Q Reviews
Amicabilis Concordia Evensong
Tuesday 13 October 2016
From the Amicabilis Concordia of 1 July 1444
‘….Reflecting on how all each of our Colleges,
even though they are situated in different places,
are nevertheless designated by almost the same
name and do not seem to differ in the intention
of their founders.…we propose that…the same
Colleges…should, whenever there is need, pursue
each other with shared support and together help
each other with appropriate services…
Winchester and Eton Chapel Choir
College Chapel). However, the two school
Chapel Choirs, Winchester and Eton, come
toge ther for an annual evensong which
this year took place in Winchester College
Chapel on 13 October 2016. The two choirs
combined make an impressive choral force,
with 80 or so boys and men completely
filling the Quire of the Chapel. The Eton
treble line is drawn from the youngest
boys at the school (as at every other public
school other than Winchester College) but
many of them have come from prestigious
choir schools. The Quiristers were, as usual,
completely assured and professional.
The Amicablis Concordia is an ancient
agreement of shared understanding and
support between four Colleges – Eton
College, King’s College, Cambridge,
Winchester College and New College,
Oxford. Very occasionally nowadays, these
four institutions join together for a choral
service (most recently to mark the retirement
of Edward Higginbottom as Director of
Music at New College when the opening
of the combined choirs’ Zadok the Priest
virtually blew the congregation out of New
The music chosen for the service reflected
the high standards and scope of the choral
force. The introit Hail Gladdening Light by
Charles Wood was a perfect introduction.
Herbert Howells’ St Paul’s Service is perhaps
less familiar than his Collegium Regale Service
but equally sublime and atmospheric.
Kenneth Leighton’s responses made a
perfect foil to the Howells’ and the combined
choirs, directed throughout the service by
Malcolm Archer, performed them with
spirit and musicality. The great treat was
the anthem, Blessed City, Heavenly Salem by
Edward Bairstow. This monumental work
for choir and organ (played here by Jamal
Winchester College Chapel
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