sometimes to be recorded weeks in advance. I was invited to be part of the congregation one year in the 1990s. And it was not unknown for the previous year's service simply to be repeated! The year was rendered in Roman numerals in the closing credits so this wasn't too obvious.

All that must have changed in recent years because I believe from information on this Forum as well as King's own website that Carol's from King's is usually recorded in the second week of December. The date of the service is on the front page of the order of service, usually provided online on King's website. I'm not sure when it began, but Easter from King's was recorded at around the same time due to BBC cost saving measures from having the cameras, microphones and so on already on site.

I've no inside knowledge, just what I've learnt from various sources over the years, and am happy for anyone to correct me if I'm wrong in any way.

[Nick Armstrong]

All that must have changed in recent years because I believe from information on this Forum as well as King's own website that Carol's from King's is usually recorded in the second week of December. The date of the service is on the front page of the order of service, usually provided online on King's website. I'm not sure when it began, but Easter from King's was recorded at around the same time due to BBC cost saving measures from having the cameras, microphones and so on already on site.

I've no inside knowledge, just what I've learnt from various sources over the years, and am happy for anyone to correct me if I'm wrong in any way.

You’re absolutely right. I’ve been able to attend two such mid-December tapings in recent years. It’s surreal to totter out after “There is a green hill far away…” into a King’s Parade decked out in Xmas trees and tinsel…

[cat]

The tradition of Easter From King's dates all the way back to 2014, so it's probably in the category of "tried it for a few years but logistically couldn't make it work".

[Ein Heldenleben]

'Carols from King's' used sometimes to be recorded weeks in advance. I was invited to be part of the congregation one year in the 1990s. And it was not unknown for the previous year's service simply to be repeated! The year was rendered in Roman numerals in the closing credits so this wasn't too obvious.

There are several theories as to why the copyright date on film and tv credits used to be in Roman numerals. The idea that it’s to hide the fact that old programmes are being repeated is the least plausible. The date used to have to be in the credits to establish copyright. One theory is that in film Roman numerals are more legible especially when the film print begins to fade. Another is that lawyers ( and copyright law is a big legal market) are obsessed with Latin and it makes the whole thing more legalistic and intimidating. It also appealed to the studio heads who were in essence Roman Emperors but perhaps without the extreme violence. Ars Gratia Artis in that pretentious MGM pre title for example.

[mopsus]

There are several theories as to why the copyright date on film and tv credits used to be in Roman numerals. The idea that it’s to hide the fact that old programmes are being repeated is the least plausible. The date used to have to be in the credits to establish copyright. One theory is that in film Roman numerals are more legible especially when the film print begins to fade. Another is that lawyers ( and copyright law is a big legal market) are obsessed with Latin and it makes the whole thing more legalistic and intimidating. It also appealed to the studio heads who were in essence Roman Emperors but perhaps without the extreme violence. Ars Gratia Artis in that pretentious MGM pre title for example.

Thank you for the informed comment! In the case of 'Carols from King's' they'd probably have got away with Arabic numbers even in repeat years, as the public is easily fooled. (For example, into thinking that they are watching the 9 Lessons and Carols service, as many do even among those who should know better.)

In the early 2000s or so King's choir used to go on tour in December soon after the Michaelmas full term ended - sometimes to quite distant places such as South America! These tours were lucrative because people all over the world wanted to hear them singing carols, but not very good preparation for the 9 Lessons.

[Keraulophone]

'Chapel services with a congregation resumed in October 2021. We hope to be able to share webcasts again with you in due course.' - KCC website

Even better, IMO, than a prerecorded television pregramme of Easter hits would be webcasts of all or some of the five services King's choir will be singing at Eastertide.

We will be able to listen live on Radio 3 to the Philharmonia Chorus sing the Brahms Requiem from King's chapel on Good Friday, but not the chapel choir's St John Passion the following day.

[Petrushka]

Interesting story here about the restoration work at King's. Well worth a read:

https://kingscollege.shorthandstories.com/chapel-spring-clean/index.html

[jonfan]

The main contribution on BBC tv to the festival is a singalong a solo Messiah instead of the Kings act of worship. I’ve great admiration for Gareth Malone and his efforts on behalf of music education. His interview in Radio Times puts neatly the very depressing decline over the last 30 years. It would have been good to have a fully professional Messiah or one of the Bach Passions.