Libera Dreams

....that would be a great idea, or not?

Good idea, but would not happen after 7 concerts in Canada and still jet lagged

The queen has her own choir boys so this simply will not happen. It would be nice but it still wont happen.

dani wrote:The queen has her own choir boys so this simply will not happen. It would be nice but it still wont happen.

As does Westminster Cathedral which is also a Royal Peculiar (which means that it is under the direct authority of the Monarch rather than the Church of England via a Bishop).

That said having heard the choir at the Abbey the same week of the Epsom concert, Libera wins hands down

Yorkie wrote:
That said having heard the choir at the Abbey the same week of the Epsom concert, Libera wins hands down

Depends on what you're after - for the atmosphere of the Abbey, their choir is perfect. They have this traditional air over them that really suits the feel of the place. I heard them in the same week and they gave me goosebumps practically non-stop. Libera gave me goosebumps too in Epsom, but also moved me in many more ways, from sheer joy to tears. So - both choirs are just different. I think Aled Jones was right in asking Libera to sing at his wedding though

maartendas wrote:Depends on what you're after

Easily answered - THE BEST

I thought the choir at St Paul's was better than Westminster, although I was surprised at the size of the St P's choir. I thought they had 30+ Trebles but there were only 16 when I went (plus about 6 none singing probationers).

I would love. The royal family would be a pretty decoration to LIBERA

Yorkie wrote:

maartendas wrote:Depends on what you're after

Easily answered - THE BEST

I thought the choir at St Paul's was better than Westminster, although I was surprised at the size of the St P's choir. I thought they had 30+ Trebles but there were only 16 when I went (plus about 6 none singing probationers).

Now that you mention it - it does say 30 trebles on their website. I'm trying to remember how many there were on the Saturday I went - I'll have to ask (I happen to still be in touch with someone I met there that day ).

I thought St. Paul's had a broader, more 'flowing' sound than Westminster. They sang a mass setting by Byrd which they did splendidly - their choir sound fitted the polyphony of Byrd, I thought, and they managed to maintain a very clear pronunciation. But that very refined and precise sound of Westminster impressed me more at the time. Now I'm back home, when I listen to both choirs I find St. Paul's to be more accessible - Westminster has a very distinct quality that I have to be in the mood for.
(Mind you, the choir I listen to most since I got back is actually Wells Cathedral, with their hymn collection - my favourite music by far lately)

maartendas wrote:Mind you, the choir I listen to most since I got back is actually Wells Cathedral, with their hymn collection - my favourite music by far lately

Which Hymn collection and is it sung by the girls, boys or both?

Lead Kindly Light:

http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/al.asp?al=CDP12105" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Hills of the North, Rejoice:

http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/al.asp?al=CDP12103" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I got them from the library and ripped them to my computer. I didn't know Wells was mixed until later. I never noticed but after listening more carefully I *think* it's with the girls as well.

(p.s., totally off-topic: I'm glad I changed back to my old avatar )

maartendas wrote: I never noticed but after listening more carefully I *think* it's with the girls as well.

(p.s., totally off-topic: I'm glad I changed back to my old avatar )

Well, they are not exactly mixed - they have a girl and boy line that alternate with each other. It just doesn't seem to say on the website which one is on the recording. Usually when they don't say it is the mixed line up but older recordings might just be the boys.

What was the avatar you were using?

This:



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

I love the picture itself - it is like there is one place left in the circle - for ME but I grew bored with the toned down colours
(Ironically enough my current avatar shows one chorister turned with his back to the rest... which is why I liked the other one more, for symbolic reasons.. but I just wanted my old one back - it's just such a great picture, colours and everything - I'll always love them in their monk-like appearance best)

On the web pages of both albums you can listen to samples. From 'Lead Kindly Light' - try samples of 'There's a wideness in God's mercy' or 'The Lord's my shepherd' - it sounds like boys to me. I figured if they were mixed there must be girl's voices in with the boys - but if they tend to alternate then I think this must be a recording without the girls because the higher parts tend to sound mostly like boys' voices to me...

(I know, I'm putting myself on the line here, since you're "supposed" to be able to hear the difference.. ahem! )

--edit: okay, the 'Lead Kindly Light' album is supposed to be mixed - it does say so on the Hyperion website - and now I'm doubting my own ears... or maybe I just haven't heard girl sopranos for too long to be able to pick them out (only adult ones). 'The Lord's My Shepherd' - just not sure now to be honest. Then listen to 'O God You search me' - the higher parts have a different colour and texture to it. But still... I have a hard time figuring it out. Hmph. Well, I'm off to bed anyway I'll read others' opinions by tomorrow

Yorkie wrote:

dani wrote:The queen has her own choir boys so this simply will not happen. It would be nice but it still wont happen.

As does Westminster Cathedral which is also a Royal Peculiar (which means that it is under the direct authority of the Monarch rather than the Church of England via a Bishop).

That said having heard the choir at the Abbey the same week of the Epsom concert, Libera wins hands down

I thought that Westminister Cathedral was Roman Catholic but Westminister Abbey was C of E. IIRC Westminster cathedral is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop.

You're right about Westminster Cathedral, Yorkie meant Westminster Abbey (I had to look it up myself )

Yorkie wrote:
I thought the choir at St Paul's was better than Westminster, although I was surprised at the size of the St P's choir. I thought they had 30+ Trebles but there were only 16 when I went (plus about 6 none singing probationers).

I asked my friend and this is what he said:

"I counted 24 boy choristers and 12 men which is the usual line up for a "red letter" day. I think for a normal evensong or Eucharist there would be 16 plus 10 men, and for the great feasts the whole of the choir."

The "red letter day" was the feast day of St. Joseph, which was the day that I went. Such feast days are marked in red on the liturgical calender.