Charles Wood – Hail, Gladdening Light – The Choir of The Queen’s College, University of Oxford (UK)

Repost.

Hail, Gladdening Light is a well-known a cappella Anglican anthem by Charles Wood for Double Chorus — that’s usually where the Chorus is split into two and the choral writing has them answering each other — and it’s sung splendidly here by The Choir of The Queen’s College Chapel, which is part of the established Church of England.

Here it was sung as part of Choral Evensong in January 2024. Their Choirmaster is Professor Owen Rees. I especially like his interpretation of the canticle settings of Herbert Howells. The Queen’s College is one of the 43 colleges of the renowned and esteemed University of Oxford. There is nothing like that in the United States of North America, the so-called “greatest country” (roll eyes). And you might be interested to know that the near-by — also renowned and esteemed — University of Cambridge has 31 colleges. The area of the two Universities is known as Oxbridge. Enjoy this example of choral excellence:

Here’s another performance (below) of “Hail, Gladdening Light” which sounds quite similar to the performance above from The Choir of The Queen’s College. This performance below is by Bella Voce Chicago, Chicago’s premiere professional Choir conducted by Andrew Lewis, Artistic Director. Someone in their comments wrote, “Well done, Mr Lewis.” It’s so good that they credited the Chorus, isn’t it? Again, making the choristers second class musicians by not even mentioning them. [scream] Sigh.  No disrespect intended to Andrew Lewis, but I guess they didn’t realise that Andrew didn’t sing a note! It should be “Well done, Mr Lewis and the superb choristers.” Because without the choristers there would have been no performance. I’m so tired of idiots only crediting the conductor — engaging in conductor worshipping — of a performance and the conductor doesn’t usually sing or play a note.  And no, that’s not one soprano singing the high note (as another commenter under the video thought) but rather it’s the soprano section, singing with absolute perfect intonation and sounding like one voice, as it should be.  The Choral Department of New England Conservatory (NEC) could learn from this along with their Director of Choral Activities — how did she get her job there?….riding on the coattails of Westminster Choir College? — she apparently doesn’t believe in perfect intonation for sopranos and altos.  Not what one would expect from renowned NEC.

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