Flashmob Evensong at St Paul's

[Guest]

This was described in the Daily telegraph as the most beautiful evensong ever heard in London.

Did any poster on this Forum take part?

What setting was sung?

VCC

[Vile Consort]

What I heard of it on the news was an attempt to sing "All my hope on God is founded" (tune "Michael") in four-part harmony, a capella. There were, shall we say, problems of intonation, balance and ensemble. I would have to question the DoM's judgement in his/her selection of this particular hymn given the abilities of the choir and the less than ideal circumstances.

I strongly suspect there were no boys on the top line.

[Miles Coverdale]

There's a video of a bit of it here:

http://tinyurl.com/43unohq

If they're planning on doing another, maybe they could run to that dreadful anthem by Ouseley, Jerusalem on high, with the immortal words:

Ah me ! ah me, that I
In Kedar's tents here stay!

Just a thought.

[Simon]

that dreadful anthem by Ouseley,

Really? Not one that we did so I don't know it, but given his repertoire that we covered - and very much liked - I'm surprised that he wrote anything "dreadful".

[njfreestone]

I gather that the canticles were sung to Parish Psalter Set A and the anthem was Tallis - If Ye Love Me.

More information from the organiser here: http://artsyhonker.blogspot.com/2011...-flashmob.html. I think the choir were just members of the public who volunteered through Twitter.

[DracoM]

Valiant try/

[Miles Coverdale]

Really? Not one that we did so I don't know it, but given his repertoire that we covered - and very much liked - I'm surprised that he wrote anything "dreadful".

All a matter of taste, I know, but I find it pretty turgid stuff. But what else is there that's done these days? There's the Evening Service in E (which I've never sung), From the rising of the sun (which is truly grim). But that's pretty much it, unless someone's going to resurrect The Martyrdom of St Polycarp, but I can't imagine that happening any time soon.

Perhaps they could try How goodly are the tents...

[W.Kearns]

The flashmob evensong was both prayerful and courageous. Ouseley - sometime persecuted curate of St Saviour's, Pimlico, later founder of St Michael's College, Tenbury - would be absolutely the right man for the moment. The C of E needs its heroes.

[Magnificat]

I did wonder whether they might have sung psalm 84 what with its references to the House of God and tents!!

VCC

[Simon]

All a matter of taste, I know, but I find it pretty turgid stuff. But what else is there that's done these days? There's the Evening Service in E (which I've never sung), From the rising of the sun (which is truly grim). But that's pretty much it, unless someone's going to resurrect The Martyrdom of St Polycarp, but I can't imagine that happening any time soon.

Perhaps they could try How goodly are the tents...

Lol!

As for what else, the B minor service is rather pleasant and eminently singable and the truly excellent "Is it nothing to you" was one of our favourites (and is, I think, quite widely known).

And from a group of trebles who were fans of the usual blockbusters: Insane and Vain, How lovely, Greater Love, I was glad and such like, that's saying quite a lot, I think! - though we did very much like singing Byrd, Weelkes etc. - so maybe we were just broad-minded for our ages.

[Miles Coverdale]

If I am not mistaken, all religions advocate peace?

I think that depends entirely on which bits of their holy books one reads, and which bits one conveniently ignores.

[french frank]

[The 'political' posts have been moved to 'Canons of St Paul's' on Platform 3. Can we stick to comments on the evensong service here, please?]