My most recent memory of Westminster Cathedral was at the height of Covid lockdown. at my uncle's funeral. There were just ten of us, lost in the big space where the heating had been on in weeks. The steam came of my breath as I read the lesson.
We used to perform this each year at my first school to launch a carol concert of about three quarters of an hour, ending with a recessional hymn, Once in Royal David City. We sang it in Latin [three verses], and the first verse was sung as processional hymn by a solo boy treble as far as Venite Adoremus when the other parts joined [as a quartet of singers] and after that it was the whole choir. The service was notably austere, and we used to call it Christmas in C Minor! But it was always very well done with a good two months of special rehearsals each week. The whole thing was done without piano or instrumental accompaniment, but the choir master had a very good ear for intonation and after a lot of training it always stayed in tune at least until the congregation joined in in some of the noisier Christmas Hymns. Lovely glimpse into an old tradition. Thank you. Best wishes from George
We sung this at the RC Cathedral in Singapore this morning! It's nice to hear the Latin (even if I prefer the English!) Wishing the ARCM and anyone who reads this a Merry Christmas!
This hymn is sung in _millions_ of churches of nearly every Christian denomination all over the world on this day, every single year! Wishing you and all a joyous Christmas and a happy New Year!!
I have added the upper neighbour on the "-do-" of "Adoremus" when playing the introduction to this hymn on the organ for years... thought it was too good an idea to be original!!
The tenor and bass harmonies are very clear. The tempo is very slow. The harmonies are straight from the Vatican! Interesting if not absolutely lovely.
"and recorded acoustically, that is without the use of a microphone, which also had not yet been invented!" What is acoustical recording? Using the sound to vibrate a stylus on a wax disc? If so, the reproduction is very good!
Given that versions with and without have existed simultaneously for most of its existence, it's not wholly surprising. The earliest published version doesn't have it. Beyond that, it's down to the version being used - if there's no passing note, don't sing it!
Not really the point I was making: what irritates me is the modern belief that there is only one acceptable version of this melody (that without the passing note), whereas the original differs in several respects to the Willcocks version. In fact this version heard here is almost identical to the one produced by Meyer Lutz in the mid-nineteenth century
Although of course Willcocks was hardly the reason for the lack of passing note - the EH doesn't have it either, or the earliest sources. Perhaps the pedants are correct, and it really should be forbidden, and this version dismissed as 19th century excess. That said, as with everything, it's really a matter of singing the notes put in front of you.
It's from 1908 and an acoustic recording, so it will be very small to get everyone near enough the recording horn. Sounds like single voices to me on the AT parts, and a few boys on the top line.
@@missasinenomineIt sounds to me as though there is a quartet of soloists singing most of it (hence the ability to add ornaments to the melody) with the full choir coming in occasionally, mainly for the refrain.
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Absolutely fabulous. Thank you for the upload.
Considering that the recording is of 1908, it is marvelous.
Merry Christmas 2024.
My most recent memory of Westminster Cathedral was at the height of Covid lockdown.
at my uncle's funeral. There were just ten of us, lost in the big space where the heating had been on in weeks. The steam came of my breath as I read the lesson.
We’re listening to the voices of people who were probably born in 1850s
116 years ago. Absolutely amazing.
Thank you for sharing this gem!
We used to perform this each year at my first school to launch a carol concert of about three quarters of an hour, ending with a recessional hymn, Once in Royal David City. We sang it in Latin [three verses], and the first verse was sung as processional hymn by a solo boy treble as far as Venite Adoremus when the other parts joined [as a quartet of singers] and after that it was the whole choir.
The service was notably austere, and we used to call it Christmas in C Minor! But it was always very well done with a good two months of special rehearsals each week. The whole thing was done without piano or instrumental accompaniment, but the choir master had a very good ear for intonation and after a lot of training it always stayed in tune at least until the congregation joined in in some of the noisier Christmas Hymns.
Lovely glimpse into an old tradition. Thank you.
Best wishes from George
Thanks Terry. Made my afternoon!
Thank you for this. I love all the harmonising & embellishments which I've never heard before.
the past, present! ❤❤❤❤❤ thank you so very much.
We sung this at the RC Cathedral in Singapore this morning! It's nice to hear the Latin (even if I prefer the English!)
Wishing the ARCM and anyone who reads this a Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas to you and your family!!!
This hymn is sung in _millions_ of churches of nearly every Christian denomination all over the world on this day, every single year! Wishing you and all a joyous Christmas and a happy New Year!!
Like wise
I have added the upper neighbour on the "-do-" of "Adoremus" when playing the introduction to this hymn on the organ for years... thought it was too good an idea to be original!!
Thank you!
Merry Christmas, everyone!!
And also to you!
Amazing ❤
The tenor and bass harmonies are very clear. The tempo is very slow. The harmonies are straight from the Vatican! Interesting if not absolutely lovely.
"and recorded acoustically, that is without the use of a microphone, which also had not yet been invented!"
What is acoustical recording? Using the sound to vibrate a stylus on a wax disc?
If so, the reproduction is very good!
About how you describe with a large cone to capture the sound.
Interesting to observe they sing the reputedly forbidden passing note
It is the famous arrangement by Vincent Novello not RRTerry.
Given that versions with and without have existed simultaneously for most of its existence, it's not wholly surprising. The earliest published
version doesn't have it. Beyond that, it's down to the version being used - if there's no passing note, don't sing it!
Not really the point I was making: what irritates me is the modern belief that there is only one acceptable version of this melody (that without the passing note), whereas the original differs in several respects to the Willcocks version. In fact this version heard here is almost identical to the one produced by Meyer Lutz in the mid-nineteenth century
Although of course Willcocks was hardly the reason for the lack of passing note - the EH doesn't have it either, or the earliest sources. Perhaps the pedants are correct, and it really should be forbidden, and this version dismissed as 19th century excess. That said, as with everything, it's really a matter of singing the notes put in front of you.
Fascinating, though not exactly pleasant to modern ears, I dare to add.
It's nice, I like it, but the choir sounds quite small.
My ears are modern, and I like it.
I agree - once you listen past the crackle, you can hear some good singing.
It's from 1908 and an acoustic recording, so it will be very small to get everyone near enough the recording horn. Sounds like single voices to me on the AT parts, and a few boys on the top line.
@@missasinenomineIt sounds to me as though there is a quartet of soloists singing most of it (hence the ability to add ornaments to the melody) with the full choir coming in occasionally, mainly for the refrain.
GREAT. KEEP POSTING MARVELOUS FORGOTEN JEWELLS OF CHURCH MUSIC