That’s ‘peaches’, not ‘pitches’! I bought some at Borough Market, an added bonus to visiting Southwark Cathedral on a Saturday, as part of a weekend there with the Erleigh Cantors. As on previous visits, we were well looked after, with for example a copy of the current music list for every singer and the use of a kitchen for making hot drinks or squash (the only other Cathedral I’ve known to provide this was Christ Church, Dublin).
We sang a lot of music this weekend and an annotated list follows:
Saturday Evensong:
Neary, Martin Responses
Harris, William Behold the tabernacle of God
This was written when the RSCM moved into Addington Palace. Did they commission another anthem when they moved out a few years ago?
Swayne, Giles Magnificat
I wrote earlier about starting to learn this with the rhythm, contrary to my usual practice. Then come the notes and the underlay (not trivial, since there are occasional syllables or pairs of syllables which are unexpectedly repeated). After all this is sorted out, technical problems such as the 3 top B’s the sopranos get towards the end of the piece are just a courtesy detail. I found I was too busy with the earlier sections to be bothered about these, and so they weren’t a problem. Clergy and visitors to the Cathedral alike were intrigued by this setting.
Fayrfax, Robert Evening Canticles ‘faux-bourdon’ (Nunc)
Rutter, John Praise ye the Lord
After some deliberation and experiment we decided to shout the ‘Praise!’ at the end.
Sunday Eucharist
Piccolo, Anthony Canterbury Mass
This is the most interesting setting using modern texts that I’ve sung. Also notable for the flying start you have to make in the Gloria.
Gabrieli, Giovanni Jubilate Deo
A real test of concentration, this one, as it goes on quite a bit longer than you expect.
Gesualdo, Carlo O vos omnes
I didn’t expect anything to upstage the Swayne for me, but this did; it’s the first piece by Gesualdo that I’ve sung. Even to someone accustomed to 20th century music it was startling, not so much for dissonance (nothing that can’t be equalled in this respect by many passages of Purcell, for example), but for its harmonic progessions.
Sunday Evensong:
Batten, Adrian O praise the Lord
Stanford, Charles V Evening Canticles in A
My favourite Stanford setting! It’s just a bit grander than the others, presumably because it can also be performed with an orchestra.
Harwood, Basil O how glorious
Hadn’t done this for ages and I realised that I’d learnt some wrong notes in the past – three places where the sopranos drop a fifth and cross the alto line in the process.