@nicander175..I am honored to have you respond sir. I was a young choirster of seven when my choirmaster presented the entire choir with this 1954 album, and stated, "this is how we need to sound". We never achieved it.
From my observation, Stephen Cleobury is not generally an ostentatious conductor. For much of the time at Evensong, the choir at King's relies on a choral scholar on each side keeping things together with sparing gestures. One might, at such times, see SC looking over the edge of the organ loft, only making an appearance downstairs for the canticles or anthem. In general, the repertoire today is much more varied and complicated and a better performance is achieved with a conductor.
To answer foxwoodhall1: the name of the anthem is "The Three Kings" by a german, Peter Cornelius 1824-74. And I didn't mean to be critical of Stephen Cleobury in a previous comment, rather just to point out the genius of Boris Ord. Sad we won't see the likes of him again.
I quite like Stephen Cleobury. Everyone has his or her own style with conducting, playing or singing. He is still able to draw out that fabulous head voice from the singers and create a solitary impassioned harmony of voices which stir the soul.
If the first treble is indeed Rodney Williams, I had the immense privilege and pleasure to meet him and have him sing with three others in a quartet only a few weeks ago for a memorial service for which I was playing/directing in Knightsbridge. He's still going strong! I was conducting, but I felt that he was the real leader... True legend!
What a find. I listen to and watch the Lessons and Carols every year, but this is just stunning. The quality is spectacular, but the age of the film lends to the music a warmth that's difficult to achieve on more modern recordings. And to see Boris Ord at the helm of the choir at King's? Amazing. Thank you for this upload!
The organist was Hugh J McLean, a Canadian, recently retired form All Saints Church in Florida. The tenor was Nigel Rogers. 1st treble was, I think Rodney Williams .2nd Treble was Michael West. John Walker was the bass. Boris-Bernard Ord was one of the finest choir directors ever. Just look at the command he has of his choir with a just a little movement from his finger. Compare now to Stephen Cleobury who waves around like a windmill to get the same effect. This recording is simply superb!
@orgellvr One small correction - the tenor soloist was, I think, Chris Scott, not Nigel Rogers, who was in the choir but singing next to Chris Scott on his right. Great to see and hear again the first King's carol service I sang in as a choral scholar - I am the bass second on the right of John Walker who sang the Three Kings.
The organist was Hugh J McLean (a Canadian, recently retired form All Saints Church in Florida). The tenor was Nigel Rogers. 1st treble was (I think) Rodney Williams .2nd Treble was Michael West. John Walker was the bass. Boris (Bernard Ord) was one of the finest choir directors ever. Just look at the command he has of his choir with a just a little movement from his finger. Compare now to Stephen Cleobury who waves around like a windmill to get the same effect. This recording is simply superb!
In addition to who became organists, choirmasters or pursued other vocations in music, I would like to know if some of these boys received holy orders and are now serving or have served as clergy in the Church of England or elsewhere.
I would SO love to know what these choirboys are doing now. They're now mid-to-late-60's. Which ones are choir directors? Which organists? Also interesting to hear the very "plummy" public-school accents. Very upper -- or at least upper-middle -- class.
@nicander175..I am honored to have you respond sir. I was a young choirster of seven when my choirmaster presented the entire choir with this 1954 album, and stated, "this is how we need to sound". We never achieved it.
orgellvr 1 month ago
From my observation, Stephen Cleobury is not generally an ostentatious conductor. For much of the time at Evensong, the choir at King's relies on a choral scholar on each side keeping things together with sparing gestures. One might, at such times, see SC looking over the edge of the organ loft, only making an appearance downstairs for the canticles or anthem. In general, the repertoire today is much more varied and complicated and a better performance is achieved with a conductor.
