The Foundling Hospital, London

[Pro Tour Punditry]

Mrs Marmion and I have just been watching a programme about Handel's Messiah and found out that there was a connection with the Foundling Hospital, where her grandmother was raised. The things you learn, eh?

 

[Globalti]

I logged on in the hope of finding something about the programme on the web but didn't expect to find it on CC! I thought it was excellent and of course being BBC the costumes and staging were excellent. I'd always known that Coram's Fields existed in London (I was born in London) but never known the story of this performance. It was good to see it done by a smaller choir and chamber orchestra rather than some of the huge performances we see nowadays though I suppose they didn't actually perform the entire piece but just selected extracts for the programme.

Interesting news on Mrs M's grandma. Have the family checked out their history?

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Practically makes you an Englandshirer then, Marmers - better together!

 

[Fab Foodie]

Great Program, worth the licence fee!
The story I knew already, but it was a beautifully done programme.

@Globalti, there is a version from the original Foundling Manuscript available by a period orchestra (I have it on LP, it's great): http://www.amazon.co.uk/Handel-Messiah-Foundling-Hospital-Version/dp/B000004CXU

To listen to the Messiah is one thing ... to sing it is a whole other experience ... magic.

 

[ufkacbln]

There is a a church on Trinity Green in Gosport that has an organ (Musical before anyone starts) that was commissioned by Handel and according to local legend, much of the Messiah was composed on this instrument

 

[Globalti]

That's interesting; just the few bits sampled sound so much brighter than what we usually hear. Might have to buy that.

Howard Goodall was at my school in Buckinghamshire and I've always enjoyed his books and programmes, which are about the technology of music, and when I was about 14 my Dad and I built a virginals, which is why I've always been interested in the evolution of instruments and their role in orchestras before electronic amplification. So to see the small choir and orchestra last night and to hear the balanced, light sound they produced was fascinating. Also it's always curious to see how the wearing of costume and a wig can transform any unremarkable face into one of character!

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

Interesting news on Mrs M's grandma. Have the family checked out their history?

Yes, quite an interesting story it is too.

Practically makes you an Englandshirer then, Marmers - better together!

It gets worse, her father comes from Buckinghamshire - I have no idea where that is, but it sounds well poncey.

 

[rich p]

It gets worse, her father comes from Buckinghamshire - I have no idea where that is, but it sounds well poncey.

It's somewhere up north, mate

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

It's somewhere up north, mate

Cannae be that poncey then. All the ponces are in the south.

 

[Speicher]

It was an excellent programme. As @Globalti says, with a chamber orchestra and small choir, it was light and I enjoyed it so much. I was also interested in the history of that particular piece and the history of the Foundling Hospital.

Would the BBC consider making more of this type of programme?

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Great Program, worth the licence fee!
The story I knew already, but it was a beautifully done programme.

@Globalti, there is a version from the original Foundling Manuscript available by a period orchestra (I have it on LP, it's great): http://www.amazon.co.uk/Handel-Messiah-Foundling-Hospital-Version/dp/B000004CXU

To listen to the Messiah is one thing ... to sing it is a whole other experience ... magic.

I'm not a singer but I did play it in a small orchestra when I was a lad. It was a sublime experience so I can imagine how it would be magical.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

It gets worse, her father comes from Buckinghamshire - I have no idea where that is, but it sounds well poncey.

It is, it's about 4 million quid for a double decaf with a half-twist.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Coram (Thomas Coram, I presume??)

He was a Quaker, yes???

My daughter goes to a 'Quaker School', & the infant/junior section of the School is 'Coram House'