Night Song is a unique singing opportunity in that it only requires a time commitment of three hours a month, has an emphasis on early music and chant, and takes place in one of the finest acoustics for choral music in the area. An audition can be requested at any point during the season through the website or by emailing Daryl Bichel at darylbichel@aol.com.
Night Song is a modern name that we use for the office of compline, which is sung every Sunday evening at First Church in Cambridge during the academic term. Each of three separate choral ensembles sings once a month, rehearsing from 5:30-7:00 pm and singing Night Song at 7:30 pm. It is possible to sing in more than one group if desired.
The three ensembles are led by choral conductors of distinction, and the singers are fairly advanced in their skill and ability. The literature is Gregorian and modern chant, Renaissance polyphony, and select contemporary music. The music of New England composer Patricia Van Ness is featured in her psalm settings, which perfectly match the ethos and themes of Night Song – the beauty of ethereal sounds, spiritual peace, reflection, the comfort of darkness, silence, rest, sleep, and protection.
Each ensemble has a distinctive chant setting for compline composed by Night Song’s artistic director, Daryl Bichel. Those settings, which feature dialogue between a cantor and the choir, form the weekly framework for a psalm, a hymn, a Gregorian chant proper, and motets that change each Sunday.
The three choral ensembles are:
Lumen Dei: SSA, 6-12 members, sings on the first Sunday of the month, appointment of a new director pending.
Beneficia lucis: AATB, 16-20 members, sings on the second Sunday of the month, led by Holly Druckman.
Canticum vespertinum: SATB, 16-20 members, sings on the fourth Sunday of the month, led by Jennifer Lester.
We prefer singers who may have had some private vocal study, have strong a cappella singing experience, exhibit minimal vibrato, and can maintain the discipline to come to rehearsal with the music having been prepared in advance.
Over the years Night Song has become popular on YouTube, where the livestream broadcast is posted weekly. For more information visit www.nightsong.org. On the page with the music schedule you will find links to listen to past seasons.