DavidDrinkell 2 months ago
To answer foxwoodhall1: the name of the anthem is "The Three Kings" by a german, Peter Cornelius 1824-74. And I didn't mean to be critical of Stephen Cleobury in a previous comment, rather just to point out the genius of Boris Ord. Sad we won't see the likes of him again.
orgellvr 2 months ago
I quite like Stephen Cleobury. Everyone has his or her own style with conducting, playing or singing. He is still able to draw out that fabulous head voice from the singers and create a solitary impassioned harmony of voices which stir the soul.
Flaxman2009 2 months ago
What is the name of the anthem following the reading concerning the arrival of the Wise Men? Lovely harmony. Thank for making this video available.
foxwoodhall1 2 months ago
And conducting with a simple nod of the head for the cut-offs and rits/rals, I'm blown away and in awe.
choirboyfromhell1 2 months ago
Wow. The dynamic contrast on the Bach is incredible.
choirboyfromhell1 2 months ago
fantastic!
gazapc 2 months ago
If the first treble is indeed Rodney Williams, I had the immense privilege and pleasure to meet him and have him sing with three others in a quartet only a few weeks ago for a memorial service for which I was playing/directing in Knightsbridge. He's still going strong! I was conducting, but I felt that he was the real leader... True legend!
iltromboncini32 2 months ago
Christmas is best when British. Thanks for posting this!
B21983 2 months ago
I love his nearly non-existent conducting technique. We could learn a lot from this.
sierracanon 2 months ago 3
So moving. "O come, Let us Adore Him."
sparhalke 2 months ago
What a find. I listen to and watch the Lessons and Carols every year, but this is just stunning. The quality is spectacular, but the age of the film lends to the music a warmth that's difficult to achieve on more modern recordings. And to see Boris Ord at the helm of the choir at King's? Amazing. Thank you for this upload!
1finch2finch 2 months ago
The organist was Hugh J McLean, a Canadian, recently retired form All Saints Church in Florida. The tenor was Nigel Rogers. 1st treble was, I think Rodney Williams .2nd Treble was Michael West. John Walker was the bass. Boris-Bernard Ord was one of the finest choir directors ever. Just look at the command he has of his choir with a just a little movement from his finger. Compare now to Stephen Cleobury who waves around like a windmill to get the same effect. This recording is simply superb!
orgellvr 2 months ago 3
@orgellvr One small correction - the tenor soloist was, I think, Chris Scott, not Nigel Rogers, who was in the choir but singing next to Chris Scott on his right. Great to see and hear again the first King's carol service I sang in as a choral scholar - I am the bass second on the right of John Walker who sang the Three Kings.
nicander175 1 month ago
The organist was Hugh J McLean (a Canadian, recently retired form All Saints Church in Florida). The tenor was Nigel Rogers. 1st treble was (I think) Rodney Williams .2nd Treble was Michael West. John Walker was the bass. Boris (Bernard Ord) was one of the finest choir directors ever. Just look at the command he has of his choir with a just a little movement from his finger. Compare now to Stephen Cleobury who waves around like a windmill to get the same effect. This recording is simply superb!
orgellvr 2 months ago
Magnifico documento storico, testimonianza di una consolidata tradizione e della vocazione al bel canto religioso.
Patrimonio comune della cultura religiosa.
Arionne58 2 months ago in playlist Carols from Kings 1954
In addition to who became organists, choirmasters or pursued other vocations in music, I would like to know if some of these boys received holy orders and are now serving or have served as clergy in the Church of England or elsewhere.
cornishanglican 2 months ago
It's that time of year again.... Thanks for posting... Love it!!!
MrtyMrtn 2 months ago
I would SO love to know what these choirboys are doing now. They're now mid-to-late-60's. Which ones are choir directors? Which organists? Also interesting to hear the very "plummy" public-school accents. Very upper -- or at least upper-middle -- class.
betsycmc 2 months ago in playlist Favorite videos
This is a wonderful, historic recording. I'm so pleased to have viewed it.
bb45ct 2 months ago
Beautiful, thank you.
RootfrootMatt 2 months ago in playlist Carols from Kings 1954