Voices of Concinnity Sing in W. Hartford Choral Evensong Feb 23

On Sunday, February 23, 2020, at 5:00 p.m., Music at the Red Door welcomes the public to a service of Choral Evensong at St John’s Episcopal Church, 679 Farmington Avenue (near Prospect), in West Hartford. The service, with a wealth of music for choir and pipe organ, is open to all.

The choral music will be sung by the Voices of Concinnity, a 12-voice, Storrs-based professional chamber ensemble led by its founding director, Sarah Kaufold.

“We welcome guest choirs from across the region to provide the choral music at many of St. John’s Evensong services,” said Scott Lamlein, Artistic Director of Music at the Red Door, and Director of Music and Organist for St. John’s. “For some of our visiting choirs, singing a choral Evensong service is a new and inspiring experience. And for all who attend, the opportunity to hear these fine choirs in the beautiful, resonant sanctuary at St. John’s is equally inspiring.”

In the ancient and beautiful service of Choral Evensong, which has been observed for more than four centuries in the Anglican tradition, choirs and officiants chant the traditional texts and responses on behalf of the congregation, providing an opportunity for those in attendance to meditate or pray as the music flows about them. The congregation joins in the singing of hymns and certain prayers, while the choir sings the traditional Canticles of Mary (Magnificat) and Simeon (Nunc dimittis).

“Over the centuries, these timeless texts have inspired many composers, and as a result we have a wealth of musical settings of the traditional Evensong service,” added Lamlein. “A visitor to Evensong at St John’s might hear music from the Renaissance, or from the great English cathedral tradition of the 19th century, or even music by a composer from the next town over.”

The music for the service on Sunday, February 23, includes choral settings by Richard Ayleward (English, 1626-1669) and Josef Gabriel Rheinberger (German, 1839-1901).

Not a great deal is known of Richard Ayleward, who was organist and choirmaster of Norwich Cathedral in England during the 1660s. However, his settings of the Preces and Responses, traditionally sung at morning and evening prayer, remain in the repertoire and are frequently performed.

Rheinberger’s lushly-Romantic motet Abendlied, composed when he was just 16 but with a wisdom far beyond his years, offers a meditation on evening with “exquisitely voiced walls of sound.”

The service is framed by music played by Scott Lamlein on the 3,271-pipe Austin organ at St. John’s, opening with the contemplative Solemn Melody by Henry Walford Davies (English, 1869-1941) and closing with the richly-textured Carillon de Longpont by Louis Vierne (French, 1870-1937).

Choral Evensong at St John’s Episcopal Church is presented on the fourth Sunday of selected months at St. John’s, with choral music presented by the choirs of St. John's or by guest choirs from across the region. The service, to which all are welcome, lasts 35-45 minutes.

The remaining Evensong services in the 2019-2020 season are as follows:

Sunday, February 23, 5:00 p.m. – Voices of Concinnity, Storrs

Sunday, March 22, 5:00 p.m. – St. John’s Schola

Sunday, April 26, 5:00 p.m. – Youth Choirs of St. John’s and others

Each year, Music at the Red Door presents dozens of musical and cultural events, including the Pipes Alive! organ series; choral and chamber music concerts; guest choirs and ensembles; and special events such as the annual Lessons and Carols service and an annual choral concert, Choral Music for the Soul. Visit reddoormusic.org for event details and more information.

Admission is free to all events presented by Music at the Red Door; free-will donations in any amount are accepted at the door.

EVENT DETAILS:

What: Choral Evensong, with the Voices of Concinnity, directed by Sarah Kaufold, with Scott Lamlein, organist

When: Sunday, February 23, 2020, 5:00 p.m.

Where: St John’s Episcopal Church, 679 Farmington Avenue (near Prospect), West Hartford

More Info: https://www.reddoormusic.org/e... or concerts@reddoormusic.org