2 responses to “E and B”

  1. Martin Ritchie Avatar
    Martin Ritchie

    One of the interesting things about choral evensong is that in some places it can seem like a living tradition that can speak to anyone, whereas in others it can appear to be dry as dust, pompous and irrelevant. What do you think the “method” is that produces a living choral evensong as opposed to an antiquarian one?

  2. kelvin Avatar

    That’s a good question, Martin and I agree, it can be miserable.

    I think that worship tends to take off when those planning it and organising and leading it care more about what we are doing when we worship than in the form in which we worship.

    I suspect that Choral Evensong is not best led by liturgical, musical or prayer book fundamentalists or by those who happen to find this a way of encountering the holy.

    A culture of offering the best we can be to God helps. Good relationships between musicians and clergy help. As usual, clear liturgical books in the hands of the faithful help. And whoever is leading needs not to be frightened of a bit of silence now and then amidst the music.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Previous Posts

  • Enough, enough

    Enough already. I need no more e-mails telling me that there is only one way to wear a biretta. No more diagrams and pictures showing me how. No more tips. No more hints. No more, no more.It was a flippant remark and I will not make it again. How on earth has the Anglican Communion…

  • More than one way

    I found myself yesterday using this turn of phrase, "…oh, there is more than one way to wear a biretta…"It seemed a metaphor likely to be regarded as kinder to the more feline amongst us than the usual one. However, it has got me wondering.Is there? 

  • To the City

    Going to the city today (Edinburgh) to rearrange chairs.Amazing what one has to do for God’s kingdom sometimes. 

  • Day Off

    Most relaxing half hour of yesterday’s day off was having a very floppy puppy fall fast asleep, cradled in my arms.In other wildlife news, this morning I heard and saw a willow warbler (no, really) and nearly wrote off a deer.