679 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06119
Choral Evensong – Alchemy
The ancient and beautiful service of Choral Evensong is presented on the fourth Sunday of selected months at St. John’s. Join us on Sunday, February 27 at 5:00pm for Evensong sung by Alchemy; Joseph D’Eugenio, choirmaster; Scott Lamlein, organist.
This event is free admission, donations welcome in any amount. Checks payable to Music at the Red Door or click here to donate online.
Please be advised: At this time, due to the current issues with the COVID 19 virus, masks will be required upon entering and must remain on during the entire performance, and any time you are in the building. Any updates will be sent prior to the day of the concert.
Click below to watch. Evensong 2022-02-27-alchemy.
Program:
Canticles: Sumsion in A
Responses: Radcliffe
Introit: Bruckner: Locus iste
Anthem: Elgar: As torrents in summer
Organ Voluntaries:
_Davies: Solemn melody
_Cook: Fanfare
Alchemy, the vocal chamber ensemble of the GMChorale, was established in 2016 as a company of musicians comprised of music educators, professional soloists and performers, and skilled ensemble singers and instrumentalists. Alchemy’s mission is to advance and support the GMChorale’s vision of “Singing for a Lifetime” through concert tours, collaborations, musical leadership, education, and community engagement.
Led by founding Artistic Director Joseph D’Eugenio, the ensemble, known for its ability to adapt its sound to a broad variety of repertoire, took the name “Alchemy” in recognition of the ancient, mystical art of creating gold through a process of transformation and refinement. Established in 2016 and already recognized for its vocal beauty, richness, and subtlety, this ensemble brings a touch of gold to concerts and collaborations of the highest musical quality. The musicians of Alchemy are also members of the 80-voice Chorale, which performs a wide range of choral music from several centuries, from beloved masterworks to newly commissioned pieces.
What is Choral Evensong? “Evensong … is a very tiny fragment of something else: it is a fragment of the worship which is offered to God by Christian people every hour in every part of the world. When you come to Evensong here it is as if you were dropping in on a conversation already in progress — a conversation between God and people which began long before you were born and will go on long after you are dead.”
Why celebrate Evensong? Evensong offers to us the opportunity to gather and spend time in prayer while listening and participating in music that is especially selected to bring us into deeper understanding of the mysteries of our faith.
How long does Choral Evensong last? Approximately 35-45 minutes
What should I expect at Evensong? Hymns, readings, Anglican chant and anthems sung by the choir
Will there be a sermon? No.
Why does the choir sing so much at Choral Evensong? In Choral Evensong the choir sings on “behalf of” the congregation. The settings of the Canticles of Mary (Magnificat) and Simeon (Nunc Dimittis) are always sung by the choir alone. The Suffrages (prayers) and the Responses between the Officiant and People are also sung between the Officiant and Choir on behalf of the people. This allows the congregation time to meditate and enter into deeper prayer through words and music.
What does the congregation do in Evensong? The congregation joins in the singing of the hymns, the Apostle’s Creed and the Lord’s Prayer. The congregation joins in silent meditation through the prayers and canticles.
How will I know what I should do during the service? A bulletin outlining the service will be available.
What is a canticle? A canticle (from the Latin canticulum, a diminutive of canticum, song) is a hymn (strictly excluding the Psalms) taken from the Bible.