Churchgoers at Exeter Cathedral this Sunday will be in for a special treat, with a full symphony orchestra and an enlarged choir leading hymns and large-scale anthems as part of the annual Orchestral Evensong.
On Sunday 7th October the Cathedral Choristers and adult singers will be joined by the University of Exeter Chapel Choir, with the orchestral forces of the Exeter Symphony Orchestra adding to the musical soundscape, as Timothy Noon, the Cathedral’s Director of Music explains:
“The Orchestral Evensong began as a one-off project, but we now see it as a wonderful way to mark the beginning of the academic year for both choirs, and it gives us a chance to renew friendships with other musicians in the city.
“Choral Evensong is at the heart of the Cathedral Choir’s daily work, and the we enjoy singing a wide range of music from medieval chant right through to challenging contemporary works. It is unusual for Cathedral worship to be enriched by the thrilling sound of a full symphony orchestra, and we are looking forward to putting everything together on the day.”
The service is the third such Orchestral Evensong, a collaboration instigated by the directors of the three ensembles back in 2016.
Members of the public are invited to join the congregation and attend the service, which begins at 16.00 on Sunday 7th October.