Lord let me know mine end (Maurice Greene) - Guildford Cathedral Choir (Barry Rose)

Guildford Cathedral Choir, directed by Barry Rose:
Evensong at Guildford Cathedral, 24 November 1970:
(Anthem with text from Psalm 39, vv 5-8, 13 & 15. The Londoner Maurice Greene was born in 1696 and was a chorister and, later, organist at St Paul’s Cathedral. He took up the post of Organist of the Chapel Royal in 1727 and became Professor of Music at Cambridge University in 1730. Five years later, he was appointed Master of the King’s Musick. He died in 1755, leaving his church music compilation “Cathedral Music” to be completed by his pupil, William Boyce)
Lord, let me know mine end, and the number of my days, that I may be certified how long I have to live. Behold, thou hast made my days as it were a span long, and mine age is even as nothing in respect of thee; and verily every man living is altogether vanity.
For man walketh in a vain shadow, and disquieteth himself in vain. He heapeth up riches, and cannot tell who shall gather them.
And now, Lord, what is my hope? Truly my hope is even in thee. Hear my prayer, O Lord, and with thine ears consider my calling; hold not thy peace at my tears. O spare me a little, that I may recover my strength, before I go hence and be no more seen.
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[@ArchivesofSound]

A score of the music can be seen via www0.cpdl.org/wiki/index.php/Lord,_let_me_know_mine_end_(Maurice_Greene)

[@Melody-dn5zs]

Someday I’ll forget everything and this will play, I won’t be remembered and I’m alright with that, I’ll enjoy everything until I don’t have it anymore

[@sourpuss5951]

Is this an Everywhere at the End of Time reference?

[@missasinenomine]

Have you eternal life in Christ?

[@missasinenomine]

Sung at Admiral Lord Nelson's funeral. (Or so we were told at school!)

[@LindaPgh]

The treble solos are just ravishingly beautiful. The irony of the innocent voices singing about the vanity of life is so moving. This recording captures a moment of absolute perfection. I've slogged through this piece with a number of choirs with female sopranos and it's not remotely the same piece. This is how it will sound in heaven.

[@ArchivesofSound]

Thank you.

[@missasinenomine]

I agree. With reservations on the word "ravishingly". Um..........sublimely? Ethereally?

[@rosscobb900]

The most sublime recording of an exquisite piece. Sheer genius at work.

[@ArchivesofSound]

That's quite a compliment! Thank you.

[@mitzypinks1338]

Hauntingly beautiful.

[@ArchivesofSound]

Thank you!

[@danparker7575]

I grew up in America, believing there was Kings', and then everyone else. We did sing the Rose preces and responses, which were one of my favorites, but I had no idea there was a Guilford Cathedral choir, that they were directed by Rose, and how wonderfully fine they were together.

[@ArchivesofSound]

Just to clear up any possible confusion: the Responses you mention were actually written by Bernard Rose, one time organist of Magdalen College Oxford, not Barry Rose. Barry did write a couple of psalm chants, though, which you can find on this channel (if you search hard enough).

[@jonb6417]

There is no doubt that King's has for years had a superb choir, especially under Willcocks, but like every choir reliant on trebles the sound changes as boys come and go, and all choirs can have off days when things don't go quite right and "on" days when things are truly magnificent. King's is also helped of course by a truly wonderful acoustic. But there are over 50 choral foundations in England, many of them ancient indeed, some of whom have, or have had, choirs as good if not better than King's from time to time. I am fortunate to have work that has allowed me to travel extensively, mainly in the UK but also around Europe, and I have had many opportunities to hear many choirs and, sometimes, notice how they have changed from year to year. I recommend that anyone interested should seek out some of our shire cathedrals and attend evensongs: I think one would rarely be disappointed!

[@davidcrook4166]

Yet another fine classic from AOS! Why is this music not more well-known and why is Maurice Greene not more well known about? Another thank you and like!

[@ArchivesofSound]

Always glad for a "like"! We don't know why Maurice Greene's music is so neglected, but we've done our best to put that right. "Lord let me know mine end" is a fine piece, and we also have "O clap your hands" somewhere else on this channel - equally good.

[@davidcrook4166]

I've just listened to it again!!

[@ArchivesofSound]

:-)

[@davidcrook4166]

:-) :-) :-) :-) :-) !!!

[@jonb4020]

Well, most people who know anything about English cathedral music know this one, at least. It seems to be his acknowledged masterpiece. We certainly loved singing it when I was a treble. There's also O clap, as has been noted elsewhere, and I think I've seen some of his harpsichord pieces in the past. But it does indeed seem that, if he wrote what Wiki says he did (I just looked!), there must be a fair bit no longer available.

[@missasinenomine]

We were carefully instructed as soloists about diction, & not to sing;
"He heapeth up, heapeth up breeches!"
(as well as, "and dever shall be, world without tend, amen". But that's for another video).

[@shiny2421]

Out of all the discussion, is this the song, is it not the song, this is the closest we've ever had by far, to the sample used for Friends Past Reunited. Even the choir's singing sounds highly similar to the tone of the choir in Friends Past Reunited.

[@ArchivesofSound]

We can tell you that it is NOT the song.

[@qwertzuwu]

@@ArchivesofSound yep, the melodies are different if you listen past the first 10 seconds

[@gav1233]

It's the same song, except a different cover.

[@ArchivesofSound]

No, it's *NOT* the same "song". Do try to keep up!

[@potato1907]

@@ArchivesofSound Ok so, Do you have any idea what it could be?