BBC Choral Evensong: King’s Cambridge 1981 (Philip Ledger)

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8 жыл бұрын

Live radio broadcast 6 May 1981 from the chapel of King's College, Cambridge, with the chapel choir, conducted by Philip Ledger, and organ scholar John Butt.
Introit: Cantate Domino (Giuseppe Pitoni)
Responses: William Smith
Psalms: 32, 33, 34 (Cooper, Pye, Martin)
First Lesson: Deuteronomy 33, vv 1 and 26-29
Canticles: First Service (Graham Whettam)
Second Lesson: Romans 6 vv 12-14 and 20-23
Anthem: My beloved spake (Patrick Hadley)
Voluntary: Sortie “Messe de la Pentecôte” (Olivier Messaien)

Пікірлер: 19

@icelandwedding 3 жыл бұрын

I must have been singing in this broadcast (one of the trebles). The Whettam evensong was difficult to learn, but we enjoyed the syncopation. Philip Ledger got us to mark up our copies with triangles and 'goalpost' symbols to indicate triple and duple groups, which we'd never seen before, and I hardly have since. I don't think I've heard or seen this piece ever since, though can remember it all clearly!

@peterhaselden5784 2 жыл бұрын

Ben, you are in the photo, so stands to reason! Brings back so many memories, Michael Till’s inimitable voice, Ledger doing his best to aspirate the consonants before the choir.

@simonblake3722 3 жыл бұрын

So glad for the Ledger years. Superb ensemble singing.

@fleurafricaine5740 2 жыл бұрын

The Ledger recordings were a huge wave of sound. The ensemble became orchestral in sweep & boldness. Nice seeing the photo of the 1981 choir: John Butt (organ scholar), Simon Cruckall (captain of choir), Nick Purves (basso profundo), Rory Phillips (bit of polish), Gerald Finley (international color), and friends.

@34eros 7 жыл бұрын

Wonderful to hear this. I was the BBC producer on this occasion and well remember the impact of the Graham Whettam setting of the Canticles (their first broadcast, I believe), after a somewhat fraught pre-service balance-test ! This is a great testament to Philip Ledger's time at King's - and an example to present-day Radio 3 announcers of how to wait for the impact of an organ voluntary to die away, before charging in with the 'back' announcement !

@ArchiveofRecordedChurchMusic 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the interesting comment about the broadcast. These little nuggets of information are always fascinating.

@luckyman7923 6 жыл бұрын

I admire the sense of acoustic space you and your team afforded this recording. Kudos.

@petersumner7367 6 жыл бұрын

34eros we spent weeks learning the canticles at Bristol, after 2 performances they were never heard again, not the easiest thing with beaters...

@luckyman7923 6 жыл бұрын

"not the easiest thing with beaters..." Indeedy, Palestrina these canticles ain't...much 3+2+2 and other things going on here...still, these canticles are terrific. Thanks for posting, B.

@simonblake3722 5 жыл бұрын

No words. Incredible sound! Diction. Musicality.

@jeffreyspringborg136 7 жыл бұрын

Truly a treat to hear this, and you are so right in regards to the sound of the choir under different conductors, i.e. Willcocks, Ledger, and Cleobury. Ledger had a truly unique sound with the choir, especially the men; so beefy and robust. So enjoyable!

@missasinenomine 4 жыл бұрын

Responses (Smith) & Psalms, exquisite!

@choirboyfromhell1 7 жыл бұрын

I be lov'in that Messaien at the end.....YEAH BABY!

@simongleaden2864 Жыл бұрын

I just love Smith responses.

@allhallowsgospeloak4062 2 жыл бұрын

Fabulous singing, ensemble and drive. St Albans later broadcast the Whettam too - would love to hear that again!

@harmonicsv9890 11 ай бұрын

I heard the St Albans broadcast of the Whettam and have wanted to hear them again ever since! What a find…

@us-Bahn 2 жыл бұрын

The Ledger choral sound was imposing (though not the heavily weighted leading consonants). The choir under his successor eked a thin and bloodless noise.