Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Worcester Residency Music Summary

St. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church
Tucson, Arizona

St. Nicholas Treble Choir and Schola Cantorum

Woosug Kang, Music Director
Jeffrey Campbell, Associate Music Director
Kwesi Pasley, Organ Student, University of Arizona

Choir residency at Worcester Cathedral, Worcester, England
July 15-24, 2016


Group Photo Album: Worcester_With_Woosug

Group Folder for Audio / Video files: Worcester_With_Woosug
  • Note: You must have a Google Account, and request access from Scott Mason (email: scottmason701@gmail.com) to access the Audio / Video folder.




Watch the Worcester Residency Interview video with Music Director Woosug Kang, Assistant Director and Organist Jeffrey Campbell, Organizer Bonnie Winn, and one of the Schola Cantorum Choristers.

Worcester Residency Interview video: Worcester_Residency_Film.mp4



Check out the "Hello on the bus" video from Tuesday, July 19, 2016 while on the tour bus on our way to see the town of Ludlow and an 11th century castle.

Hello on the bus video: 20160719-Hello-on-the-bus.mp4



Listen to the professional recordings made by the choir at St. Philip's in the Hills during the rehearsals the week before the UK residency. It's remarkable how great the recording engineer made us sound. These are on the St. Philip's in the Hills web site, and are available to the public.

Professional recordings: Worcester Cathedral Residency



Are you still reflecting, remembering, dreaming of the UK Residency? Do you still have the music running through your head?

Have you returned to the States from England? Some people took some extended travels before coming home. I flew straight from England to Portland, Oregon for an annual Viola da Gamba Conclave, playing music of a different sort for a week. Ultimately, I had to return home to Tucson, to get back to work. Please excuse the delay in my posting of all the audio files from the trip. I hope you all enjoyed the photos in the album. Many were my photos, and many were collected from all of you. Thanks for your contributions, including photos, your wonderful voices, and your support as we traveled, explored, and experienced so much.

Our fearless leader, Woosug, has left Tucson, moving on to a new adventure with new challenges. I will certainly miss him. I wish him success and happiness in his new position. I will never forget the Worcester Cathedral Residency. It was an experience of a lifetime. I can hardly believe we really did it!

If you downloaded any of the audio files in the Worcester_With_Woosug folder before Sunday, August 14, 2016, you may want to download them again. I discovered a much improved method of normalizing the volume and reducing some of the noise on the recordings. I think the quality is much improved from my original posting.

There are now audio (MP3) files available from our complete trip, other than the beginning of the Mass in Phoenix at All Saint's Episcopal, where I forgot to start my recorder until the Peace in the middle of the service. There are individual "tracks", and all-in-one daily files.

The single all-in-one MP3 files area available for each day of the trip. These are 30 to 60 minutes long, and will typically stream from the web fairly well with a decent connection. You may also download them.



I would like to remind you that there are restrictions on recordings made in Worcester Cathedral. It is Woosug's wish that we respect this restriction. That is why we have not made these recordings public on the web, and why it is necessary to have an account to get access to the files. Please respect this limitation. Let your family and close friends hear what we did, but don't post the recordings publicly on the web. Thank you for that.



This folder under the Worcester_With_Woosug Media folder contains all the daily audio MP3 files from the trip, including a file from All Saints' Episcopal in Phoenix, the Evensong at St. Philip's before we left, and each day of the UK Residency in which we sang services.

Media folder with daily all-in-one MP3 files: Worcester_With_Woosug/All/MP3

Here is a list of what is on the recordings:



All Saints' Episcopal Church
6300 N Central Ave
Phoenix, AZ

Sunday, July 10, 2016


Files: 20160710

Holy Eucharist - 10:00 am


Files:
20160710_Mass_T01_Darke_Agnus_Dei.mp3
20160710_Mass_T02_Paulus_Pilgrims_Hymn.mp3
20160710_Mass_T03_Bach_St_Anne_Fugue.mp3

Titles:
T01 - AGNUS DEI - "Communion Service in F" - Harold Darke
T02 - "Pilgrim's Hymn" - Stephen Paulus
T03 - POSTLUDE - "Fugue in Eb major" - J. S. Bach

Evensong - 4:00 pm


Files:
20160710_T01_Bach_BWV651.mp3
20160710_T02_Bach_BWV654.mp3
20160710_T03_Bach_BWV548.mp3
20160710_T04_Barnard_Preces.mp3
20160710_T05_Psalms_114_115.mp3
20160710_T06_Stanford_Magnificat_Bb.mp3
20160710_T07_Stanford_Nunc_Bb.mp3
20160710_T08_Barnard_Lords_Prayer.mp3
20160710_T09_Barnard_Responses.mp3
20160710_T10_Gardiner_Evening_Hymn.mp3

Titles:
Chorale-Prelude Fantasia super "Komm, Heiliger Geist" - BWV 651 - J. S. Bach - Jeffrey Campbell
Chorale-Prelude "Scheuche dich, o Liebe seele" - BWV 654 - J. S. Bach - Jeffrey Campbell
Prelude and Fuge in E minor ("Wedge") - BWV 548 - J. S. Bach - Woosug Kang
Barnard - Preces and Responses
Psalms 114, 115
Stanford - Magnificat & Nunc dimittis in Bb
Balfour-Gardiner – Evening Hymn



St. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church
4440 N Campbell Avenue
Tucson, AZ

Wednesday, July 13, 2016


Files: 20160713

Files:
20160713_T01_Organ_Prelude.mp3
20160713_T02_Paulus_Pilgrims_Hymn.mp3
20160713_T03_Barnard_Preces.mp3
20160713_T04_Psalm_119.mp3
20160713_T05_Nobel_B_minor_Magnificat.mp3
20160713_T06_Nobel_B_Minor_Nunc.mp3
20160713_T07_Barnard_Responses.mp3
20160713_T08_Britten_Rejoice_in_the_Lamb.mp3
20160713_T09_Closing_Hymn.mp3

Titles:
Pilgrim’s Hymn by Stephen Paulus
John Barnard - Preces & Responses
Psalm: 119
Nobel in B minor - Magnificat & Nunc dimittis
Britten – Rejoice in the Lamb



Monday, July 18, 2016 - Sunday, July 24, 2016

Worcester Cathedral, Worcester, UK


Typical order of Evensong services:

Organ Prelude
The Preces
Psalm(s)
The Magnificat
The Nunc Dimittis
The Responses
An Anthem
(Closing Hymn)
Organ Postlude

Mon 18 July Evensong:


Files: 20160718

Barnard - Preces and Responses
Psalm: 26, 28, 29
Stanford in B flat - Mag and Nunc
Britten – O be joyful in the Lord (Jubilate in C)

Tue 19 July Evensong:


Files: 20160719

Barnard - Preces and Responses
Psalm: 33
Sumsion in G - Mag and Nunc
Balfour-Gardiner – Evening Hymn

Wed 20 July Evensong:


Files: 20160720

Barnard - Preces and Responses
Psalm: 119
Stanford in C - Mag and Nunc
Byrd – Teach me, O Lord

Thu 21 July (day off).


Fri 22 July Evensong:


Files: 20160722

Radcliffe - Preces and Responses
Psalm: 63
Walmisley in D minor - Mag and Nunc
Bainton – And I saw a new heaven

Sat 23 July Evensong:


Files: 20160723

Radcliffe - Preces and Responses
Psalm: 45, 46
Noble in B minor - Mag and Nunc
Paulus – Pilgrim’s Hymn

Sun 24 July Eucharist:


Files: 20160724

Psalm: 138
Darke in F
Howells – Like as the hart desireth the waterbrooks

Sun 24 July Evensong:


Files: 20160724

Radcliffe - Preces and Responses
Psalm: 88
Howells – Collegium Regale
Britten – Rejoice in the Lamb



Videos and Slideshows: Videos_Slideshows



Sunday, July 24, 2016

Psalm for Mr. Kang

Our final Choral Evensong was glorious and we sang our hearts out, reaching the greatest heights of the arched Cathedral with a joyful noise.  We felt very supported in prayer and good wishes by our family and friends in attendance and also by the clergy and staff of the Cathedral who were most generous in the their appreciation. Many of us, including Woosug, were in tears at the end of the recessional---such a time of high emotion and gratitude.  I think it that is the way the Holy Spirit is supposed to work!

We have more pictures to share and there will be photo and audio "albums" forth-coming after approval by Woosug, and parents and making sure that we are in complete compliance with on-line safety guidelines.

The youth composed a wonderful chant to honor Woosug and performed it our banquet tonight.  Sarah Spurlin was kind enough to share the words with me.  It was sung in perfect Anglican Chant style, to a tune by R. Cooke (to which we had previously chanted Psalm 45):

1. Dear Mr. Kang * our hearts are inditing of a | grateful | manner:
    Unto thee we de-sireth to ex- | press our | thanks.
2. Let our combined lips show forth | our apprciations unto | thee:
    And let our mouths give | forth | joyful 'noise.
3. We pay rapt attention to you ac- |-cording to -thy comm- | and:
     And we obey they dir | ection with | fear and | trembling.
4.  Let the wicked quake be- |fore thy | death stare:
     And the proud gnash the | teeth in the | presence of thy | face palm.
5.  Ye | hateth the hipster:
     Unless | ye hath | discovered it | first.
6.  We remembered that ye hath discovered Facebook, Muse, and Dragon Ball Z be |
     fore all | others:
     But thou still detesteth those who | beareth the | bun of |man.
7.  For thine hair | reacheth -unto the | heavens:
      And acteth as a |beacon in | crowded places.
8. For thine hair gel is composed of  |Elmer's |glue:
     And thin hair hath cheered | us in | times of | dearth.
9. For ye hath composed thyself | always with | dignity.
    Even in the | face-of myst |erious green |slush.
10  For ye have worked always to giveth, * receiveth, * haveth, * and shareth thy
        knowledge | with the |choir:
      And thy creative | meta-phors | and i-magi |nation.
11.  For they tempos resembleth | that of - a | snail.
       and they | breaths are |too far | apaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaart.
12.  This is where we would hath placed more | jokes a-bout thy | direction:
       However ye are |quite good| at thy | job.
13.  Good | luck in |Nashville:
       We will | miss you | very| much.
14. We hopeth thou hath | bought thy |cowboy boots
       And | learned to | play the | banjo.

Glory be to the Father....
   




Saturday, July 23, 2016

Saturday night

Oh my, it is Saturday evening after another full day in Worcester.  We had morning and afternoon rehearsal today, for a total of 3 hours.  In between times, some climbed the tower of the Cathedral for a commanding view of Worcester and surrounds.  

At Evensong tonight we sang the Steven Paulus anthem, "Pilgrim's Hymn".  The presiding priest introduced the music and we learned that this anthem was sung at the memorial services for Presidents Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan.  None of us had known that before.  We sang it very well (a capella) and it was amazingly effective in that space and for that moment.  We are on a pilgrimage of sorts.

This will be short as we have a full day tomorrow, too, reporting at the Cathedrdal by 8:30 and really, not finishing until about 5:30 tomorrow afternoon.  Then, a celebratory dinner at the Fownes Hotel in Worcester. 


Thursday, July 21, 2016

The library at Worcester Cathedral

Scott and I had some errands to do today and so we did not go on the excursion to the Cotswolds.  We did, however fit in two excellent experiences: lunch with Dr. Jeffrey Campbell at a riverside cafe, and then a tour of the library at Worcester Cathedral.  We had to walk up a 39-step spiral staircase to get to the library---the stair-case is found near that amazing baptismal font in the Cathedral.  We were shown manuscripts that dated from the 8th century!  We held original scores of music written by Thomas Tomkins, the Renaissance composer who was also organist at Worcester Cathedral. We saw some of the earliest extant music scores that exist in England.  The librarian explained the different styles of printing (by hand) that existed through the centuries of monastic scribing.  He told us that the styles changed over time, and also, that different monastic communities created their own styles.  In many books, there were doodles or cartoons in the margins: of people and animals, including an elephant that had pig-like feet.   The "recipe" for the ink used by the monks was also on display---pomegranate juice and charred wood were two of the ingredients.   The only other time I had seen such works was at the Huntington Museum in Pasadena, California, as a teenager.  At any rate, it was a thrilling experience to actually be up close and to touch these precious, and ancient texts.

Sorry, no pictures were allowed, so all I can do is write about these things.
"Quire" stalls at Hereford Cathedral

Worcester Cathedral at dusk

Interesting angles of the Cathedral

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Tour of Hereford Cathedral

The choir took a tour to the city of Hereford, situated close to the Welsh / English border on the banks of the river Wye. This Cathedral city was founded in about 700 A.D. The original fortifications intended to protect the Saxon Hereford from the Welsh.

The area is famous for cider making. The special sweet apples popular in the region are gathered in the autumn and delivered to the factories where the prices of fermenting and blending takes place.

There has been a cathedral in Hereford since the city was founded.

Most of the present buildings date from the 11th / 12th centuries.

Hereford Cathedral 

Hereford Cathedral

Family members of the choir waiting for their cathedral tour

Choristers

Pretty organ pipes

Choir stalls

Choristers basking in the sun

Choristers

Lawn and garden at the Hereford Cathedral

Gardens at Hereford Cathedral

Hereford Cathedral

The Misericord (Mercy seat) on my choir stall at Worcester Cathedral

View Seven Swans on the River Severn and the Worcester Cathedral at sunset

The River Servern at sunset

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Tour of Ludlow / Evensong II

Tuesday included a tour of Ludlow, about 75 minutes east of Worcester near the boarder of Wales. The group toured the Castle of King Richard built in about 1200 a.d.

The town of Ludlow

Ready for the castle tour

Scott and Barbara requisite selfie

Ludlow Castle

Choristers seek and destroy Ludlow Castle

Posing in a glamour pose

The Castle

Chapel

Choristers

More Choristers

Exploring one of several spiral staircases


Stairs

View from the top of the tower

Organ pipes in Ludlow Cathedral

Ludlow Cathedral

Little Medieval organ

Ceiling

Choir stall mercy seat









Headed back to Worcester to sing Evensong II

Window in Choir Room at Worcester Cathedral, where worship has taken place since 680 a.d.

Monday Doings

This was our first day "on the job" so to speak.  We had a tour of the Cathedral given by docents who explained the far-reaching history of the cathedral (first established as a place of Christian worship in the late 600's) and also the highlights of the architectural styles over the hundreds of years that the Cathedral has been established.

We sang our first Evensong tonight at 5:30 p.m. and it was glorious.  We had to work out the acoustics of the Cathedral, which Woosug helped us with enormously.  The tricky thing is that it is hard to hear other singers when sitting in the choir stalls, but apparently our voices blend beautifully when you are a few steps back.

I fell asleep trying to post this last night, and now it it is really Tuesday night.  Here are a few pictures from Monday.