Aust-Agder Blad, a local newspaper for Risør, Norway, announced that Mr. Jostein Groild and his wife Anne-Christine will leave Risør because Mr. Grolid has accepted a new position i Drøbak, Norway. The Grolids have been organists in the parishes of Risør and Søndeled for several years now. They will be missed. Good luck to you both!
I seem to have adapted the habit of commenting the choral evensong broadcasts on BBC 3 radio. I guess this is my way of venting my thoughts and living my dreams since the era of which point in time I lost contact with St. Edmund's Church Choir and Anglican music. Once you have got a taste of the real thing, it is impossible to go back. That's Anglican church music.
And this very Wednesday, this glorious Wednesday, Truro Cathedral excels the realm of radio waves with thier oustanding singing, delicate organ accompaniment (partly thanks to the wonderful Father Willis organ). Of all big and famous cathedrals that have presented their doubtful evensongs on Radio 3 this autumn, Truro stands out like an angel in crowded ancient streets of Gomorrah. Congratulations, Truro!
The introit "View Me, Lord" by Richard Lloyd was one of Mr. A. Smith's specialities (Mr. Smith conducted St. Edmunds Church Choir in Oslo when I was a member of the choir Sept. 2000 - Dec. 2003). I know this piece of music quite well. The Truro Cathedral Choir sang it with divine voices, I am sure.
I think I will refrain from describing this Evensong any further, because I cannot find the adjectives. If only all Evensongs were this good...
BCC Radio 3 choral evensong broadcasts have had very varying quality in terms of music this autumn. However, this time I am quite pleased with the chanting of the Lincoln cathedral choir. It has been a while since I heard such relaxed and easy chanting, the words sounding as if they really are trying to be understood, and the organ supporting the meaning of the words (although the organ could have been played even more delicately). The choir is singing quite well all the way through the service.
It is important that the BBC tries to keep the quality on a high level, both in music and in the service itself. The weekly broadcast is the only regular input for overseas anglicans, and friends of anglicanism, outside the commonwhealth and major cities. It is not merely an experimental playground for various festivals and church buildings with obscure congregations. Of course, it is to the discretion of the BBC to think and do whatever they see fit, I am just pointing out that the choral evensong broadcasts are valued by myself and probably many others in parts of the world where anglican worship and music are scarce commodities.
Say no more...
http://www.austagderblad.no/lokale_nyheter/article1824558.ece
Finally life is back to normal.
