CE King's College, Cambridge [L] Wed, 14th June 2023

[ardcarp]

The only 20th century sets of Responses which come to mind and which might pre-date the above are those by Radcliffe (frequently done) and those for ATTB by William Harris which I guess are earlier. We used to sing those occasionally at the weekly men-only service....but it was more often plainsong. It's quite difficult to find the dates of Preces and Responses as they often aren't included in a composer's oeuvres.

One wonders if the likes of Stanford or Wood ever wrote a set? Or maybe it wasn't 'the done thing' at the time. There's a Musical Times article (c.1920!) about Preces and Responses, but only the first couple of pages seem to be available online: https://www.jstor.org/stable/908149
I think you have to do the dreaded signing-in (passwords, etc) to read more. Life's too short!

[Vox Humana]

(maybe we need a Versicles and Responses thread)

That might not be a bad idea. I have several settings in my archives that were published, but I have never ever seen anyone perform. Has anyone ever sung John Gardner's responses? Or Bernard Naylor's? I think they all post-date Rose. I'll have to check. And Rose wrote more than one set.

[Pulcinella]

Rose = 1961
Howells = 1967

At the risk of veering off topic (maybe we need a Versicles and Responses thread), was the Rose set then the first 'modern' one?

[Vox Humana]

Apologies for ignorance (as I'm sure I could find out myself): which came first, Howells or Rose?
I would imagine that the initial reaction to the Rose set was fairly interesting.

Rose = 1961
Howells = 1967

[Pulcinella]

What an excellent, thought-provoking comment! Totally agree.

Apologies for ignorance (as I'm sure I could find out myself): which came first, Howells or Rose?
I would imagine that the initial reaction to the Rose set was fairly interesting.

Perhaps it's just me, but I wonder whether there is a tendency not to give them much thought: "Let's get them out of the way as quickly as possible so we can get on with the real meat of Evensong." Perhaps Howells makes us ponder words that perhaps we sweep away too readily? If they seem out of proportion, is it our sense of proportion that needs adjusting? I don't begrudge the extra time they take.

What an excellent, thought-provoking comment! Totally agree.

[Vox Humana]

At what point along the continuum from straightforward to complex should the Versicles and Responses lie?.

Perhaps it's just me, but I wonder whether there is a tendency not to give them much thought: "Let's get them out of the way as quickly as possible so we can get on with the real meat of Evensong." Perhaps Howells makes us ponder words that perhaps we sweep away too readily? If they seem out of proportion, is it our sense of proportion that needs adjusting? I don't begrudge the extra time they take.

[Keraulophone]

the versicles (which - like the psalms - call for a quite straightforward music)

At what point along the continuum from straightforward to complex should the Versicles and Responses lie? This question was raised recently by ardcarp and myself when discussing the Howells V & R - thrilling but out of place? Having been exposed recently to Jaakko Mäntyjärvi's Lord's Prayer and V & R sung in Trinity College Chapel, one marvels at the performance, but an understanding of the text can be lost in wonder at the overwhelming aural effects conjured up by Stephen Layton and the choir.
.

[Magister Chori]

I got a chance to listen to this Evensong on Sunday. It is a superb broadcast!
Plus, I will never tire of listening to Shephard's setting of The Lord's Prayer.

A great setting indeed, but - in my opinion - it has its best homing as an anthem and not within the Responses: such an elongated piece interrupts the natural flow of the versicles (which - like the psalms - call for a quite straightforward music), so the more modest settings by Farmer or Stone (or even the recto tono with a plagal Amen) can surely works better in that context.

[french frank]

There's one member with a 20-letter username, so I doubt it's that. Perhaps an admin would help you out if you asked them.

Seems to have worked (I think). I thought it would be more complicated. But it doesn't change the name in the quote box.

[Vox Humana]

Incidentally, I had meant to put myself down as ' Choral Enthusiast', but that must have exceeded the letter count.

There's one member with a 20-letter username, so I doubt it's that. Perhaps an admin would help you out if you asked them.

[Choral Enthusiast]

Welcome to the forum, Choral Enthusia.

A small clarification, if I may. I am sure you didn't really intend to imply that the Lord's Prayer was by [Richard] Shephard. It is, of course, by the Tudor composer John Sheppard.

Thank you, Vox Humana.

Yes, definitely meant John Sheppard, although the late, much missed, Richard Shephard, wrote some wonderful music, too.

Incidentally, I had meant to put myself down as ' Choral Enthusiast', but that must have exceeded the letter count.

[Vox Humana]

I will never tire of listening to Shephard's setting of The Lord's Prayer.

Welcome to the forum, Choral Enthusia.

A small clarification, if I may. I am sure you didn't really intend to imply that the Lord's Prayer was by [Richard] Shephard. It is, of course, by the Tudor composer John Sheppard.

[Choral Enthusiast]

I got a chance to listen to this Evensong on Sunday. It is a superb broadcast!

The choir is making such an assured and beautiful sound: full and rich and rounded, but clear at the same time. They are also giving it some real umpth.

It was really musical and expressive and a joy to listen to. Plus, I will never tire of listening to Shephard's setting of The Lord's Prayer.

Thank you to the whole King's team and the broadcasters/production team.

Well said ff. It's the way this Forum (and many others) works, and if I may say so very successfully. There was a time when there was quite a bit of unnecessary aggro on the Choir Forum (of all places) but latterly there has been civility and mutual respect. The choice to be anonymous or not rests with user, and I see no problem with that.