The name of the evensong section that ends "... is now and ever shall be..."?

[Aeon]

Hello --

I wonder if anyone can help me with a question. I am not a music expert and I have no knowledge about choral music, I just enjoy listening to Choral Evensong on Radio 3 on Wednesdays and Sundays. I've noticed each evensong has different parts (parts of the mass I guess). My favourite part is near the start where the singing leads to the bit where they sing "As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end, amen".

What is that section called? It always seems to have the most beautiful (and often unusual) harmonies. I'd like to be able to search and find choirs singing that bit.

Thanks.

[ardcarp]

Hello --

I wonder if anyone can help me with a question. I am not a music expert and I have no knowledge about choral music, I just enjoy listening to Choral Evensong on Radio 3 on Wednesdays and Sundays. I've noticed each evensong has different parts (parts of the mass I guess). My favourite part is near the start where the singing leads to the bit where they sing "As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end, amen".

What is that section called? It always seems to have the most beautiful (and often unusual) harmonies. I'd like to be able to search and find choirs singing that bit.

Thanks.

It's the Gloria, sung at the end of every Psalm (occasionally omitted during Lent) and Canticle, and is also part of the Responses.

English version:

Glory be to the Father and to the Son
And to the Holy Ghost
As it was in the beginning,
Is now and ever shall be
World without end, Amen.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloria_Patri#/media/File:LiberUsualisEuouae.jpg

[Vox Humana]

[Post deleted because already answered by ardcarp.]

[kernelbogey]

One of a number of forms of the Doxology.

[ardcarp]

Aeon, from your original post, I guess you were probably thinking of the first set of Responses. Lots of composers have done musical settings, but one of the best-known is by William Smith of Durham:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2r2bnIKh84

[Petrushka]

One of a number of forms of the Doxology.

As soon as I saw the question I said 'Doxology' to myself remembering as a choirboy in the 1960s when our Choirmaster told us this

[oddoneout]

It always seems to have the most beautiful (and often unusual) harmonies.

Which reminds me. I've heard the Howells Collegium Regale several times over the past year or so and each time I think how wonderful the Gloria is, whereas the Mag and Nunc themselves are in the take it or leave it category for me (apologies to Howells fans)
The Smith responses are lovely and have for me just about the most beautiful Amen written. It was always a joy to sing them, and I still sing along when they are on CE and get a lift to the spirits.

[ardcarp]

I like the wistful opening of Howells' Coll Reg Mag...just upper voices. And the Nunc is a bit of a gift for a tenor soloist. Back to Glorias....Howell's St Paul's is quite good too!

[Vox Humana]

Back to Glorias....Howell's St Paul's is quite good too!

A fabulous exercise in gradual, sustained climax building, with a glorious yell for tenors especially at the end.

[Aeon]

Many thanks to everyone for your responses. If anyone can direct me to more Choral Evensong type music (on Youtube or somesuch) that is considered beautiful I'd appreciate it. Listening to Wednesday's Radio 3 CE right now!

[kernelbogey]

I always found the addition of a doxology to a hymn (A&M) rather odd; often out of keeping with the language of the whole.

[Aeon]

A fabulous exercise in gradual, sustained climax building, with a glorious yell for tenors especially at the end.

Are we still talking about music??

[kernelbogey]

Are we still talking about music??

Ahem! This is the Choir Section of the Forum....

[jonfan]

Many thanks to everyone for your responses. If anyone can direct me to more Choral Evensong type music (on Youtube or somesuch) that is considered beautiful I'd appreciate it. Listening to Wednesday's Radio 3 CE right now!

There's plenty of CEs on YouTube with a wonderful richness of choice. Type in cathedrals such Truro and Ely, plus university chapels such as Clare, King's, St Johns and Trinity in Cambridge, and you'll be directed to many hours of listening and watching.