CE York Minster Wed, 17th July 2019 [L]

[Wolsey]

Neither Stanford in F or The Queen's Service is unaccompanied.

Pedant alert: The Queens' Service

Members of both universities get rather touchy about St Catherine's (O)/St Catharine's (C); Magdalen (O)/Magdalene (C); The Queen's (O)/Queens' (C)

[Y Mab Afradlon]

There are two. One quite substantial one with lots of divisi which in my recollection isn’t actually too bad, and another, shorter, one which in my recollection should never have been committed to paper, it’s such irredeemable garbage.

Neither Stanford in F or The Queen's Service is unaccompanied.

If anyone is looking for a post Tudor unaccompanied set of Canticles Can I suggest John McCabe's Norwich Canticles commissioned for the Norwich Triennial Festival in 1970 and written in memoriam of Brian Runnett. It is published by Novello.

[Caussade]

Yes, indeed, a work I've neither heard nor sung.

There are two. One quite substantial one with lots of divisi which in my recollection isn’t actually too bad, and another, shorter, one which in my recollection should never have been committed to paper, it’s such irredeemable garbage.

[edashtav]

Might have been exciting to hear York doing Stanford in F then.

Yes, indeed, a work I've neither heard nor sung.

Might have been exciting to hear York doing Stanford in F then.

[mopsus]

Yes, there are not many post-Tudor unaccompanied settings of the canticles that are worth doing. A few years ago a choir I sing in visited Westminster Abbey. We need an unaccompanied setting for the Friday, but didn't want a Tudor one because we were singing repertoire from that period the following day. After considering Naylor in A and the like we settled for Stanford in F - usually regarded as the weakest of his mature canticle settings.

[Roger Judd]

It may be of interest to know that the MacMillan Canticles, commissioned by the Cathedral Organists' Association, where written for a very specific purpose. He was asked to write a set that would emulate the Tudor 'Short' services, and make a useful addition to the Friday unaccompanied Evensong that so many places observe. In that, I think he fulfilled the commission excellently well, and it is nice to think that his little musical 'mannerisms' will enliven cold Friday evenings in November!
As has been said above, a totally excellent service from the start even unto the finish thereof.
RJ

I'm not a fan of Sir Jimmy's music but I thoroughly enjoyed it in the context of this week's CE. The music was performed wonderfully with a winning attention to detail.

Yes in all respects.

[edashtav]

I'm not a fan of Sir Jimmy's music but I thoroughly enjoyed it in the context of this week's CE. The music was performed wonderfully with a winning attention to detail.

[jonfan]

He was excellent.

All you can say about the broadcast DracoM?

This will be Peter Moger's last broadcast as Precentor, before he moves to a parish in Stornoway in the autumn.

He was excellent.

[jonfan]

Well this was an exquisite CE on many levels and one to cherish and give thanks. The music of Sir James just oozes the sense of the divine and this was here in spades for those who are open to receive it. Right from the start the singing transported me to somewhere else. What superb psalm singing with close attention to the text and breathtaking dynamic contrasts with superb control of both pitch and ensemble. Needs must have without an organ but what wonder with everything hanging enticingly in space. Complementing the MacMillan was the Martin giving a another profound modern take on the liturgy. The Tudor music might have sounded out of place with the contemporary offerings but strangely it too sounded modern and what superb singing from the soloist in the anthem. I was reminded while listening of the Apollo astronauts taking communion while on the moon, connecting with those rare places where you sense the divine. Today’s CE was one of those places for me, a crack through which to see eternity. Sir Stephen Cleobury is delighted his nine year old daughter was singing in her first broadcast CE today, and he’s every right to be. Thank you all for a profound experience.

[Pulcinella]

Did nobody listen?

I hope it came over on air as well as it did in the minster itself.
An outstanding service, I thought: some of the best (unaccompanied) psalm singing I have ever heard.

[mopsus]

This will be Peter Moger's last broadcast as Precentor, before he moves to a parish in Stornoway in the autumn.

Reminder: tomorrow @ 3.30. Live tx.