Choral Evensong

St. Stephen's Episcopal Church

3 Main Street, Middlebury

Sunday, May 4, 4:00 pm

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 3 Main Street, Middlebury will offer music of the late 20th and early 21st centuries at Choral Evensong on Sunday, May 4 at 4:00 pm. There is no admission charge and all are welcome to attend. A traditional Anglican rite, Evensong combines the monastic evening services of vespers and compline according to Sarum (Diocese of Salisbury, England) use. Choral Evensong is sung and beloved in Anglican cathedrals and parish churches worldwide. Singing prayers, Psalms, canticles and anthems brings unity of purpose to the prayers offered on behalf of God’s creation. Much music is sung by the choir alone, with the congregation joining for two hymns. Many find that this style of service can help give a meditative gateway as the day comes to a close.

The Responses and the Evening Canticles will be sung to settings by British composer, Joanna Forbes L’Estrange. Forbes L’Estrange (b.1971) is a former singer in and music director of The Swingle Singers. BBC Music Magazine wrote “[she] seems to have been born with catchy melodies coursing through her veins.” Sir John Rutter wrote “This is simply beautiful choral writing by someone who knows, from a singer’s perspective, how to compose music which every choir will want to sing.” Other music includes pieces by Alfred Fedak (for Harvard University), Philip Moore and Herbert Howells.