Choir of St George's Chapel, Windsor - Magnificat

'Magnificat', from Third Service, Thomas Tomkins(1572-1656)

The Choir of St. George's Chapel comprises 23 boy choristers and twelve Lay Clerks singing alto, tenor and bass. The boys are educated at St George's School which is situated in the Castle grounds, and the Lay Clerks live in the Horseshoe Cloister, just to the west of the Chapel, and on Denton's Commons.

St George's Chapel exists to provide a place to give thanks to Almighty God and to pray for the Sovereign and the Most Noble Order of the Garter, and the work of the choir is central to that aim. The choir was founded at the same time as the founding of the College in 1348 and, with the exception of the Commonwealth period (1649-60), has sung the services continuously since then. The choir sings regularly in the presence of the Queen and other members of the Royal family, and in recent times sang at the marriage of Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones; it sang also at a concert in celebration of the seventieth birthday of Her Majesty the Queen, and at celebrations for the eightieth birthday of HRH the Duke of Edinburgh. The choir sang at the funeral of Princess Margaret in St George's and also at the Thanksgiving service for her life held in Westminster Abbey.

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• st
• george's
• chapel
• boys
• trebles
• windsor
• castle
• tomkins
• magnificat

[asetsp]

A very challenging piece to sing. England's choirs are undoubtedly the best. I am Australian and have sung with English choirs as a boy treble, and was astounded at their incredible musicality and dedication. The Cathedrals themselves though were built for choirs- with superb acoustics and resonance. Hats off to you poms :)

[treblechoir99]

@asetsp You're a nice connoisseur. Thank you for your comment, very appreciat.

[sfkcbf]

Magnificent choir: excellent & pure trebles, balanced voices, very impressive.

[Isaacdarwin]

The only place in the world for the best choirs has to be ENGLAND - GOD BLESS

[carsophieify]

Magnificent choir. Only England has this choirs. Men and Children is something of Sky.....Very nice and very impressive. A Dream!

[singer1924]

Words are too weak compared to such music. It strikes and heals the heart at the same time. Interpretation is fully human of blood and flesh, and so divine as well. Couldn't say better about the mystery of the Incarnation. Music divine. Thanks.

[choirboyfromhell1]

@treblechoir99 You've got Christ Cathedral (Anglican) on Rue Union, I hear good things going on there......

[NuovoPiero]

@Perktube1 Te Deum Laudamus .

[Perktube1]

Very beautiful. I wonder if the sing Te Deum Laudanum...

[1401JSC]

You need to light up the scores on winter evenings (and early mornings!).

I suppose someone thought this shape was the nearest you could come to the original canle lighting.

Some cathedrals still have candles in glass cylinders to protect the flame from draughts and to discourage fires from starting in cassocks and surplices.

Sconce?

[1401JSC]

Very few. Why should they?

Since the French Revolution, musical training based on the Church was dissolved and a National Academy (later Conservatoire) of Music established in Paris.

With the separation of the State & Church in 1904, the death knell was sounded for French Cathedral Music (although organs are considered state patrimony and are well maintained).

Initially monks were responsable for the endless round of ceaseless daily prayer & praise. Cathedral services carry on the tradition.