Evensong at Rochester
On Saturday (26th September), another coach full of choir and congregation set off to a new venue, to sing Evensong at Rochester Cathedral, England’s second oldest cathedral.
Rochester Cathedral was founded in 604 AD . For the first four centuries of its history it was a small structure with a semi-circular east end.
The history can be traced through the architectural changes in the nave where the original semicular norman arches at the west end of the nave from the refounding as a Benedictine monastry after the Norman Conquest of 1066, give way to the gothic arches at the east of a later rebuild.
The original organ was built in 1791, but following many rebuilds and re-positioning only a few pipes from the original remain. It is now a 40 rank 3 manual instrument centred over the rood screen.
After the coach arrived just after 11 the main priority was to find some lunch before the rehearsal, which started at 13:50. After practising processing in and out, the choir rehearsed al of the music with accompaniment from Chris on the organ.
Evensong began at 3:15 with responses by Bernard Rose and the Magnificat and Nunc Dimitis by Herbert Murrill. The Anthem was Geistliches Lied, Op 30 – Johannes Brahms
Rose Magnificat
Rose Nunc Dimitis
Geistliches Lied
Some pictures from the trip:
