West Gallery carols

[jean]

After the great Stub Crouch meet, I went to a concert that included lots of West Gallery carols*. Here are several for your enjoyment:





* West Gallery Music, also known as "Georgian psalmody" refers to the sacred music (metrical psalms, with a few hymns and anthems) sung and played in English parish churches, as well as nonconformist chapels, from 1700 to around 1850...

Use of West Gallery music in the Church dwindled when the organ became popular, since it was cheaper to keep up one instrument than a West Gallery group. Furthermore, the old church bands were often difficult for a vicar to control, while influence over an organist was a much easier task. Such an ousting of the band by an organist is given a fictional treatment in Thomas Hardy’s early novel Under the Greenwood Tree, which reflected actual events at Hardy’s church at Stinsford...

[housesparrow]

I've at last had the chance to listen to these. That second one is jolly - beats an organ any day.

I knew nothing about West Gallery music and think it a pity that it has disappeared. As the Military Wives have shown us, there is nothing like music to unite a community.

Though having said that, I've never been keen on happy clappy churches with teenagers playing their guitars; perhaps because the congregation isn't usually invited to join in?

[aubrey]

I have occasionally looked in listings to see if there is a church organ recital with a load of Bach: but they hardly ever put more than the organist's name. I'd love to hear Bach played in a place it was written for (well, the type of place): I'm sure I don't get the same sound off a cd.