TV “A Ceremony of Carols” (Britten): Christ Church Oxford 1982 (Francis Grier)

[@jonpopelka]

Former boychoir 2nd soprano here. Pitch, diction, and dynamics are on point. Well done, lads and director!

[@jonb6417]

Remember it well from happy days as a cathedral treble nearly 40 years ago. These kids do a great job, in my opinion: a bright, clear, honest, frill-free and roughish edge to the sound, which I think suits Britten's cleverly-crafted and rather "bare" music. Many thanks for the upload.

[@stutheman9104]

I sang it many times when I was a boy, to this day I still play the spring carol at least once a week. Such beautiful music!

[@vernonbrowne6127]

I didn't start these until 1975, and still sounds as good as it was back then

[@inthewilderness7965]

Quite wonderful. Thank you so much for uploading this. I watched this and video-taped it when it was first broadcast in, (I think) Christmas 1982. I later taped over most of it by accident, back in those analogue days and always regretted it. But, here it is again in these digital days 'of the future!' Brilliant!

[@ArchiveofRecordedChurchMusic]

The sound and picture has also been digitally restored by ourselves

[@meantosay]

Some of my very favourite Christmas music. A wonderful performance, thank you for making it available!

[@margielyons6282]

Their precision is remarkable. And of course, their voices are angelic.

[@vanasco2]

Absolutely lovely.

[@MsPeperonata]

I sung this in my school choir in the 1970s, haven't heard it since then so it's great to find this.

[@Browneye2566]

Very well done lads. And a great harpist too, who we saw too little of, I think. I had the pleasure of conducting this at a school concert way back when. Not every track, and with girls and piano, but it is one of my favourite musical memories.

[@susanrussell5308]

My favoyrite piece to sing . Love singing Chaucer English.

[@MathieuBosi]

Very good. And I finally saw the harp at "That Yonge Child" :)

[@RezaChity-G]

One of my favorites from the Archive!

[@gja111075]

Very Amazing!!!

[@paulwaldner1693]

Beautiful!

[@stephenhall3515]

I keep on listening to other, more recent, versions and have to conclude that this is THE best bar none. Britten wanted traditional boys choir voices but they had to be good enough in ensemble and as soloists to master this rather difficult and complex work from 1942 when he was also writing 'Peter Grimes' and about to 'revive' British opera in 1945 against all odds and expectations. This version has the obvious virtues of great musical discipline from the conductor and harpist but also no fuss microphony, allowing just enough church reverb to realize an occasion. The processional is music drama, moving of choristers is similar and soloists around the harp shifts focus. There is nothing clever-clever here and Britten's whole conception of the work is before us in 20 minutes.

[@ChorGesang]

great job, many thanks for that :-)

[@2charliep]

It’s so nice to hear this performed as it was written. Sorry girls you’re voices are beautiful, but this needs to be sung by a boys choir.

[@brianpeterson107]

Agreed. And to hear the women's choir version that I just heard on the radio is really jarring. There's a reason BB wrote it the way he did

[@brightbite]

Female vocalist here and I 1000% agree!

[@Ken_oh545]

Well I heard a choir of French girls perform this in Dijon last year. The singing was magnifique, so I beg to differ.

[@danielshumway7046]

This Little babe, genius. If you haven't looked closely at the lyrics, do so! 10:17

[@zskfan100]

Absolute beautifully...:))) The boys are in the meantime 34 years older. Also at my own channel later no former choir boy is commenting. That is a pity...

[@1969Wilus]

this is actually a better performance and recording than the LP, which I have, and which introduced me to the piece. People who remember Christ Church under Grier maintain that the choir's commercial recordings don't represent them at their best.

[@ArchiveofRecordedChurchMusic]

Yes I agree with all your comments.

[@1969Wilus]

Shame they miss out the harp interlude, though. Incidentally, I think there are only two soloists in this performance.

[@sextustullius]

Although the video shows its age and it is beautiful and truly moving. Where are they all now?

[@TimAtkinsonakaDotterel]

Excellent performance, full of energy (some of the boys are bouncing in 'This Little Babe' - clearly excited by the music!). I too have the LP - have several from both Preston and Grier's time at CC as there was a distinctive 'fresh' sound from the top line unlike any other cathedral choir at the time (and subsequently). Unfortunately the ASV recordings are very 'dry' (having been recorded in the chapel/cathedral, which has little acoustic) - something the Archiv engineers didn't have to contend with recording Simon Preston's choir in such magnificent performances of the baroque classics.

[@gwalaus]

Agree totally. I love the Taverner Corona Spinea mass under Grier, and Messiah recording with Preston and Hogwood. Heaven-sent.

[@robcmstephens]

I was a Chorister at Magdalen then under Rose/ Harper and we did think the Christchurch lot were v good

[@elisepentz1063]

It's almost impossible to sing it and not bounce around

[@MarkThomas820]

My parish choir use to sing this. Thank you.

[@elisepentz1063]

I love when it's song by boys, as it should be

[@jungjinbaek]

How old they were? I don't know why, but they look younger than normal boy choristers in my mind. So cute, but musically very mature.

[@docbailey3265]

Did they edit out the harp interlude?

[@ArchiveofRecordedChurchMusic]

The harp interlude was edited out before we acquired the video tape

[@janetwitman]

Who is the harpist? She is marvelous and playing by memory! Why did you cut out the Interlude harp solo??? Such a marvelous presentation. Thank you!

[@ArchiveofRecordedChurchMusic]

The harpist is named on the end credits of the film and we did not cut out the interlude...what you see and hear is as it was broadcast.

[@janetwitman]

Thank you- I see in the credits that the harpist is Frances Kelly. What a remarkable performance! But! The Interlude is not on this video- It should follow "This Little Babe" but goes directly in to"Freezing Winter Night" at 20.50. Still a treasure!

[@ArchiveofRecordedChurchMusic]

@@janetwitman Sadly, nothing can be done about the Interlude as it was not broadcast.

[@NSBarnett]

@@MarkSlaterMusic Yes, starting at around 12:00 . Archive of Recorded Church Music, could you not digitally restore this as well?

[@carolinewallis-newport1068]

For me, this piece can only be performed by children (Britten's original intention). There are many fine performances on here but somehow it doesn't sound right when sung by adults. Incidentally, why wasn't the excellent harpist credited?

[@ArchiveofRecordedChurchMusic]

The harpist is named on the opening credits

[@davidmitchell9764]

The real thing

[@bevcolgan6586]

And after This Little Babe ends in triumph, comes the beautiful and magical harp Interlude. NOT! How can they mess with Britten like this???

[@IWantMyTimTV]

No Interlude for the harpist? :-(

[@ArchiveofRecordedChurchMusic]

It was edited out before we acquired the recording

[@linzerkipferl]

Why is Osian Ellis named in the description, when it is obviously a lady playing the harp and not Sir Osian?

[@ArchiveofRecordedChurchMusic]

Osian Ellis is not named in the description written by us, but in a KZbin advertisement for a King's College performance of this work. This is something we have no control over.