Songs of the Setting Sun

‘Now that the Sun hath veiled his light’ – words from Henry Purcell’s Evening Hymn reflecting the beautiful sight of the sun’s warm glow disappearing beyond the Western hills as the hustle and bustle of the day morphs seamlessly into the undisturbed serenity of the night.

Influenced heavily by the evening service of Compline, we utilise both chant and movement in this programme to transport the listener into an almost hypnotic state of being.

Settings of Compline hymns, psalms and canticles by composers such as Palestrina, Assandra and Stravinsky are contrasted with secular music by Britten and Whitacre to create a holistic appreciation of eventide.

Gustav Holst’s spellbinding The Evening Watch takes centre stage, with a fascinating rendering of Henry Vaughan’s metaphysical Dialogue between body and soul before bed.

Accompanied by Holst’s lush harmonic writing, one is easily transported from the stresses of the day to a place of comfort and spiritual balm.