The musicians of two neighboring churches, St. Philip’s Episcopal and Brevard-Davidson River Presbyterian, will join in offering a special Choral Evensong for St. Cecilia on Friday, November 20 at 5:00 pm at St. Philip’s, 256 E. Main St. in Brevard. Admission is free and everyone is welcome.
Choral Evensong is a centuries-old service of evening prayer set to music, and offers a peaceful and beautiful hour of hymns, psalms, anthems, and instrumental music.
The Chancel Choirs and the handbell ringers of both churches will join with Michael Helman, Director of Music at Brevard-Davidson River, Dr. Brittnee Siemon, Director of Music Ministry at St. Philip’s, Timothy Shepard, organ, and Dr. Nathan Tingler, handbells.
The service is dedicated to St. Cecilia, the 3rd-century martyr known worldwide as the patron saint of music. Her traditional feast day is November 22, and inspired the Introit “Hail, Bright Cecilia” by Henry Purcell that will begin the service.
Other music includes the Magnificat and Nunc dimittis in C major by C.V. Stanford, Preces and Responses by Thomas Tallis, and the anthem God of the Universal Song, composed by Mr. Helman.
The evensong is part of the “Sounds at St. Philip’s” music series, which brings together artists from around the region in offering music to the community.