Evensong - Knarvik kyrkje

Echoes of St Paul’s Cathedral in Western Norway

Over the past six months, Bergen Cathedral Choir has immersed itself in the evensong tradition. This autumn, we went on a study trip to London, where we listened to evensong in several cathedrals and received training in the techniques of the tradition. Now we would like to share some of our inspiration. We therefore invite you to evensong in Bergen and in Knarvik on 15 February.

“O soft self-wounding Pelican!
Whose breast weeps Balm for wounded man”
(Finzi / Crashaw / Aquinas)

We promise rich turns of phrase in both text and music. Gerald Finzi’s work stands out in particular for its text. The poetry is the composer’s own beautiful conglomeration of lines from two other poets: Richard Crashaw (1612–1649), who in turn had read the hymns of Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274).

Program:
Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis (1946) by Herbert Howells (1892–1983)
Lo, the Full, Final Sacrifice (1946) by Gerald Finzi (1901–1956)
Psalm 6, Domine, ne in furore by Andrew Carter (1939–2026)
Preces and Responses by Cecilia MacDowall (1951– )
Hymn in SATB arrangement together with the congregation:
NoS 532 The Church’s One Foundation

About the tradition:
Evensong, or evening prayer, is a special form of evening service in the Anglican Church. The order is found in The Book of Common Prayer and emerged after the Reformation in England. Evensong is a continuation of the ancient cycle of daily prayers.

In England, evensong is performed in many different ways, ranging from a simple spoken version to a grand and elaborate choral vespers sung daily in the great cathedrals. In these services, almost everything is sung by the choir, from psalms and canticles to the fixed versicles and responses (Preces and Responses). Evensong offers a fine opportunity to place the “great” choral music within a liturgical framework. And for a large part of the church choral repertoire, this means that the music—originally written for liturgical use—can truly “come home” again.

Bergen Cathedral Choir
Kjetil Almenning, conductor
Sigurd Melvær Øgaard, organ
Parish priest Bjarte Nese

The event is free of charge!