Magnificat in A, Stanford

Magnificat in A, Stanford, sung by Westminster Abbey Choir

[@gls123ify]

In fact, I have been to the Vatican and my wife and I were stunned at the poor quality of choral music presented at an afternoon service there. It's well recognized in the choral world that choral music is one of the gems of the English Church. I've sat in the choral stalls at Westminster and thus can give a first-hand evaluation.

[@yvonnemariane2265]

What do you think is going on?

[@willthacheerleader18]

absolutely beautiful! One of my favorite hymns. Our Lady rejoicing in the Lord!

[@johnuhr-henry9508]

A magnificent array of great Anglican pieces of church music played superbly and sung by some great choirs. Nothing more becoming than great church Organs and Organists playing fantastic pieces of our music.

[@pipeup1]

A very Christian comment! The Anglican Church of today seeks to reach out and pray with all believers. Thank God we are no longer defined by 16th century theological binaries!

[@elton1981]

And he did. The Pope asked The Abbey Choir to come to Rome and sing with the Sistine Chapel Choir

[@Wanamaker1946]

A little High Churchness would be nice to see and smell more of. It’s a Spiritual air freshener. This was the musty ancient smell MEGHAN wanted to get rid of in Saint George’s Chapel. Lol.

[@georgebur]

A great opportunity to for the pope to hear the one of the finest church music works, performed by this notable Church Or England Choir, in Westminster Abbey. An example to take back to Rome!!

[@IBumpg]

I have always been intrigued by the squabbles associated between religious entities. Each group claims 'our' Christ even when they are referring to the same entity. It is amazing and in fact quite silly. Christ faced the same things when He was walking on earth, and he constantly reminded the Pharisees and Sadducees of the folly of introducing man-made divisions in things controlled by God. Let us listen to good music, please.

[@jonb4020]

In principle I agree with you, yet the perversions and revisions of Christ's message, which was in essence a very simple one of love, tolerance, unselfishness and the mercy of God need calling out. Ideas that have been invented by religious leaders and so-called theologians after Christ's death and resurrection not to proclaim the joy, love and glory in the teachings and life of Jesus and the grace of God's mercy, but to increase and sustain the wealth and power of the religious bureaucracies have no place in true Christianity. Paying money to priests for "time off" in "purgatory; worshipping "splinters of the true cross", finger bones of saints and the "holy foreskin." I ask you! Incense, vestments, gold and silver treasures and other shenanigans are completely unnecessary.

[@bengki261282]

My choir sang this in a concert last saturday. Great song to sing... The dynamics range is very long, from pp to ff

[@dougyt92]

I really hate how the commentator talks OVER the introduction.

[@jonb6417]

Nicely sung, IMO - but oh so very, very nearly did one or two make the big Stanford in A Mag mistake! You can just hear it about to happen - I'm so glad they didn't, it would have been a disaster... Congrats to whoever was playing the organ. It's a tricky accompaniment in places. (Though less so for anyone playing at the incredibly high standard of a cathedral organist, I suppose!)

[@______8182]

What is that mistake?

[@jonb4020]

@@______8182 Sorry to be so long replying. KZbin has just thrown this up at me in its inimitably surprising way. I was meaning at about 4.57, on the third "for ever". It is so tempting to only hold the "ev" for two beats and move to "ver" too early. I've heard a few voices do it from time to time in several places. I was a kid in a cathedral choir and I did it once. Wanted to crawl under the seat! Men as well as boys can be at fault. We'd probably never do it when watching the director of music in an important service, but in a run-of-the-mill Saturday or even Sunday evensong at the end of term, when tiredness is high and concentration not 100%, it's an easy mistake to make if you are not fully focussed.

[@Raymondskid1]

I have read the offending comment for which Bellamy's response is neither illuminating nor helpful. It is only rude and inappropriate (for any venue), and should be expunged. American singer

[@cosmobellamy145]

solo @ 3:59 singing tonight wish me luck

[@dougyt92]

Probably couldn't overdo it because of the amount of people in the massive building.

[@OurImperialEmpire]

The Church of England existed before Henry VIII, it was only him who separated it the bishop of Rome and named himself head.

[@jonb4020]

Great music, well sung. Congrats to the choir, indeed. But incense? Good grief!

[@kentondickerson]

ouremperialempire must think it's still 1549.

[@Bigbearbeau]

the only phrasing is in the organ playing though.....

[@simdsn3215]

Why not incensing the blessed mother whilst singing the magnificat? If the anglican church approves incensing of humans, the archbishop and so on, why not incensing the virgin Mary? Wonders from a young catholic.

[@morganm5370]

Simon Danielsson Well the lady chapel is behind the high altar of this Abbey

[@ds1868]

Strictly called the King Henry VII Chapel. It has never been called the Lady Chapel.

[@bwilliamleo7872]

ds1868 Henry VII Lady Chapel is the formal name, dedicated to our lady, and paid by Henry VII. Almost every cathedral in England, the largest chapel is called lady chapel! If you have been to the lady chapel of the abbey, the altar reredos is a painting of Our Lady and her child.

[@saratwiles4795]

"for he hath regar [breath] ded,.."...dear me.... I agree the organ playing is wonderful but there isn't a shred of musicality in the direction.

[@ds1868]

sara twiles I've listened to that several times, and there is no 'breath' taken. So I'm not sure where you're getting that from.

[@Sharkattackguy]

YAWN for you SARA

[@saratwiles4795]

"gener[slide]ations"....

[@OurImperialEmpire]

Why, O why the Church of England permitted the abominable one in our church is beyond me. The whole idea is that we break away from Rome and their popery! Let the Church of England worship Jesus Christ and let us welcome him into our hearts and not the Pope and his false preaching into God's hallowed cathedrals!

[@rayjconti]

You really can't believe the church in Rome does not have a choir to match the choir at the Abby. My guess is you never been to Rome or been to a Catholic Cathedral to hear one of their choirs. George, I'm think you just may be a bigot.

[@georgebur]

Ray, I see that I am not a lone voice here. But you are. As an example, do you feel the singing at the funeral of Pope John Paul II was up to scratch? I have no particular loyalties either way Ray Conti, but I can see from your several posts that Apologetics is stock in trade for yourself! What a spectacle for the quitter pope!

[@JB-hh3tk]

The Vatican choir is horrific