Sing Choirs of Angels - Norwich Cathedral Choir 1980s

Had to upload this rendition of what I believe is Sir David Willcox's matchless descant to the 3rd verse of Oh Come All Ye Faithful. Norwich Cathedral Choir, probably Chrismas 1987. I've given you the last verse too, the organ thunders and trumpets come in and actually, for once, manage to enhance the music. The cathedral nearly takes off. If the music in heaven's like this, I'll happily spend eternity there!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• cathedral
• choir
• sangerknaben
• petits
• chanteurs
• knabenchor
• norwich
• sing
• choirs
• of
• angels

[Yip1982]

What a lovely clip this is. Have you got the full carol? I'd love to hear it with the two verses before the descant.

[notyobs]

Yes I have.. I'll try to remember to dig it out and upload the rest. Remind me if I don't do it soon.

[Yip1982]

Please might I ask if you can upload the full version of this rendition of O Come? I fear I've failed in my duty to ask you to do so. Also, have you any superb clips of the Willcocks arrangement of Hark, with that magnificent third-verse descant?

[notyobs]

Sorry for the delay.... life's always SO BUSY!! I shall endeavour to locate the tape asap and do that for you.

[NiallMS]

What's the definition of a descant?

A good hymn ruined!!

[notyobs]

I couldn't disagree more.

[Team503]

The ruffled collars are simply traditional. They have been a part of Anglican choir robes for longer than I can remember, and I suspect they date back several hundred years.

[elton1981]

@notyobs I just hate the way that the BBC insist on a descant on every last verse in SoP. One can have too much of a good thing

[rattytwoshoes]

Oh how odd! My boyfriend is in this clip singing with the choir!

[imyjr333]

It is amazing that Oh Come does not sound satisfying without Sir David's descant. This choir is not terribly good, for better interpretations I suggest St. John's (Cambridge), New College (Oxford) or King's (Cambridge).

[Dhbrydon]

Sir David was my chior master at Queens Cambridge many years ago, a great musician

[ald2345]

@ald2345

[ald2345]

@MandyJMaddison - these lads are Head and Deputy Choristers sometimes also called Bishops Choristers:)

[3NUNS]

@Yip1982 : Carol has the full carol. Ask her !

[MandyJMaddison]

@vandyninja13. That is usual, but in this case, several of the biggest boys in the choir are wearing bands, a nd near them are little boys wearing large collars. The little guys with collars are obviously probabtioners, but what are the big boys with bands?