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harmonyharmony
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« Reply #2460 on: 10:35:18, 18-02-2008 » |
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I returned from Durham at 11:30 last night. I had been attending a choir reunion. Lovely to see lots of old friends and to sing outrageously loud in a very small building (evensong music was Rose Responses, Howell's Gloucester service and Parry's I was Gladys). A black tie dinner in the evening followed by Matins (Rose again, Stanford in Bb and his O for a Closer Walk) and Eucharist (RVW's Mass in G minor (though annoyingly, due to time constraints we had to omit the absolutely glorious Agnus Dei) and Duruflé's Tantum ergo) in the cathedral the following day.
Sadly, following all of this excitement, my girlfriend and I had a discussion about where our relationship was going and decided to call it a day. It's completely the right thing to do and it feels like it ran its course (been going since late October but long-distance: Edinburgh to London).
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'is this all we can do?' anonymous student of the University of Berkeley, California quoted in H. Draper, 'The new student revolt' (New York: Grove Press, 1965) http://www.myspace.com/itensemble |
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Milly Jones
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« Reply #2461 on: 11:46:51, 18-02-2008 » |
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< Sadly, following all of this excitement, my girlfriend and I had a discussion about where our relationship was going and decided to call it a day. It's completely the right thing to do and it feels like it ran its course (been going since late October but long-distance: Edinburgh to London).>
Always very sad, but if you both think it is the right thing to do then it's so much easier to accept. Hope you find someone really nice very soon.
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We pass this way but once. This is not a rehearsal!
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harmonyharmony
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« Reply #2462 on: 11:52:31, 18-02-2008 » |
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I think that it's probably time I just spent some time being single until I'm ready.
I plan to make new friends and visit old ones.
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'is this all we can do?' anonymous student of the University of Berkeley, California quoted in H. Draper, 'The new student revolt' (New York: Grove Press, 1965) http://www.myspace.com/itensemble |
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Don Basilio
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« Reply #2463 on: 12:08:54, 18-02-2008 » |
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RVW's Mass in G minor (though annoyingly, due to time constraints we had to omit the absolutely glorious Agnus Dei) and Duruflé's Tantum ergo) in the cathedral the following day.
In my limited experience of cathedral music, the Credo is never sung at a Sung Eucharist and the Agnus becomes a Communion Anthem. I hope you didn't have the Gloria in Lent. If you only had Kyrie and Sanctus you were getting less than half the work. One for the Advertising Standards Authority, I'd have thought. |
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To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.
A time to weep, and a time to laugh: a time to mourn, and a time to dance
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harmonyharmony
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« Reply #2464 on: 12:30:59, 18-02-2008 » |
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RVW's Mass in G minor (though annoyingly, due to time constraints we had to omit the absolutely glorious Agnus Dei) and Duruflé's Tantum ergo) in the cathedral the following day.
In my limited experience of cathedral music, the Credo is never sung at a Sung Eucharist and the Agnus becomes a Communion Anthem. I hope you didn't have the Gloria in Lent. If you only had Kyrie and Sanctus you were getting less than half the work. One for the Advertising Standards Authority, I'd have thought. Absolutely. Just the K and S were sung. The A was going to be included after communion but the musical director decided that the taking of communion wasn't going to take long enough. I suppose it comes down to whether you regard the advertising as being for a performance of a work or for the celebration of the Eucharist being carried out using the work. Hmmm. Not sure that's the most lucid sentence I've ever written. |
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'is this all we can do?' anonymous student of the University of Berkeley, California quoted in H. Draper, 'The new student revolt' (New York: Grove Press, 1965) http://www.myspace.com/itensemble |
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Don Basilio
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« Reply #2465 on: 12:41:19, 18-02-2008 » |
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Choral settings of the mass were written when it was customary in the catholic rite for much of the priest's words (including the entire eucharistic prayer and penitential rite) to be said while the music was carrying on. This causes a problem when the musical works are used now that all the text is out loud. Even Westminster Cathedral, in my limited experience does not use all the mass setting.
Of course the music is to enhance the liturgical action, rather than the action be an opportunity for the music. I was being tongue in cheek.
What's the acoustic like at Durham?
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To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.
A time to weep, and a time to laugh: a time to mourn, and a time to dance
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harmonyharmony
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« Reply #2466 on: 12:49:02, 18-02-2008 » |
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Choral settings of the mass were written when it was customary in the catholic rite for much of the priest's words (including the entire eucharistic prayer and penitential rite) to be said while the music was carrying on. This causes a problem when the musical works are used now that all the text is out loud. Even Westminster Cathedral, in my limited experience does not use all the mass setting. Interestingly (well I thought so) a good friend of mine married a couple recently where they had the Byrd 3 part mass performed, during the marriage service. He conducted the wedding as he would usually do with the singers performing simultaneously. Not quite the original approach, but an intriguing prospect. Of course the music is to enhance the liturgical action, rather than the action be an opportunity for the music. I was being tongue in cheek. I did appreciate that! Sorry for running with that ball! What's the acoustic like at Durham?
