Learning the notes

Unique to the British cultural scene, chorister schools can offer often educational opportunities that are hard to match, writes

- Anne Templer

While attendance at most churches has been in decline for many decades, a recent trend reversing this trajectory is emerging – that of attending evensong. Evensong (‘choral vespers’ if associated with the Catholic Church) is a service traditionally held near sunset, focusing on singing psalms and other biblical canticles. Reasons for this increase may have partly come about through the website choralevensong.org, which details times and locations of services. Motivation for attendance, however, surely goes far deeper than this and seems to illustrate the need for many in the modern world to find a peaceful space at a time of day where they can sit with their own thoughts, without judgement or explanation. This, coupled with witnessing outstanding music-making at no cost, doubtless adds to an uplifting sense of escape, wonder and relief. What attendees may not realise, though, is that this refuge and routine of beautiful music in ancient buildings all over the country is distinctive to these islands, and there is almost no equivalent anywhere in the world.