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Repertoire suggestions for EvensongDate: June 7, 2013 by Anne Tornillo  Views: 369
Our public HS choir is in the planning stages for a Concert Tour to England and we have been asked to submit a repertoire list for an Evensong Service for Palm Sunday 2014. This is not my area of expertise. Would most sacred pieces be acceptable? Should I try to find Palm Sunday related repertoire? I would appreciate your thoughts. Thank you, Anne
Replies (7): Threaded | Chronological
Nigel Williams on June 7, 2013 3:44pm
Very happy to help. Generally, Evensong requires a chanted psalm, responses (O Lord open Thou our lips), evening canticles (Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis), an anthem, one, two or three hymns and an organ voluntary, with maybe an unaccompanied introit beforehand. Much depends on how grand or bijou is the church, whether they are treating Palm Sunday as the entry to Jerusalem or the start of Holy Week and a chance to explore the whole passion narrative. Can you tell us where you are visiting? It also matters how confident your choir is and what aspects you would like to showcase. Would you like to mention a few pieces that are in their comfort zone? With a completely blank canvas, I would start with the music of Orlando Gibbons but other suggestions may fit your choir a lot better.
Nigel.
on June 8, 2013 4:07am
There is a live broadcast of Choral Evensong on BBC Radio 3 every Wednesday afternoon (GMT). Almost certainly available over the internet.
FWIW, this Palm Sunday we did:
Introit: Weelkes - Hosanna to the Son of David
Responses: Ebdon in A minor
Office Hymn: Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle (Plainsong)
Canticles: Harwood in A flat
Anthem: Leighton - Solus ad Victimam (This is one of my all-time favourites, look it up on youtube)
It'll be year A so the psalm will be Psalm 80. If your choir is not used to singing Anglican chant this will be the most challenging thing and will require a LOT of practice. The trick is to sing in 4-part harmony in natural speech rhythm, preferably unaccompanied.
See http://www.cantabile.org.je/streams.php to hear my choir singing the psalms in Lichfield Cathedral last year. It's live with the occasional 'wart and all' (a spectacular mistake one bass who wan't watching in the second one!)
The pointing to use is the Oxford Psalter. It's out of print but I can scan it for you if you wish. Psalm 80 traditionally uses one chant for verses 1-7 (and possibly the gloria patri) and a second one for 8-16 I can help there with suggestions too.
Whatever you choose, remember that Palm Sunday marks the start of the most deeply penitential week in the Church's year so minor keys and restraint are in order. Same applies to the organ voluntary.
Feel free to email me at info(a)cantabile.org.je
Derek
on June 8, 2013 6:41pm
I have a set of preces & responses that have been very well received both in the states and in Oxford, UK; as well as a yet-to-be premiered canticles (Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis—scheduled for premiere this fall in Philadelphia). I have scores, recordings, and MIDI snapshots available if these might be of interest.
Hope this helps,
Robert A.M. Ross
info(a)robertamross.com
on June 9, 2013 7:56pm
I have been part of 6 different American choirs that had led evensongs in British cathedrals. It is am amazing experience. I agree with Derek that learning to do Anglican chant well will be your biggest challenge. You could consider finding a recording of Psalm 80 for your kids to imitate.
As Nigel points out, the role Palm Sunday has in their Holy Week should guide your choice of repertoire. Be aware that some cathedrals do not like premieres, so if you are considering Mr. Ross' piece, you should check with them about their policy on premieres. Other cathedrals take delight in premieres, it just depends.
Definitely listen to some of the BBC evensongs. They will give you a great idea what you are in for. Evensong is a lovely service, with signifcant amounts of choral music which provide space for meditation on the part of the congregation.
This is a wonderful opportunity! I wish you all the best.
Patti Mangis
Director of Music
Presbyterian Church of Western Springs
on June 10, 2013 2:29am
Which has just prompted me to wonder how this fits in with the strict separation of 'church and state' in the USA. Choral Evensong is first and foremost an act of worship, not a concert, and needs to approached like that. (Not trolling, genuinely wondering from this side of the pond) There will be a need to instil a sense of reverence and discipline: they will be doing it for 'God' (whatever that means to them) and not for the applause (which thery won't get and shouldn't expect). I composed the following for the front of our choral evensong booklet.
"What is Choral Evensong? In the first English Prayerbook of 1549 Archbishop Cranmer conflated the seven-fold monastic daily office into 'An Ordre for Mattyns dayly through the yere' and 'An Ordre for Evensong throughout the yeare'. The latter is a bringing together of the ancient offices of Vespers and Compline. Immediately composers began to adapt and compose music for the new English words and the tradition of sung offices continued in the cathedrals and universities. This evening's service is part of that unbroken tradition, an ongoing conversation with our God. The vast majority of the texts of Evensong are taken directly from Holy Scripture. Quite apart from the appointed lessons and psalms, the responses are taken from the psalms and the canticles from the Gospel of Luke. Many of the introits and anthems are also scriptural texts. Far from being a 'concert', Choral Evensong can probably best be regarded as a meditation on the Word of God. We invite you to worship with us."
I hope your choir can get behind those sentiments. all the best
Derek
on June 10, 2013 4:44am
'Stay With Us' by Hovland is a lovely anthem for Evensong...your H.S. singers will love it! All of the above advice is good. So much from which to choose. My advice would be to choose 'unaccompanied' literature unless you have a wonderful organist along on the trip :-)
All Best,
Michael Main, Artistic Director
Arts Chorale of Winchester (VA)
on June 11, 2013 2:54am
Not come across the Hovland before. Very nice - for Eastertide as it's based on the Emmaus story. Not, I would suggest, liturgically appropriate for Palm Sunday - not in an Anglican setting, at least.
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