Magnificat and Nunc dimittis Collegium Regale

[@farmideas]

Well I really liked it, in fact thought it wonderful to hear these really young singers who have devoted a lot of time to get to this standard. Couldn't get over their english diction, which of course is the pronunciation of the composer. 10/10 to them all!

[@PMS1950]

The University of Michigan's glorious singing of this wonderful setting, moved me deeply. The organist too is outstanding: sensitive and expressive. I've been fortunate enough to have had the opportunity of singing this setting in Canterbury cathedral, which has a wonderful acoustic and makes the most of Howells' long, arching phrases and superb crescendos. This choir is really something special: a top line of matchless purity with lower parts of great warmth and power. I cannot recall having been so moved by any other recording of this work. Although this recording is two years old, it remains my favourite. Thank you.

[@gregfolland8452]

Philip Savins - Totally agree. Moving and so atmospheric.

[@musicngolfguy]

The beautiful chord progression starting at 6:11 with the chorus "... ha-aa-ave seen" is still one of the most beautiful moments in any piece of music I've heard or performed. This is the Mag and Nunc I'd want played at my memorial.

[@paulcaswell2813]

Try the Gloria of the Nunc as put on KZbin - the performance from Trinity Cambridge. No wobblers - pure magic...

[@marekdrzewiecki3780]

Beautiful, thank you!

[@singinggardener]

Beautifully conducted and sung!

[@c_ooflez526]

I love this piece I sung it in my choir it fun!:)

[@georgealderson4424]

I am glad you love it Chris. I have just discovered it this evening. It amazes me how there is so much great music that we never or at least rarely hear. Thanks to people like you it will not be forgotten. Blessings and peace

[@OldPost661]

So many things about this performance aren't 'right' (not at all the kind of choir Howells was writing for, Hill Auditorium's acoustics vs Kings College Chapel, etc.), that it's just so cool that so much is RIGHT about this performance. The phrasing and pacing are perfect, and the organ is used really well. It's just really fun to listen to. The pp to ff thing at the end of the Glorias is jarring and a bit overdone (there's no sub. piano in the score at that point), although lots of people do a big crescendo on that last chord. Am I going crazy or does one of the sopranos improvise a note or two in the Nunc - at 'to be a light . . .'? I've never heard that before. But this is nitpicking. A really nice performance.

[@Sdnaurs]

perfect

[@eztobeme]

Nicely done. But, seriously - the "Amen" pp to ff??

[@jacobabel2131]

yeah it was kind of obnoxious

[@mymanjosquin]

lovely performance. it would be much easier to sing in a live acoustic.

[@paulfreeman4900]

Try Kings Cambridge and Cleobury. You can;t beat a boys choir

[@jacobclark1144]

AHHHH - too fast!!

[@jmj1]

Have to disagree, it's a perfect tempo

[@mymanjosquin]

gotta laugh. i thought it was a little slow.

[@simongleaden2864]

It's much better with boys singing the top line (which is what it was written for) - I don't like the wobbly vibrato adult sopranos produce.

[@hornkraft9438]

It is quite wobbly, but the first thing that struck me was ... are they trying to fake an English accent? They modified "hand" to become "haw-nd" because they thought it was British English? The English do use "eh" as well as "ahh" so everything doesn't have to be so dark and heavy. Just not the right piece for these heavy voices, even if it is an English classic.

[@PhilipOMeara]

Never, ever, ever do a sub p cresc on "amen". Howells is turning in his grave!

[@georgealderson4424]

OK I will try not to - when I find out what a sub p cresc means haha

[@MarkThomas820]

@@georgealderson4424 Subito pianissimo crescendo - instruction to suddenly drop to very soft then crescendo. Not the right place for it here.

[@georgealderson4424]

@@MarkThomas820 Thank you for the translation Mark. There is more to music than meets the ear apparently

[@MarkThomas820]

@@georgealderson4424 Musical instructions are abbreviated because it saves time and space. Italian is the common language in the musical world. I have sung this Howells setting of the Mag and Nunc many times - it's part of an Anglican/Episcopal cathedral choir's repertoire. Howells never had the instruction to sub p cresc the amen so it is the conductors instruction.. It sounds crass and that's why people are upset. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eX6lnmyQoNJ7fLM

[@ABC_DEF]

They sing it as if it's Verdi, which is a shame.

[@hornkraft9438]

It really is quite a robust mature women's sound. If Howells wrote for opera with an older opera chorus ...maybe. Did the tenor just scoop the solo like a pop singer? Strange days, indeed.

[@sparklingmarxist6688]

@@hornkraft9438 I didn’t even mind that as it a soloists right to take some liberty with the blue notes Howells puts into that context but the upper parts are rough and the organ sounds like a harmonium. Maybe bad sound engineering or mics