Evensong at King's College, Cambridge, 1956

The tradition of choral Evensong in Anglican churches reaches back to 1549 and the first Book of Common Prayer, by which time the Choir of King's College, Cambridge had been in existence for more than a century.

Fan vaulting in the chapel

This present recording of Evensong is of course much closer to our own day, having been taped in 1956, but it nonetheless is fully in line with traditions that date back centuries.

Both the choir and the vast King's College Chapel were initiated by King Henry VI. The Chapel is an astonishing edifice, topped by the world's largest fan vault. The effect of choral Evensong in this space is magnificent.

At the time of the recording, the choir was directed by Boris Ord, who had held the position since 1929, with time out for war service. There have been only three choir directors since him: Sir David Willcocks (1957-74), Sir Philip Ledger (1974-82) and Sir Stephen Cleobury (1982-present). Daniel Hyde will succeed to the post this fall.

Click to enlarge

I am virtually certain that this, the choir's second recording on Argo, is the first LP of Evensong from King's College. The first was a 1954 recording of the Christmas Eve program of lessons and carols, which appeared on this blog 10 years ago, and which I remastered and reuploaded a few days ago. Argo advertised both records in the December 1956 issue of Gramophone (at right).

Services of Evensong include readings from the Bible and the singing of psalms and the canticles Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis. This LP draws upon the music of English composers ranging back to the 16th century (responses by William Smith) and the early 17th century (an introit by Adrian Batten). The Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis are by Sir Charles Stanford and date from the late 19th or early 20th century. The anthem "My Beloved Spake" is by the 20th century composer Patrick Hadley, and a concluding voluntary was written by Francis Jackson, organist at York Minster at the time of the recording.

The choir consisted then and now of both boy choristers and young men, called choral scholars. At the time of the recording, the latter included the bass Christopher Keyte, later to become a well-known singer. He does not have a solo on the record, but does present one of the readings.

The LP sonics are true to the resonant sound of the vast chapel.

Boris Ord and choristers in King's College Chapel, 1956

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