The new choir season continues with two anthems sung by the St. Michael’s Singers on Sunday, September 20 at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. God’s endless love is a simple and effective anthem by American composer, organist, and choir director Robert J. Powell, who died last year. His prolific works can be found in, among other places, our Hymnal 1982 (we often sing one of his best known service music settings during the summer at St. Michael’s). Sunday’s brief communion anthem is a staple of English cathedral music, Herbert Howells’ (pictured) My eyes for beauty pine, which is based on a poem by Robert Bridges.

Evensong for the Feast of St. Michael & All Angels

Sunday, Sep 27 | 5pm

Coming up very soon is the first choral evensong of the season at 5 p.m. on Sunday, September 27 for the Feast of St. Michael & All Angels. We celebrate our parish feast day with this traditional evening service featuring the singing of psalms, canticles, responses, and hymns led by the St. Michael’s Singers. Music will include a beautiful sung introit in Spanish and Renaissance composer Orlando Gibbons’ “Short Service,” as well as a favorite anthem in French, Gabriel Fauré’s Cantique de Jean Racine. Although not written specifically for Michaelmas, the anthem reflects on divine light, strength, and peace, harmonizing with the feast’s themes of angelic light and protection:

“Word of the Highest, our only hope,

Eternal day of earth and the heavens,

We break the silence of the peaceful night;

Savior Divine, cast your eyes upon us!”