Friday, 2 November 2007

The Music Meme

Mac has tagged me memishly all about music.

What song is in your head?


Byrd's four-part Mass. We had it last night for our All Saints celebration; the first time 'proper' music has been sung here in years. And in our present church, almost certainly the first decent music ever. Only one person complained. Lots were enthusiastic, including some whom I thought would hate it. As a consequence, I'm walking on air.

What is the newest album in your collection?

3 in fact: Duruflé Sacred Choral and Organ works Vol 1: It has a setting of the Our Father in French which I have never heard—and Duruflé has only about 20 published works; a volume of Gombert, mixed stuff, including an eight-part Credo; and a collection of bits by John Dunstable. I bought them about a month ago, and have not yet had time to listen to them. Tant pis!

What is the top album on your wish list?

Peter Hurford's complete Bach organ works; only it hasn't been put on to CD yet, as far as I know. I've even gone to the trouble of buying a turntable with a USB connection to my computer so that when I've got time (ha ha) I can turn my LPs of Hurford into MP3s.

Which reminds me: I'm a school governor (because I haven't got enough to do, apparently), and the meetings are conducted in a sort of jargon of acronyms and abbreviations which leave the novice (me, even after three years) bewildered. After one long meeting, I said 'You'll have to excuse me, but the PP has got a BSA and is off for a G&T'.

What is the most recent live music event you have attended?

The Byrd Mass last night, I suppose. But I don't go to concerts much—at all, really. Very occasionally.

What is the top live music event on your wish list?

Probably a Mass celebrated by the Holy Father in the Extraordinary Rite with something splendid and Viennese, like the Nelson Mass.

What are the top three albums currently in rotation at your house?

I have my Ipod on the go all the time, but mostly I listen to audiobooks on it. I'm going through the Barchester Chronicles at the moment, with Pope Benedict's book on Jesus of Nazareth in chunks in between.

8 comments:

Dr. Peter H. Wright said...

Byrd. Durufle. Bach. The Barchester Chronicles.

What a civilsed man you are, Father.

There is, unfortunately, one tune going through my head all the time, and I can't shake it off.

Weeks ago, Fr. John Boyle, back from his holiday in America, where he had hired a Chevrolet, posted (mischievously ?) a video from Gem of the Ocean.

It was sung by Dinah Shore and the words went something like :
"See the U S A
In your Chev - ro - lay"

It has been haunting my waking moments ever since.

NOT very civilised !

I would say, stick to Byrd.

Anonymous said...

On ipod...that's a good idea!

Mulier Fortis said...

Excellent ! I particularly liked your acronyms. The BSA had me stumped for about twenty seconds... until I considered what was produced by all those governors' meetings...
:-D

Anonymous said...

Why are there no organs in Catholic churches in Britain?

leutgeb said...

Interesting to read your selection of music, Father.

Whilst working as a HoD, we had a HoDs meeting where the Head got very wound up about PANDAs and Picsis ( Pronounced pixie.)

As in cue doomladen tone, 'The picsi has arrived.' = preinspection something or other. This lead the Head of History to ask if the PANDA was going to be ring fenced - perhaps to protect it from the picsi.

Meetings - you have my sympathy.

Anonymous said...

Well just coming from Dad with Noisy Kids..Neil Diamond singing 'Sweet Caroline!'

Anonymous said...

Hello Father!

Peter Hurford's complete Bach organ works has been on CD for ages - at any rate, I got vol v (3 CDs of Preludes and Fugues) at a knock-down price in the Virgin Megastore in Dundee about ten years ago. It's on Decca - vol v was 452 631-2. If that's any help to you. (Or is it that it's not all on CD and there's nothing after vol v?)

Pax vobis!

Fr Justin said...

Boeciana: pax indeed. Thanks very much for the information; I'll go in search……