Evensong at St. Francis

2011-2012 Evensong Series

On February 12, 2012, Choral Evensong for the Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany will offer music for string quartet, choir, and organ by Richard Hillert, John Ireland, and Henry Purcell. Highlights include Two Psalms and a Proverb by Ned Rorem, and In Memory of H.H.L., a beautiful composition for strings by Dan Locklair. Evensong begins at 5:30 p.m. and lasts one hour.

Our annual Choral Evensong season at St. Francis’ began on October 2, with Choral Evensong to commemorate St. Francis of Assisi. Music for chamber orchestra, choir and organ by John Gardner, Paul Bouman, and Richard Proulx, including selections from An English Suite by C. Hubert H. Parry was performed. Featured music included the cantata Est Dies Trophei ("This is a day of triumph") by Alessandro Scarlatti, with its text in praise of St. Francis, and the premiere of a new setting of the Evening Canticles (Magnificat & Nunc dimittis) by American composer Carl Schalk.

Evensong for Thanksgiving Eve took place on Wednesday evening, November 23. This service, featuring music for choir, oboe, and organ offered music by Richard Hillert, Robert Powell, Georg Friedrich Kauffmann, and David N. Johnson, including Laudate Dominum omnes gentes by Antonio Vivaldi. An annual highlight of this service is the Litany of Thanksgiving with congregational hymns.

On March 18, 2012, Choral Evensong for the Fourth Sunday in Lent will feature music for string quintet, oboe, choir, and organ by John Blow, K. Lee Scott, and S. Drummond Wolff, including the famous Adagio in G minor for Organ and Strings by Remo Gaizotto (an arrangement of the famous Adagio by Tomaso Albinoni). Of particular interest is Cantata BWV 150, Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich by Johann Sebastian Bach, perhaps his earliest surviving cantata.

The season will conclude on June 3, 2012, with Choral Evensong for The Holy Trinity. Music for choir, chamber orchestra, and organ by Richard Wienhorst, Heinz Werner Zimmermann, William Mathias, and Charles Ore will be offered. Benjamin Britten’s cantata Rejoice in the Lamb, and Gustav Holst’s A Fugal Concerto will be the featured works.

At each Evensong, the choir sings the Psalms to Anglican Chant, Plainsong, or other settings, along with the Evening Canticles in choral settings from the Anglican tradition and one or more choral works, and an orison. The congregation joins in singing the hymns, Plainsong Psalms, and the Suffrages. Program notes on the music and composers provide background on the musical and liturgical offerings. A wonderful reception with sherry and other refreshments takes place in the Guild Hall after each Evensong.

Please join us, and bring your family and friends.