One of the challenges of listening to music is to know when to give an honest opinion and when not. I think one should always encourage ALL musical endeavor, but it it not always helpful to say “well done” without offering some analysis which might facilitate in improvement.
At the same time one should make allowances for expected results.
For, instance, my wife and I used to live in a location where, mainly for social reasons, professional orchestras were routinely given standing ovations for what were, frankly, simply adequate performances.
We now live in an area, when not so professional orchestras give spirited performances of the same works. To the purist, not such good performances, but far more worthy of acclamation because they rise above expectations.
To return to the performance at hand. Obviously not a good recording, but the interpretation also does not do Byrd full justice. It is too fast and does not include the necessary subtleties of phrasing, tempo and, specifically, attack that makes this music memorable.
Compare, for instance, the rendition of Justorum Animae performed by the Worcester Cathedral Choir which is in the same section of YouTube when you click the link.
Of course, I am somewhat biased when it come to Worcester…
None the less, Kendall, thanks for sharing one of England’s greatest composers and kudos to the choir for performing it.
I am leaving another comment here which is technically off topic, but I am hoping that because it will raise the comment total to at least 2, maybe someone else will take the trouble to read it!
The purpose of this comment is to commend you for all the wonderful articles and other items that you (and your elves) add to this blog. It constantly amazes me that so few people take the trouble to comment on them because they are so thought-provoking and deserving of discussion.
I know that everyone is busy, and some of us try to limit our comments to subjects that we think our backgrounds may give us some reason to believe that we may have something of value to contribute (however controversial), but it is sad to see such a small response to all your contributions.
What is particular sad is the realization that so much of the blogosphere seems devoted to politicized opinions. When the lawsuits are won (or lost), and the elections are won (or lost), nobody has anything to say anymore, or perhaps they were just too exhausted by it all!
Anyway, thank you for staying the course (where others have appeared to have faded away), and please continue to feed us with your thoughts and wisdom.
Byrd is not easy…
One of the challenges of listening to music is to know when to give an honest opinion and when not. I think one should always encourage ALL musical endeavor, but it it not always helpful to say “well done” without offering some analysis which might facilitate in improvement.
At the same time one should make allowances for expected results.
For, instance, my wife and I used to live in a location where, mainly for social reasons, professional orchestras were routinely given standing ovations for what were, frankly, simply adequate performances.
We now live in an area, when not so professional orchestras give spirited performances of the same works. To the purist, not such good performances, but far more worthy of acclamation because they rise above expectations.
To return to the performance at hand. Obviously not a good recording, but the interpretation also does not do Byrd full justice. It is too fast and does not include the necessary subtleties of phrasing, tempo and, specifically, attack that makes this music memorable.
Compare, for instance, the rendition of Justorum Animae performed by the Worcester Cathedral Choir which is in the same section of YouTube when you click the link.
Of course, I am somewhat biased when it come to Worcester…
None the less, Kendall, thanks for sharing one of England’s greatest composers and kudos to the choir for performing it.
Kendall:
I am leaving another comment here which is technically off topic, but I am hoping that because it will raise the comment total to at least 2, maybe someone else will take the trouble to read it!
The purpose of this comment is to commend you for all the wonderful articles and other items that you (and your elves) add to this blog. It constantly amazes me that so few people take the trouble to comment on them because they are so thought-provoking and deserving of discussion.
I know that everyone is busy, and some of us try to limit our comments to subjects that we think our backgrounds may give us some reason to believe that we may have something of value to contribute (however controversial), but it is sad to see such a small response to all your contributions.
What is particular sad is the realization that so much of the blogosphere seems devoted to politicized opinions. When the lawsuits are won (or lost), and the elections are won (or lost), nobody has anything to say anymore, or perhaps they were just too exhausted by it all!
Anyway, thank you for staying the course (where others have appeared to have faded away), and please continue to feed us with your thoughts and wisdom.