Father Duane C. Beauchamp, commonly known as “Father B,” will be officiating an Evensong Prayer at The Holy Trinity Anglican Parish of Hillsdale on Sunday, Feb. 3 at 4 p.m.
The service, entitled “An Anglican Evensong: The Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple,” will feature music on organ, string instruments, and choral selections from the choir of the parish conducted by Kipp Cortez, a Ph. D. student of organ and sacred music from the University of Michigan.
“Evensong is an ancient tradition within the church, and the music that has been written for Evensong is particularly beautiful,” Beauchamp said. “It blends together within the course of the service both canting and … the choir performing a particularly beautiful, and familiar, rendition of the Ave Maria. The Ave Maria is usually a solo voice, but this will be from the chorus.”
The choir has been under the direction of Steven Ball, the director of music at the church.
David Saunders, organist and choirmaster of a Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, a Roman Catholic parish in Wyandotte, Mich., will be playing organ for the service. Father Beauchamp said he is excited about the chance Holy Trinity has to have these three men — Cortez, Ball, and Saunders — participating in the service. All three have a great appreciation for and education on the sacred music Evensong services include.
“I encourage students to take advantage of what I think is a rather unique way to prepare for the Super Bowl,” Beauchamp joked.
“I think it promises to be a gorgeous service since those prayers are some of the best the Anglican tradition has to offer,” junior and church member Mary Proffit Kimmel said. “There’s a lot of emphasis on repentance and new life. It’s a good time to refocus and remind yourself why you’re here.”
kdrapkin@hillsdale.edu