It's pretty good but it has some duff areas (both for listeners and performers). The sound carries reasonably well throughout the building as long as it isn't being produced under the crossing. I have had dreams of writing something that utilises the whole space but the chances of that coming about are so close to zero that it's probably not worth thinking of. |
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'is this all we can do?' anonymous student of the University of Berkeley, California quoted in H. Draper, 'The new student revolt' (New York: Grove Press, 1965) http://www.myspace.com/itensemble |
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Don Basilio
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« Reply #2467 on: 23:25:29, 18-02-2008 » |
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but the musical director decided that the taking of communion wasn't going to take long enough.
I may have got this wrong, but it is not the musical director's job to make that sort of decision. Whatever receiving communion might mean, it is not just going through a supermarket checkout, and it is perfectly proper after such an important event to have space for reflection, or at least just have space. If the competent liturgical authorities had asked for a piece at that stage, then the musicians should perform it whether it is What A Friend We Have In Jesus or the Agnus of the RVW G minor. What is it about the Byrd 3 part mass? We had it sung at the service when our Civil Partnership was blessed, and I have heard of at least one other occasion when it was used for a similar occasion. Are gay/lesbian couples the new recusants? Or is it just cheaper to hire three singers? (That was the clincher as far as we were concerned.) |
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To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.
A time to weep, and a time to laugh: a time to mourn, and a time to dance
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harmonyharmony
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« Reply #2468 on: 23:33:08, 18-02-2008 » |
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I may have got this wrong, but it is not the musical director's job to make that sort of decision. Whatever receiving communion might mean, it is not just going through a supermarket checkout, and it is perfectly proper after such an important event to have space for reflection, or at least just have space. If the competent liturgical authorities had asked for a piece at that stage, then the musicians should perform it whether it is What A Friend We Have In Jesus or the Agnus of the RVW G minor. Durham specifies that while the choir should be prepared to sing both a motet and the Agnus, they should also be prepared to drop one or other of them. I personally believe that there was plenty of time, and given the amount of work we'd put into it, I felt quite disappointed that we didn't include it, but then again I'm not director of music anymore. And the one they have now is twice (at least) the director I was. (btw I do like your thinking about space surrounding communion.) Are gay/lesbian couples the new recusants?
Oh I like that! |
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'is this all we can do?' anonymous student of the University of Berkeley, California quoted in H. Draper, 'The new student revolt' (New York: Grove Press, 1965) http://www.myspace.com/itensemble |
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David_Underdown
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« Reply #2469 on: 16:39:36, 19-02-2008 » |
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I understood from a former Durham choral scholar (he was up there at the weekend too, tenor, first name Adrian, occasional poster at TOP) that Durham is one fo the few places taht does use a sung Credo, at least some fo the time - perhaps not during lent though. I was doing visiting choir duties in Norwich where the Eucharist ahd the added entertainment of being requested to sing (large chunks of) the Tallis 5 part setting of the Litany in procession at the start of the service. Came off surprisingly well given that the conductor was at times invisible as the procession turned from the south aisle into the nave (wouldn't have been so bad except for the scaffolding that's up for repairs to the vaulting), one shaky moment when the cantor lost his place because the way the music had been copied meant you couldn't see the intonation alongside the later veriscles you were supposed to sing to it.
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--
David
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Don Basilio
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« Reply #2470 on: 18:49:21, 19-02-2008 » |
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The only time I have attended Norwich was for a Sunday Eucharist in Lent, and I remember the choir singing the litany. Quite right too. I was very impressed. That was when Stephen Platten was Dean, before he became Bishop of Wakefield. I hope they are still keeping it up.
We had the Credo when I was paying for the Byrd 3 voice.
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To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.
A time to weep, and a time to laugh: a time to mourn, and a time to dance
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harmonyharmony
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« Reply #2471 on: 19:21:24, 19-02-2008 » |
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I understood from a former Durham choral scholar (he was up there at the weekend too, tenor, first name Adrian, occasional poster at TOP) that Durham is one fo the few places taht does use a sung Credo, at least some fo the time - perhaps not during lent though.
I'll ask around. I've never heard it sung but then again I didn't often attend Eucharist in the cathedral. |
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'is this all we can do?' anonymous student of the University of Berkeley, California quoted in H. Draper, 'The new student revolt' (New York: Grove Press, 1965) http://www.myspace.com/itensemble |
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martle
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« Reply #2472 on: 22:18:56, 21-02-2008 » |
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I am bladdered after terrific Thai meal, after handing over nephew and neice to their father earlier today. I loves you all, you're my bezzie mates. Etc. Hic. Night! By the way, I'm glad Tommo's back and functional. And I know about the circumstances of tinners and strina, long absent. But one mystery remains: that of the whereabouts of one George Garnett...  |
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Green. Always green.
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Antheil
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« Reply #2473 on: 22:22:34, 21-02-2008 » |
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I am bladdered after terrific Thai meal, after handing over nephew and neice to their father earlier today. I loves you all, you're my bezzie mates. Etc. Hic. Night!
We loves you too Oh Green One x x x |
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Reality, sa molesworth 2, is so sordid it makes me shudder
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