Saint Paul's Episcopal Church, K Street, Washington, D.C.
Matin Responsory: G. P. da Palestrina, "Aspiciens a longe" (I look from afar)
Choral Hymn: Puer nobis nascitur, Veni Redemptor gentium (Come thou Redeemer of the Earth)
Invitatory Carol: Orlando Gibbons, "Hosanna to the son of David"
First Lesson: Zechariah 2:10—13
Carol: Philip Ledger, "Adam Lay Ybounden"
Hymn: 15th century French Franciscan Processional, Veni, veni, Emmanuel
Second Lesson: Isaiah 11:1—10
Motet: Gustav Schreck, "O how shall I receive Thee"
Hymn: Valet will ich der geben, O how shall I receive Thee
Third Lesson: Isaiah 40:1—8
Motet: Guillaume Dufay, "Ut queant laxis" (So that these your servants)
Hymn: Merton, Hark! A thrilling voice is sounding
Fourth Lesson: Baruch 4:36—5:9
Hymn: Wincester New, On Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry
Chorus: George F. Handel, "And the glory of the Lord" from Messiah
Anthem: Anton Bruckner, Ave Maria
Fifth Lesson: Luke 1:26—38
Hymn: Nova, nova, Gabriel of high degree
Motet: Albert Alain, Ave Maria
Sixth Lesson: Jeremiah 31:31—34
Hymn: Little Cornard, Hills of the north rejoice
Offertory Anthem: Jonathan Dove, "Seek him that maketh the seven stars"
Seventh Lesson: Revelation 21:5—7; 22:12—13, 20
Hymn: Wachet auf, Wake, awake for night is flying
Responsory: William McKie, "We wait for thy loving kindness, O God"
Hymn: Helmsley, Lo! He comes with clouds descending
Organ Voluntary: J.S. Bach, Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 661
What a wonderful, inspirational evening to start the season of Advent! I loved hearing so many of the traditional Advent hymns and carols, and several of the anthems and motets were things I've sung for years, too.
I may go again next week just to hear the offertory anthem again—it was stunning, but very English contemporary (Dove is living and in his forties). Musically, the service should be a much better "performance" as well, since a few of the things sounded quite ragged and underrehearsed tonight, especially the Bruckner "Ave Maria." Of course, this is a parish that does a huge amount of music, with different full Mass settings and two anthems, plus an Evensong service and a different anthem, every Sunday, so I have to cut them some slack for these long special services. Anyway, if you're a musician and want to hear a lovely musical service (without being subjected to the usual barrage of "Living Christmas Trees" and contemporary pop Xmas carols), this is a perfect place to go on a Sunday evening.
This parish—one of the older and wealthier in the Diocese—has the most wonderful vestments and hangings! Instead of purple Advent togs that get recycled in Lent, they have a specific Advent set which are Sarum blue with red orphreys and gold metallic trim. I couldn't quite see the Advent wreath clearly enough to note whether they were using blue or purple candles (I did see the one pink one).
With all the parish choirs singing tonight, there was not enough room in the chancel to seat everyone, so they had the choir processing and standing in various places around the nave and chancel, starting with everyone in the narthex around the baptistry. At one point the men were all in the Angel Chapel, which gave their voices a lovely monastic sound. The Handel was done (in Victorian style, rather than period messa di voce) with everyone on the chancel steps and eventually by the time of the offertory anthem, the choirs were on the sanctuary steps with the boys in the stalls.
There was light incense in the opening procession and more incense for the recessional procession; the thurifer was even doing "around the worlds" on his way out tonight!
Those of you who may want to go hear the service next Sunday evening beware: St. Paul's is a very traditional, very high church parish, meaning the parishioners won't initiate conversations with you or be "friendly"; they believe that people come to church to worship, not socialize (or at least that's the excuse), so if you're used to warm welcomes and lots of chit-chat with strangers, don't expect that here. I've been popping in to this church several times a month since Epiphany (that's early January), and I'm just now getting the two priests to recognize me, but other than the ushers I've only had two people in the pews say anything at all to me (and I suspect they were visitors). It's also a dressy parish: men in suits are common, and I've never seen jeans or highly casual clothing here.
And, while I doubt it's anywhere near as crowded next weekend, I walked into the church about twenty minutes before the six o'clock start time, and the church was full! I'll remember that for next year......but, like I said, I doubt next Sunday will be as crowded, since so many people have already seen the service.
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