CE Royal School of Church Music Summer Course Wed, May 1st 2019 [A]

[DracoM]

CE Royal School of Church Music Summer Course Wed, May 1st 2019 [A]
From Hereford Cathedral - first broadcast 29 August 1990


Order of Service:


Responses: Sanders
Psalms 142, 143 (Battishill, How)
First Lesson: 2 Samuel 18 v.19 – 19 v.8a
Second Lesson: Acts 4: 23-31
Canticles: Atkins in G
Anthem: The Lord Is My Shepherd (Stanford)

Voluntary: Toccata in D minor (Buxtehude)


Peter King (Organist)
Martin How (Director)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0004m7f

[underthecountertenor]

This strikes me as a bit of an odd choice for an archive broadcast, but I'm probably missing something.

[DracoM]

Totally agree.

[mopsus]

Yes, some of those RSCM evensongs could be a bit touch and go. I remember one in particular where the teenage back row was really struggling and could have done with a little reinforcement, but it wasn't from Hereford.

[Vox Humana]

Presumably the people at the Beeb vet these archived programmes before choosing which ones to re-broadcast? Or are they totally random?

[mopsus]

I don't think they are randomly chosen. I have listened to as many of these broadcasts as I can for many years, and in the days before iPlayer/BBC Sounds I used to record them. If I was particularly impressed, which happened a few times a year, I'd keep the recording. My impression is that 'archive' broadcasts dating from the years I did this are more likely to be among those that I kept, than would be the case if they were randomly selected.

[DracoM]

Reminder: today @ 3.30 p.m.

[mw963]

Penny Gore announced the opening item as the Adagio from Mendelssohn's Organ Sonata no 2. In my copy it's Sonata no 1.

Can Radio 3 get nothing right?

[DracoM]

Boys on top line? Or mostly
Hmm...........dullish repertoire, I fear
Enthusiastic, even a bit shouty?
Some decent organ playing.

[mw963]

Glorious Evensong. Not a trace of inappropriate vibrato, the top line sounded young and bright and clean

And I would contend again that the technical balance achieved was excellent, as it almost always was back in those days. What slightly surprised me was the absence of the action-clicking on the organ which is something I very much associate with Hereford....

On the contrary - great to hear the "repertoire" you so despise DracoM. Can't remember hearing Atkins since that broadcast, whereas certain composers have had far more than their fair share..... (no names, no pack drill).

[hmvman]

Glorious Evensong. Not a trace of inappropriate vibrato, the top line sounded young and bright and clean

And I would contend again that the technical balance achieved was excellent, as it almost always was back in those days. What slightly surprised me was the absence of the action-clicking on the organ which is something I very much associate with Hereford....

Agreed. A very enjoyable listen, lovely balance to the recording. I thought both the Mendelssohn and Buxtehude organ pieces sounded superb.

[omega consort]

Agreed. A very enjoyable listen, lovely balance to the recording. I thought both the Mendelssohn and Buxtehude organ pieces sounded superb.

Yes....excellent stuff - nice unhurried psalm singing with two super chants. It was very encouraging at the time what the RSCM could produce from the multitude of English church choirs dotted around the country. I wonder whether this still happens now in the Summer (I know there are still Summer courses arranged by the RSCM, but I don't know whether they still have separate boys and girls courses, courses for young adults etc). Martin How was certainly a legend then for what he produced and, I believe still around and active (playing at Croydon Minster?)

[jonfan]

Glorious Evensong. Not a trace of inappropriate vibrato, the top line sounded young and bright and clean

And I would contend again that the technical balance achieved was excellent, as it almost always was back in those days. What slightly surprised me was the absence of the action-clicking on the organ which is something I very much associate with Hereford....

On the contrary - great to hear the "repertoire" you so despise DracoM. Can't remember hearing Atkins since that broadcast, whereas certain composers have had far more than their fair share..... (no names, no pack drill).

A bit of a shock here but I totally agree with mw963, well almost. A lovely worship-ready atmosphere created by Peter King at the start with delicate solo stops; and a thrilling final Buxtehude with cascades of reeds. Fantastic
Lovely singing throughout and the quite mature sounding men had a field day in the Atkins (new to me but it sounded a load of fun). Good to hear the Stanford which doesn’t get many outings on CE.
Very much of the period with serious delivery of the prayers; incredible the programme is nearly 30 years old, from another age, before girls on the top line. (Surely there were some today?). The balance seemed odd to me with the top line a long way away in another room, but that was the style then which seems to please people here.

[weston752]

An interesting broadcast, particularly as I was one of the participants (and not as a treble!): I have not sung the Atkins since. The original broadcast began with only the last few bars of the Mendelssohn being transmitted. The top line was all-male, and yes, Martin How is still very much alive and active!

[mw963]

A bit of a shock here but I totally agree with mw963, well almost..

Well as I think I said a few months ago, I suspect that over a pint or two we'd find we agreed about a great deal..... Long may it last.