A Perfect ‘Completion’ of the day!
Cathedral Music Trust brought together professional singers from over 20 cathedrals for a virtual service of compline, which went live on Thursday 18 March at 8.30pm. It was the perfect end of a rather damp and miserable day! If you missed it you can listen on YouTube, Facebook or explore the CMT website to see how you can donate to help keep our wonderful choral tradition alive.
(www.cathedralmusictrust.org.uk), YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/c/CathedralMusicTrust) Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/CathedralMusicTrust).
Forty professional cathedral singers from across the UK took part in a digital recreation of the ancient service of compline, aiming to bring peace and solace at a time of continued isolation and lockdown. The digital service featured Revd Lucy Winkett, CMT President, Harry Christophers CBE, baritone Roderick Williams and actor Eddie Redmayne, a former choral scholar.
At the end of the day ……
Compline is an ancient form of night prayer going back over a thousand years. Literally meaning ‘completion’, it is a beautiful service of contemplation and reflection for people of all faiths and none to mark the end of the day.
This virtual presentation of compline marked the premiere of three brand new commissions by leading composers: ‘Together in Unity’ by Bob Chilcott, ‘Nunc Dimittis’ by Joanna Marsh and ‘Te lucis ante terminum’ by Paul Mealor.
Help share the joy of music
Chair of the Cathedral Music Trust, Peter Allwood, commented: ‘The UK’s choral music tradition is unsurpassed in the world today. As we seek to recover from the challenging experience of this COVID-19 outbreak, we hope this very special service brings peace to many and, through your generous donations, enables us to assist our choirs in continuing to share the joy of music with all who wish to listen or participate. I would like to thank the singers, composers, leaders and editors who have generously given their time for this worthy cause.’