Visiting Choirs

We are delighted to accept proposals from visiting choirs to sing services on days when the Chapel Choir is away. To submit a proposal, or to enquire about potential dates, please contact us by email, at least a month prior to your date of interest: neil.cockburn@ukings.ca

Proposals should include information about your choral group, with links to audio or video recordings of past performances (if possible), and a provisional list of the repertoire you may wish to perform.

All services at King’s follow the orders of the Book of Common Prayer of the Anglican Church of Canada.
Sung services at King’s include Choral Evensong (BCP p. 17); Sung Eucharist (Choral Communion, BCP p. 67), and Compline (BCP, p. 722).

The lectionary readings and psalms appointed for each day of the year are shown on the Anglican Church of Canada web site. As we occasionally observe a different Feast or Saint on certain dates, we will confirm the readings once a date is chosen. We will also inform you of the congregational hymns to be sung.

The King’s College Chaplain officiates at all services with visiting choirs; readers, greeters, and servers are chosen from the King’s community.

The choral repertoire required for each of these services is listed below.

Choral Evensong

Evensong music at King’s is generally sung in English, although Latin and other languages are sung from time to time. When the choir sings in a language other than English, a translation of the text is included in the service leaflet.

-Introit Anthem - usually unaccompanied (Optional - this can be replaced by a congregational hymn)
-Preces and Responses
-Psalm(s) for the day (Anglican Chant or Chant Tones)
-Evening Canticles (Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis)
-Anthem
Two or three congregational hymns are also sung—usually from the English Hymnal (1906, rev. 1933). Copies of the hymns will be provided.

Sung Eucharist (Choral Communion)

The choral music at the Eucharist at King’s is often sung in Latin, with English and other languages scheduled from time to time. When the choir sings in a language other than English, a translation of the text is included in the service leaflet.

-Mass setting (Usually only Kyrie, Sanctus/Benedictus, Agnus Dei; the Gloria is sung on Feast Days) - this can be choral, or if a congregational setting is preferred, we sing that of John Merbecke (1505-85). We always sing the Merbecke Creed at Sung Eucharist.
Copies of the Merbecke setting will be provided as necessary.
-Communion Motet - generally a eucharistic text such as “Ave verum corpus.”
Four or five congregational hymns are also sung—usually from the English Hymnal (1906, rev. 1933). Copies of the hymns will be provided.

Compline (Usually scheduled at 9.30pm or later)

The choral music at Compline at King’s is often sung in Latin, with English and other languages scheduled from time to time.

-The majority of Compline is sung in unison to chant tones. Choirs may sing choral settings of the Nunc Dimittis, an anthem, and/or the Marian Antiphon appropriate for the season (Alma Redemptoris Mater, Ave Regina Caelorum, Regina Caeli, or Salve Regina).