Polyphony Down the Pub

What a lovely, lovely time I had at Monday’s Polyphony Down the Pub. Thanks to all who came and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

It was great to see so many new faces among the familiar ones and I hope that we will see you again at future sessions.

Highlights for me were BWV 4 – such harmonisation! – and the final run of the Palestrina Super flumina Babylonis; I don’t think we’ve ever sung a motet better.

Thanks too to those of you who stayed back to share your thoughts on PDtP; it’s good to know that we are on the right track in terms of format and repertoire.

Next session details will be published here soon but in the meantime, here’s the Bach chorale that I mentioned on the night.

It might be a just a little too intricate for us to try at PDtP but I would recommend that you have a look at the score (pp 22 & 23 of this file) and marvel at how this miniature masterpiece is put together.

There’s not a duff line it in – every part is exquisitely constructed (and, like BWV 4, there’s another of those monumental interrupted cadences in the penultimate phrase).

For me, it’s like looking at an orrery and getting lost in the beauty of the planets’ movements, alignments and interactions; I could never tire of examining it.

Anyway, enough flim-flammery – thanks again and see you next time.

Cheers

Kevin

Grab it from here: PDtP 9 sheet music

Hope you like the selection of hits from previous PDtPs – don’t forget to sign up here and invite all your motet-loving friends.

Cheers

Kevin

PS The Bach chorales are also back in force – hurrah!

As you will have found out from reading this post, PDtP 9 will be largely made up of music from previous sessions.

These are some of the numbers that have made an appearance; which ones would you like to see pop up again at PDtP 9?

Use the comment field below to let us know…

Victoria: O decus apostolicum

Palestrina: Ave Maria a 4

Lassus: In monte Oliveti (we have never actually sung this all the way to the end!)

Morales: Kyrie from Missa Mille Regretz

Parsons: Peccantem me quotidie

Palestrina: Super flumina babylonis

Morley: My bonny lass she smileth

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwxnIaH9Zng

Casulana: Morir non puo il mio cuore

Hi guys

Just a reminder that we will be recording excerpts and taking pictures at tonight’s PDtP for possible inclusion in R3’s Meet My Choir, so please bear this in mind in case you are worried that Interpol might catch up with you as a result.

As Bach chorales are usually a staple of the sessions (they should be a staple of all singing events at all times and I include The X-Factor in this assertion), I am chucking the final chorale of BWV10 back in the mix.

Some of you will remember it from PDtP 6 and it really is the most brilliant 50 seconds of choral music you could wish for – simultaneously archaic and utterly fresh, a pure pleasure across all 4 parts.

It has been added to the sheet music folder on Box so grab it via the usual link.

Thanks again and see you at 7!

Kevin

Here’s the link to next Monday’s sheet music:

https://app.box.com/PDtP-8-sheet-music

As you’ll see, there’s a healthy mix of the sacred and profane; while there was no room for any JSB this month, he will be Bach in future sessions (sorry.)

In the line-up are a couple of rather lovely 3 part pieces, including the ‘Full Fathom Five’ that was used in the first production of Shakespeare’s The Tempest.*

Another setting of Shakespeare by one of his contemporaries is Morley’s It Was a Lover & His Lass, alongside two more of his madrigals.

Other gems are Dowland’s Fine Knacks for Ladies, Sheppard’s The Lord’s Prayer, and Taverner’s Christe Jesu, Pastor Bone.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a celebration of English Renaissance choral music without those perennial favourites, Byrd’s Ave Verum, Tallis’ If Ye Love Me and Gibbons’ The Silver Swan.

And a final highlight: as it’s PDtP VIII, we have a jolly little number by none other than Henry VIII, which will surely make it all a right royal knees-up!

Download the files, print them or save them to tablet then come along on the night; feel free to sign up to our brand new events page too:

http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/polyphony-down-the-pub-8-you-wont-find-knacks-finer-tickets-16442456831

Cheers

Kevin

*At least I think it’s the actual first setting; didn’t have enough time to verify it!