Tully, your story is quite shocking but also lacking in some information. Who were "they" and what was the deal with them opposing an Epsicopalian priest?? I know it's off topic but I couldn't really keep it hanging in the air like that...
Back on topic though..
Last evening I heard the Roden Boys Choir again and they are now officially my 2nd favourite choir after Libera! They sang an Evensong at the protestant St. Bavo church in Haarlem (as guests, as they themselves come from Roden which is in a totally different part of the Netherlands). I expected quite a lot of them and boy did they deliver. It already started during the Introit sung from the back of the church (where the original quire and altar from before the Reformation still stand). It was a setting of The Lord is my shepherd by Colin Mawby for organ and treble solo and the soloist Roman Krjemenevsky produced a wonderful ethereal sound in the fine acoustics of the church. A little bit too much echo sometimes in order to follow the words but I heard a lady behind me say "little angel" and I agreed
(I know, where have we heard that before...
)
After the choir had taken their place we sang 'Come Holy Ghost our hearts inspire' and it was great to be able to sing under the direction of the Roden Boys Choir's director who is a very enthusiastic man and very inspiring to look at when he conducts. He conveys a passion for music and singing. I got to talk to him after the service and one of the first things he asked me is whether I sing too, which for me kind of underlined how he is just interested in people singing
The Preces (the actual 'opening' of the shared prayer) had a powerful closing chord on the word 'praised' and after it was finished I noticed for the first time the magnificent echo this church has. They really sent a beautiful and glorious sound into the air - like a prayer of sound going up...
But nothing prepared me for the amazing Magnificat and Nunc dimittis settings by composer Bryan Kelly who I had never heard of. They were very dramatic and musical and to great effect. Very dance-like, full of contrast and staccato notes (the Magnificat, the Nunc dimittis was more solemn) and the Amen ended with a really long note on the 'A' (I think four bars), really strong, and very high for the trebles, and an abrupt and strong 'men', almost like a door slammed shut. Striking effect. Once again in these pieces the echo they sent up through the building was amazing.
And it is wonderful not only to hear but also to see. One of the things that struck me once more about this choir was their concentration and passion for singing. Such a sight to watch, something that adds to how the music moves me. Can't quite explain it, but it's very intense. I can recall it just now.
The Anthem was Howells' Like as the hart desireth the waterbrooks (a setting of verses of Psalm 42), a very solemn and beautiful piece. The program didn't mention the name of the piece for the organ voluntary but it was very festive, probably baroque, and it sounded splendid on the famous St. Bavo organ.
I stayed with my friend a little longer in the church to look at the various windows, the old quire etc and when we left, the boys and men of the choir were also just preparing to leave, dressed in their leisure wear again, and as we walked past them it was like walking past big stars...
This morning I signed myself up to be a Friend of the choir which means I give an annual donation and in return I get a free CD, 4 newsletters a year, a schedule of their concerts and reductions on CD's.
For those of you near
Peterborough, Leicester and Cambridge, they will be singing there at the end of this month, so I heartily recommend you check them out
(--edit: today I received the newsletter which has some different information so I edited the details below - please check the actual churches etc for confirmation)
Sun 24 July Eucharist Peterborough Cathedral, Peterborough 10.30 am
Sun 24 July Evensong Peterborough Cathedral, Peterborough 3.30 pm
Mon July 25 Evensong St. Mary's University Church, Cambridge 6.30 pm
Tue July 26 Evensong St. John's College Chapel, Cambridge 6.30 pm
Wed July 27 Evensong Leicester Cathedral, Leicester 6.30 pm
Thu July 28 Evensong St. John's College Chapel, Cambridge 6.30 pm
(ah, how I wish I could come..
)
Here's a picture of the St. Bavo church (I didn't take pictures of the choir, it didn't feel appropriate during a prayer service):
Uploaded with
ImageShack.us
(in some of the videos and pictures anyway... they have a varying group of kids singing, as I understand from their website) I do think a choir can reach a point where they just get *too* big. If only for the training of the choristers' singing capacities. If you have a large enough group of people, you're bound to sound great anyway. Plus maybe it's hard to feel really an essential part of a choir if you're just one of dozens and dozens. But hey, maybe that's just my European view - in America all things are bigger, right 
) hits at 2:20 and 5:50, and whether we know a Libera song with that note in it (Yorkie?)
