tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post161522001912225735..comments2023-10-03T07:01:41.144-05:00Comments on Always On Watch: Semper Vigilans: Benjamin Britten - A Ceremony of CarolsAlways On Watchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08192688822955022541noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-78904270942203548622016-12-18T08:21:10.073-06:002016-12-18T08:21:10.073-06:00Beautiful piece, AOW. Music as music should be!Beautiful piece, AOW. Music as music should be!Adriennehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01562944653624224107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-89298842600513183012016-12-18T06:48:44.881-06:002016-12-18T06:48:44.881-06:00FT,
I was first introduced to Benjamin Britten'...FT,<br />I was first introduced to Benjamin Britten's music at a concert I attended a few years ago at the Washington National Cathedral. For me, it was love at first listen! Especially in the setting of the cathedral.Always On Watchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08192688822955022541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-37890502985328775092016-12-18T06:16:15.010-06:002016-12-18T06:16:15.010-06:00There is what-I-can-ony-describe-as an Astringent ...There is what-I-can-ony-describe-as an <i>Astringent Austerity</i> about this work which echoes the mood and tone of earlier liturgical music from the Middle Ages –– before tonality slowly emerged and finally took over in the Baroque Era. <br /><br />I've loved this particular piece of Britten's work since the first time I heard it –– probably more than sixty years ago. <br /><br />My first piano teacher, a Juilliard graduate, was also the organist and choirmaster at our church, and a profoundly gifted choral conductor as well. He taught at a prestigious private academy for girls in the New York Metropolitan Area where he produced splendid concerts of the best in choral music literature twice a year and on ceremonial occasions. A wonderful source of inspiration for a musical child! <br /><br />Though Britten undoubtedly had boy trebles in mind when he composed this work, it sounded very well indeed when his small, handpicked chorus of High School girls performed it. Unfortunately no proficient harpist was available, so it was accompanied on the Steinway –– beautifully I might add ––, but the unique sound of the harp is still far superior to the piano in this very special work.<br /><br />Though the contents were given in AOW's post, I thought it couldn't hurt to repeat it here, because so few bother to read the articles we present.<br /><br />1. "Procession" ("Hodie Christus natus est", Gregorian antiphon to the Magnificat at Second Vespers of Christmas)<br /><br />2. "Wolcum Yole!"<br /><br />3. "There is no rose" (Trinity College MS 0.3.58, early 15c)<br /><br />4a. "That yonge child"<br /><br />4b. "Balulalow" (the brothers Wedderburn, fl. 1548)<br /><br />5. "As Dew in Aprille" (Sloane 2593, first quarter 15c)<br /><br />6. "This Little Babe" (from Robert Southwell's "Newe Heaven, Newe Warre", 1595)<br /><br />7. "Interlude" (harp solo)<br /><br />8. "In Freezing Winter Night" (Southwell)<br /><br />9. "Spring Carol" (16c., also set by William Cornysh)<br /><br />10."Deo Gracias" (Sloane 2593)<br /><br />11. "Recession" ("Hodie")<br /><br />The use of Middle English texts and Gregorian chant heightens the feeling of echoes from ancient times, but the work is also decidedly "modern," so Britten came full circle and brilliantly united the distant past with the twentieth century.<br /><br />Thank you for making this available, AOW. I hadn't heard it in many years.. This by the way is an <i>excellent</i> performance.<br /> FreeThinkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16682678301019952436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-19529442621491585692016-12-18T04:43:31.407-06:002016-12-18T04:43:31.407-06:00Wonderful performance. I was looking for "Car...Wonderful performance. I was looking for "Carol of the Bells" yesterday and came upon this work. Small world!Bunkervillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14427978686579892380noreply@blogger.com