The Cathedral Choir will sing Choral Evensong for Lent this Sunday, April 6, at 4:00. Choral Evensong has been in use in the Anglican Church (of which the Episcopal Church is part) since the 1550’s. It is still sung every day in nearly every Cathedral in England.
The Service consists of prayers, two readings from scripture, hymns and texts sung by the Choir. Unlike most other services today, most of Evensong is sung by the Choir alone, giving the congregation a chance for peaceful meditation and reflection.
Music for this Evensong will include the Short Service of Orlando Gibbons, the great English composer of the transition from the Renaissance to the Baroque eras. Gibbons held the position of organist at Westminster Abbey in London until his untimely death in 1625, Other music to be sung includes works by Richard Ayleward and Henry Purcell.
The Evensong will feature our Taylor and Boody Continuo Organ, a gift from parishioner Sally Schreier in 2020. This organ is designed to be used with music of the era of Gibbons and Purcell and brings a lever of authenticity to the performance.
This service is free and open to all. The Cathedral is located on Cathedral Avenue and Fifth Street in Garden City.