BBC Radio 3 Evensong 16/11-05

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.