This is so very fine. These voices have a purity which no prose can calibrate or assess. I have always wanted to believe that there really were angels that sounded like this.
  It must be a terrible thing, an intolerable shock when these boys, however well prepared, are no longer allowed to sing because their voices have broken. Still, I would have given my right arm to have had a chance to sing thus.  Larry

I’m always slightly amused when evangelicals like serious church music at Christmas. Where are you the rest of the year, Titus Onenine?

Thank you, Kendall.  The music of Christmas is something I look forward to each year.

I first heard this hymn more than 20 years ago. I’ve loved it ever since. Like some of the better Christmas carols, it does not separate the Incarnation of Christ from his passion, death and resurrection.

“I’m always slightly amused when evangelicals like serious church music at Christmas. Where are you the rest of the year, Titus Onenine?”

Same place as always.  My Amazingly Quick Mind has ascertained that Kendall actually likes “serious church music” all year round.

What a shock for at least one non-evangelical, it seems, who lacks that Razor Sharp Mind to grasp Kendall’s tastes after reading his blog for so long.

#5 Sarah, well you never know - perhaps #2 is an evangelical who has ‘seen the light’?  Perhaps he is coming to bring that to the rest of us inhabitants of T19 who try to manage in our stumbling way to listen to Choral Evensong and to discuss things we really don’t understand.

#2 Peter L - if you hang around a bit you might find that there are a variety of people who hang out here, with a variety of churchmanships.  Some of us even enjoy music, including choral music.

RE: “Perhaps he is coming to bring that to the rest of us inhabitants of T19 who try to manage in our stumbling way to listen to Choral Evensong and to discuss things we really don’t understand.”

Yes indeed—perhaps he will “show us all The True Path.”  ; > )

#7 Sarah - well we live in hope.  Btw did you listen the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from Kings’ College Cambridge this year?  They are quite a good English choir I believe.

Beautiful…two of my faves are Rutter’s ‘Dormi Jesu’ and Hadley’s ‘I Sing of a Maiden’; it’s lovely that the latter also wrote that song for his mother. 

This is a fabulous collection, but you might have to wait a bit for Amazon to restock: 

http://www.amazon.com/Classic-Christmas-Carols-Kings-College/dp/B000YRNXV2/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1293479467&sr=1-2

Hey folks, don’t get angry. My observation (poorly stated) stems from my belief that Anglo-Caholicism (both liberal and conservative) is (mostly) what sustains traditional, serious (as opposed to pop) Anglican Church music. Stand up and support music, ye evangelicals! Come to Evensong! I’m from Pittsburgh, where the wars have been destructive to music (in all forms). The cathedral essentially died when the bishop disbanded the choir. (and not for theological reasons). Maybe, just maybe, the right and the left can find common ground in the glorious musical heritage that we share.

#10 Hello, Peter L.  Thanks for coming back on that.

There is a glorious musical heritage, but it is a mistake to think that you won’t find it in evangelical churches, particularly on my side of the pond.  We treasure our choirs.  Although rooted in the catholic choral tradition, which the Catholics seem to have largely forgotten about, it has with a few exceptions been vigorously supported by the Anglican church.

However, the purpose of all divine worship including choral work is to glorify and worship God, and one cannot divorce it from right doctrine and belief.

After all, I have no doubt they were singing beautiful songs around the Asherah Poles, and consider the beauty of Mendelssohn’s ‘ Baal we cry to thee’ from ‘Elijah’ - not something we want to emulate, I wouldn’t have thought.

Providing you aren’t putting up Asherah Poles, which I sincerely hope you aren’t in Pittsburgh, then indeed music, properly used for the right worship of God is something we should have in common, but it has its place in support of, not to supplant, the Gospels.

Wouldn’t you say?

Amen, Pageantmaster. Support the Gospels! (and seriously, do you have any idea how ignorant most Americans are on the basics of music? It is very sad.

Most English people aren’t much more savvy I’m afraid.  But there are some outstanding exceptions in schools and colleges where this is treasured.  For most people, their exposure to music and in particular singing, always came from church, so if you are keeping that going then good for you and spread the Word.

@Pageantmaster, might I add, today I have made a new friend in Christ? So…. really, don’t you think John’s is sounding better than King’s these days? And check out Norwich! Best Evensong I’ve heard in a while by that choir. (sadly, two years ago)

#14 Of course Peter L.  There are two major choirs here which broadcast their services - St John’s, Cambridge and New College, Oxford and there is an interesting article here about other broadcasts.  Comparisons are difficult - St John’s have quite a different style to King’s.

I go to choral anything, when I can.

I would add that I am sorry to hear what has happened in Pittsburgh #10 - it sounds traumatic, but hopefully there will be some sort of recovery.  Prayers for all concerned.