Evensong: 21 August 2011
Anglican Cathedral
16:00

The Odeion Choir, the vocal ensemble of the Odeion Music School (University of the Free State), invites you to Choral Evensong every Sunday during term, at 16:00. The Cathedral of St Andrew & St Michael (the corner of St George's & Saltzmann St, Bloemfontein city center) hosts the choir. Choral Evensong is a traditional service, and is sung by many student choirs all over the world. In this service, you can hear some of the world's great choral music, in its intended setting. The music of many eras is represented, from Gregorian chant (circa 900AD) to 21st century settings written for the choir. Elizabethan, Victorian and Edwardian composers feature prominently in the repertoire.

Sunday, 21 August Trinity IX

The anthem at Evensong, O God, thou art my God, is by England's greatest baroque-era composer, Henry Purcell, who was organist of Westminster Abbey. Fittingly, John Blow, the man who recognised Purcell's genius and stepped aside so he could take up the Abbey post, is the composer of the introit, Let my prayer. The canticles will be sung to a rousing 1927 setting by Sir Herbert Brewer, in D major, for choir and organ. By contrast, Thomas Tallis' responses, from the turbulent years of the English Reformation, are about 450 years old. The choir is conducted by Lance Phillip, a junior lecturer at the School, and the organist is Eljee du Plooy, a leading student of Jan Beukes, who will also play Marcel Dupre's Prelude & Fugue in G minor.

The service lasts around an hour. All are welcome.