Good Friday: "From Olivet to Calvary"

Good Friday has special meaning for me because it reminds me of the Good Friday I sat with my Dad as he was dying (he died the following day on Holy Saturday). I sat next to his bed holding his hand as his breathing labored. The radio was on and during the Noon-three period, there was a church service broadcast. The parallel of my dad with the story of the end of Jesus stares me in the face.

Recently, I came across this wonderful recording that I had never heard before: "Olivet to Calvary" by John Henry Maunder. I found it by chance on YouTube. The recording is by the Choir of Guildford Cathedral, conducted by Barry Rose. I am attracted to it because it reminds me of the church choir my dad sang in when I was young. The men's choir was augmented by a boys choir during the holidays. This recording sounds just like those days (and was apparently recorded around the same time period).

Choir of Guildford - Recording Session 1964.

I have been listening to this recording for several weeks now. As far as I can tell, it is essentially no longer in print. It was reportedly recorded during November and December 1964 and released in 1965. The YouTube version is a single track 65 minutes long. Nowadays, that is probably a challenge for most. On the other hand, it forces the listener to experience the entire piece.

On Good Friday this year I was returning home from the Utica, New York area due to work. I listened to both coming and going. And I am still listening to it. It works well for my regular commute.

I also listened to a recording (from several YouTube files, e.g., see here) of a similar older oratorio by John Stainer, The Crucifixion: A Meditation on the Sacred Passion of the Holy Redeemer. The recording I listened to was performed by an unknown choir of male and female voices. By the second hearing, I became very annoyed with the operatic, bombastic vibrato of the sopranos and all the soloists. I'm also not sure about my reaction to the libretto. It seemed to idolize the character, Jesus.

Some of the sections of Stainer's Crucifixion, though, I particularly liked. Subsequently, I have heard samples of a performance by the male voices of the Choir of Guildford Cathedral (see above). This performance seems like it is more restrained than a mixed choir. There is a certain angelic-like aural quality from the boys choir.

Links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Friday
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Henry_Maunder
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mu3AOHMEkaw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhD9yQ8M-3I
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Crucifixion_(Stainer)

Written Sunday May 4, 2014 (Revised F05/09/2014 for Stainer's Crucifixion)