In The Bleak MidWinter

[bubba68086]

Gorgeous!! Very moving performance. The folks at Winchester can be very proud of your great Choir.

Thank you from the States...

[ald2345]

The medals that the Winchester Choristers wear have nothing to do with the RSCM scheme.

They do not participate in that scheme as they are a professional cathedral choir.

Colours are as follows:

Red = Head Chorister

Blue = Deputy Head Chorister

Yellow = 'Singing Boys' Years 6, 7 and 8

No medal =Year 5 boys recently 'dubbed'

It has been like that for many years.

Just thought you might like to know :-)

[Robersim]

I happen to have a Red Head Choristers medal

[JusticeRW]

@ald2345 Thanks for that- I had wondered why there were so many Yellow-medallers when that is (Under the RSCM scheme) the top of the scale. However, when I was a singing boy at St Paul's Cathedral, I did the RSCM scheme (now being at yellow- having done the final examination in New Zealand earlier this year).

[MacallisterBurn]

What do the yellow things on the boys' necks mean? And there was a boy with a blue one and another with a red one, if you could explain all three colors please. Thanks

[mrnnhnz]

They are 'ribbons' which choristers get for achievement in singing. The different colours stand for different level of achievement. Not too sure about yellow, but I'm guessing it's a failry low leve of achievement. Usually you'll have light bluw then dark blue. Red usually next, but I think that one may just for RSCM choristers who've been part of the organisation (the Royal School of Church Music) for a certain number of years (?) you also get them for certain awards.

[katblobs]

I think the yellow is the four years award medal

[MacallisterBurn]

Thanks, that's kind of what i figured.

[MattheTenor]

Hi. They are Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) awards. The order is as follows: Light blue, dark blue, BRONZE, Red, SILVER, Yellow, GOLD. Just to confuse things though, the ribbons are not alway the same colour as the award! I teach these awards to trebles up in Glasgow and I love it! The first award for a treble is when he (or she in some churches) is admitted as a chorister and they are given their surplus. A probationer just wears the cassock. If you want more info just ask, I love it all!

[UitdenNederlanden]

Certainly a great hymne. The voice of that solist (Donald Sweeney???) is absolutely fantastic.

[colenso05]

Yes, the soloist is Don Sweeney - he often appeared as a soloist with choral societies in Hampshire when not on cathedral duty.

[Mischafour]

lovely solo; really nice phrasing!

[CVStanford]

Lovely solo from Donald Sweeney....and how much nicer the cathedral organ was before the rebuild! (Lovely playing from TBW too)

[luckymonty123]

listen to daisy wardle on utbe if u think thats good. shes only 11

[drtripletts]

Are organ and choir performing in the same key in the first verse?

[kaitlynsioux2006]

the organ sounds fine, it plays some harmonies along with the first verse, but there is really no clashing going on between the vocalist and the organ. It sounds very nice :)

[shrumpiedoodles]

I sing with St. John Brebeuf choir in Niles, IL under the genius of director Ed Lally. We sing traditional, spiritual/gospel pieces as dictated by the liturgical holy day of obligation (this piece too). Unfortunately the Catholic is slowly phasing out this type of music and replacing it with bland, inappropriate contemporary drums, guitar and bad singers with no talent. It's shameful. The church believes a younger congregation will be drawn into the church. I believe it will only alienate.

[sexybrahms]

I grew up in Winchester Cathedral Close, and my father was in the choir. So was I, once they started the girls' choir in 1999 or so. Now my little brother is going back to be a choirboy. I have a feeling that it hasn't changed one bit since 10 years ago when I was there or almost 23 years ago when this was made. I love that. It's a joy to hear this music. You just don't find singing like this in North America.

[carolynmeredith]

Actually, there are some choirs who sing exactly like this in the U.S. The next time you're in New York, go to St. Thomas on 5th Avenue and 53rd Street. Their choir is trained in the same tradition, and sing beautifully!

[kiltlvr]

Sexybrahms,

In Los Angeles, we've the Boy Choristers from St. Paul's Church. There's The American Boychoir, too. I'm sure there are choirs all over the US trained in a manner reminiscent of this style. This is not an unknown "art form" here in the States. I cannot speak for Canada, but since they have a strong European influence, I'm sure these choirs exist there, too. Mexico may, too, but influences may have been diluted by strong cultural identities.

[hellpmaboab]

If there's a better example of the High Anglican choral tradition delivered in its pre-Anglican architectural setting, I'd like to know what it is.

[bazzatheblue]

Indeed ,it to me is the best,always had a soft spot for Winchester.

[callmeyall1]

its brilliant im in a choir too i can go a little bit higher than them later mate.

[Topdoginuk]

Excellent! Evocative and beautiful.

Thank you.

[CAW2844]

One of my top three favorite holiday songs.

[sebastianbosley]

That's surely a baritone?!

[MattyD7293]

Ha ha Jonesy...you look funny!

[DeaDSwiTcH]

Absolutely brilliant, thanks so much for sharing these blasts from the past.