When not in quire (and certainly not using the end of the stall to sharpen my claws), I like to seek out new pieces, anthologies and tit-bits that I think might be useful. I have a great belief that we are living in a new 'Golden' Age of music-making, and that some are slow to work this out. For a little while now, I've been following the growing output of books from Shorter House, a new publishers "specialising in new choral collections and anthologies". It takes a lot for me to be bowled over, but Tom Shorter and his team really are on to something quite amazing. In a short space of time, six anthologies have appeared: three books of canticles, a book of responses and a collection called 'Sing Evensong', which, the clever blog-reader will work out, includes everything you really need to pull of a decent Evensong down your local Cathedral or Parish Church.
I don't want to bore you all by waxing lyrical about every good point in the series, but I do want to encourage you to have a look, and certainly consider purchasing - because they really are that good!
I've just taken hold of 'Sing Evensong', which is clever in its execution: having been a singer who goes on 'jolly holidays' to sing Evensong at various places, there's only so much of Stanford in B flat one can take, so it is refreshing to see a book entirely of previously unpublished pieces which could add greatly to the repertoire. Most of it would come easily without too much practice: Anthony Baldwin's Introits If ye love me and Lift up your heads, together with Harvard based composer Carson Cooman's anthem Awake, my heart would make excellent additions to choirs of any ability. The sets of Responses all are reasonably straightforward - the set by Jeremy Jackman have some interesting harmonies, which would provide more interest than a set of Tallis or Ayleward.
A number of 'catch-all' psalms are provided to chants by Jackman, Simon Biazeck, Graham Ellis, Bill Ives and Malcolm Archer. On playing through, I found the Archer chants made me want to 'miow' along, but that may have been to do with over-familiarity with the chosen psalm texts.
Four sets of canticles follow: Simon Lindley provides two: a Fauxbordon which is perfectly acceptable, but lacking much long term interest in my honest opinion; but following it is Lindley's Knaresborough Service which reminded me of the Herbert Sumsion style. Having played through it, it seems reasonably straight-forward, and is pleasing on the ear whilst not being full of dissonance or causing anxiety attacks for the lower parts.
David Orr's Service in E flat is something that would really suit a parish choir (with a capable organist) very well - and certainly would serve an under-rehearsed visiting choir singing an Evensong within ten minutes of arrival. Mostly unison, with some divisi, and an unaccompanied section in the middle, there is something quite quaint about its simplicity. Certainly something to put down if time is an issue, or it's been a heavy afternoon in the pub!
Ben Parry's Evening Canticles in G are the most challenging - certainly in need of sturdy singers and organist, but worth putting time in to getting to grips with. Brimming with energy, with some great syncopations going on, it would be a welcome relief to hear than a piece of Stanford. The one oddity is that the Nunc Dimittis is in seven/eight - certainly takes a lilt to the Song of Simeon.
The Anthems are welcome selections - God, grant us grace by Andrew Earis (who also wrote one of the Introits) sets a text attribute to Niebuhr which offers something reflective and simple in text for a warm, summer evening. Robert Evans' Come, my way, my truth, my life is a simple setting of the well-known Herbert text. Accesible, and with a good tune, it would make a welcome inclusion into a mid-week Evensong. Will Todd (of Jubilee fame) offers an anthem that represents his compositional style. God of truth represents a piece that would work well not only in a Cathedral Evensong setting, but also in the 'alternative' worship space.
The volume closes with six hymns with appropriate descants and arrangements, a benediction The Lord bless you by David Orr, and concluding dismissal responses by Jeremy Jackman.
A great little book, full of handy pieces for that unexpected or under-rehearsed Evensong. For £9.95, you really can't go wrong!
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