[Thomas Trotter on Songs of Praise]

I rarely find the time or the courage to watch Songs of Praise by when I did watch it recently - I certainly watched on Remembrance Sunday and possibly on one other occasion since then - I thought all the hymns were far too fast. I know that hymns and tempi of hymns is a contentious topic anywhere but I felt that there was a deliberate policy of going as fast as possible to get as many hymns as possible into the allotted time.

 

I can remember years ago that the whole programme was done from one church (it was once done from St Peter's Brighton with Eric Spencer playing and Christopher Moore conducting) and nearly all of it was hymn singing without all the interviews of local people that you get now. It depends what the BBC sees as the purpose of the programme but, speaking for myself, I find jumping from church to church, assorted carefully choreographed choirs arrayed in empty churches, theatrical lighting effects, interviews with people about how they found God and compering from Aled Jones all utterly off-putting.

 

But then I'm a grumpy old man anyway.

 

Malcolm

 

Mr. Kemp and I know all about theatrical lighting effects one evening at a certain church in Brighton...!

[Only In America]

And how DREADFUL this sounded on Radio 4 last Sunday. Turning on half way through the programme (Morning Worship with the Choral Soc - splendid Messiah singing) I didn't know where it was from and, from the sound, assumed it was a small parish church with a Victorian organ that had had a high-pitched, narrow scaled Cymbal crammed into the Swell, and a Swell Fagot made available on the Pedal. Never having heard St Paul's Hall before (but having heard plenty of hype), it was disappointing. Excellent playing from Darius Battiwalla however

 

Meanwhile, back in the US of A...

 

I thoroughly agree with your observation. I heard the same broadcast in my car whilst driving to church for Mass that morning; whilst I recognised the voice of John Sentamu, the sound and acoustics were most definitely not those of York Minster, and I even wondered at that point if it was the Archbishop of York I was indeed listening to. My lady-friend has just taken the keyboard section of the ARCO at St. Paul's hall; knowing that she was going to be doing it there, when I heard said broadcast I was somewhat horrified. Others have told me very positive things about the instrument, however.

[A Curious Gift]

At least it can be used for something useful such as, like you said, plainchant or bass guitar. Musical gifts which irritate me the most are the sort displaying notes with their stems on the wrong side (according to modern engraving conventions!)