So my two favourite canticles settings made it to the semifinals, but then both lost and met one another in the third place playoff. Gibbons Second beat Howells St Paul’s in that match (not by a huge margin). I was pleased they did so well, though on the other hand it suggests my taste in canticles is not as distinctive and particular to me as I’d thought. Some, including the organiser, expressed surprise that the Gibbons got so far, seeing off opposition such as Stanford in A, Murrill in E and a setting by Judith Weir. I can think of one possible reason (other than that it is a stonkingly good setting): there was a known tendency for people to vote for settings where they’d sung a solo, and there are a lot of solo parts in the Gibbons Second Service.
Many of those who took part singled out particular moments in their favourite settings. I can’t do that for the Gibbons – the appeal to me derives from the way the verse and full sections simply flow on from one another.
Gloucester Cathedral, west elevation
My prediction of the final result was wrong and Howells Gloucester just held off Coll. Reg. I voted for it; when I first learnt Coll. Reg. I found it hard to sing because it lay in a tricky part of my voice and it’s never been a particular favourite of mie. Besides, Gloucester goes up to a top A, and I also have some loyalty to places I go to sing. During lockdown I have amused myself by constructing little models using a small set of architect’s blocks, and I duly built a tribute to the victor.
A sequel pitting anthems against one another is planned; this time I’ll be in at the group stages. [May 4th: it’s about to start! I sent in my suggestions: essentially this list minus Poulenc (Christmas period excluded) and with a second Purcell anthem to replace it.