In which the Postulant has only kind things to say about church services
Sunday I attended the 9:15 Eucharist at the Church of Saint Michael and Saint George in Saint Louis, with two of my friends from the conference. We had Rite One, with the Willan service music, and beautifully chosen hymns. The choir sang the Willan setting of "Fairest Lord Jesus" and a Howells Psalm setting. The sermon was funny, moving, and convicting. It was everything Sunday morning worship ought to be.
Earlier this evening I attended, "virtually," Evensong at Saint Thomas, Fifth Avenue. It was all lovely (though I do wish the officiant didn't sound ever so slightly like Kermit the Frog -- "Wherefore be there so many songges about rainbowes?"), but I would especially note
- the Canticles by Rupert Jeffcoat, which I had never heard before and would now very much like to sing,
- Ned Rorem's setting of "Sing, my soul, his wondrous love," which I can never hear often enough, and
- the hymn "O bless the Lord, my soul," which is dear to me for many reasons. (Note, for one thing, the name of the tune.)
Labels: Church music, Service notes
posted by The Postulant @ 5:18 PM
2 comments
2 Comments:
Wow, you and I have really similar taste in music. I love most everything I've heard of Healy Willan's stuff, too.
We're singing "Sing, my soul" this month, as well. I guess that's October music, or something....
St. Thomas 5th Avenue has a sublime Choral Evensong. If you're ever in NYC, do attend in person.
I also like Evensong at General Seminary very much. It's intimate yet stately. I always felt that, at 5:20 when the bells for Evensong began rinigng, that all was right with the world at least until the Benedicamus. I remember Evensong there with great joy.
RFSJ+
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