Choral Evensong
Please see the music list below for the Autumn term and we look forward to seeing you at our church.
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15th April
Choral Evensong
Easter 2
Introit We will Rejoice in Thy Salvation, Rose
Responses Rose
Psalm 33:1-12
Canticles Evening Service in C, Stanford
Anthem Alleluia, I Heard a Voice, Wheeler
Hymns 114
22nd April
Choral Evensong
Easter 3
St. George
Joint service with English Chamber Choir
Responses: Smith
Introit: Holy is the True Light, Harris
Psalm: 67
Canticles: Short Evening Service, Gibbons
Anthem: All Wisdom Cometh From the Lord, Moore
Hymn: Jerusalem, Parry
Amen: Stainer Sevenfold Amen
29th April
Choral Evensong
Easter 4
Catherine of Siena
Music and Spirituality: Guest speaker Tom Bell, concert organist
Introit: Surrexit Pastor Bonus, Lassus
Responses Radcliffe
Psalm 47
Canticles Evening Service in Eb, Healey Willan
Anthem The Pilgrimes Travels, Bingham
Hymns 117
6th May
Choral Evensong
Easter 5
Introit Benedictus Dominus, Cesis
Responses Morley
Psalm 98
Canticles Evening Service in Fauxbourdons, Morley
Anthem Fratres Sobrii Estote, Daser
Hymns 107
13th May
Choral Evensong
Ascension
London Festival of Contemporary Church Music
Introit Open Thou Mine Eyes, Rutter
Responses Forbes L’Estrange
Psalm 15
Canticles Truro Service, Jackson
Anthem Leaf from leaf Christ Knows, Weir
Hymns 401 (omit vv.3 and 5)
20th May
FMC Thanksgiving Service
27th May
Choral Evensong
Pentecost
Music and Spirituality, Guest Speaker, Ralph Allwood MBE
Introit Come Holy Ghost, Shorter
Responses Ayleward
Psalm 138
Canticles Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis, Anna Lush
Anthem Litany to the Holy Spirit, Hurford
Hymns 137
3rd June
Choral Evensong
Trinity
French Day for 575th anniversary of Joan of Arc
Introit Ubi Caritas, Duruflé
Responses French
Psalm 9:1-10
Canticles Magnificat plainsong; Nunc Dimittis, Josquin a4
Anthem Salva Nos Domine, Mouton
Hymns 146
10th June
Choral Evensong
Trinity 1
Introit An Evening Hymn, Pacey
Responses Forbes L’Estrange
Psalm 119:33-44
Canticles Evening Service in Fauxbourdons, Lindley
Anthem Now The Day is Over, Pacey
Hymns 239
17th June
Choral Evensong
Trinity 2
Introit I Sat Down Under His Shadow, Bairstow
Responses French
Psalm 60
Canticles Evening Service in B Minor, Noble
Anthem And I Saw a New Heaven, Bainton
Hymns 252
24th June
Choral Evensong
Trinity 3
Music and Spirituality, Guest Speaker Will Harmer, composer
Introit Jesu, The Very Though of Thee, Bairstow
Responses Radcliffe
Psalm 82
Canticles Evening Service in G, Sumsion
Anthem The Beatitudes, Harmer
Hymns 381
1st July
Choral Evensong
Trinity 4
250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence
Introit None Other Lamb, Dan Forrest
Responses French
Psalm 93
Canticles San Diego Evening Service, Forbes L’Estrange
Anthem Alleluia, Hagenberg
Hymns What A Friend We Have in Jesus
8th July
Choral Evensong
Trinity 5
Gareth Treseder Birthday, Composer
Introit Sweet Spirit, Comfort me, Treseder (record it!)
Responses Treseder
Psalm 119:129-140
Canticles Evening Service in D, Treseder
Anthem O Gladd’ning Light, Treseder
Hymns 186, Tell Out My Soul, Descant Treseder
15th July
Choral Evensong
Trinity 6
Introit Peace I Leave with You, Beach
Responses Morley
Psalm 136: 1-9
Canticles Sixth Evening Service, Weelkes
Anthem Jesu Salvator Saeculi, Sheppard
Hymns 352 (omit v.2)
22nd July
Choral Evensong
Trinity 7
Mary Magdalene
Introit Adoramus Te, Lassus
Responses Morley
Psalm 63
Canticles Evening Service for Trebles, Weelkes
Anthem Maria Stabat Ad Monumentum, Gabrieli
Hymns 345
29th July
Choral Evensong
Trinity 8
Music and Spirituality, Guest Speaker Dr Paula Gooder, St. Paul’s Cathedral
Introit We Shall Walk Through the Valley (v.1), arr. Moore
Responses Morley
Psalm 34:1-8
Canticles Evening Service in A, Stanford
Anthem How Calmly The Evening, Elgar
Hymns 333
Rector: Revd. Nick Mottershead
Director of Music: Peter Asprey |
Contact: office@hsl.church
www.hsl.church/music-and-spirituality
A history of Choral Evensong
Choral Evensong has roots going far back into ancient Judaism. We are told in the book of Acts that the early Church met together regularly for times of prayer. What they did was to continue the Jewish tradition of reciting prayers at various times of the day with virtually the same texts. The focus of these meetings was the chanting of the psalms and the recitation of Old Testament readings. The early Church then started to add readings onto this from the Gospels, Acts and the epistles plus canticles such as Mary’s song, the Magnificat.
After the Reformation, Archbishop Cramner laid out the structure of Choral Evensong as we know it today, using as the basis the ancient monastic Offices of Vespers and Compline. The first version appeared in the Book of Common Prayer in 1549. Cranmer was motivated by educating English people in the scriptures. Thus the liturgy was in English. He would have been familiar with St Augustine’s statement that ‘the New Testament is hidden in the Old and the Old is revealed in the New.’ As such, the liturgy contained both Old and New Testament readings, psalms for each day and a canticle, all linked together thematically.
The result is a wonderful sweep of scripture in a short, neatly contained service, all sung to wonderful music. In fact, the service of Choral Evensong has inspired composers to write some of their most brilliant music. This is a tradition that continues to this day. One prays this service from beginning to end, allowing the music to lift one’s spirits up into heavenly places.
You can find a link to our wonderful choir here, singing a work from our recent album, Soul’s Desire. This piece is called Present Yourselves a Living Sacrifice by James O’Donnell.
Here is a link to the album Soul’s Desire.
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