Where does the music sung in the Compline service come from?
The Compline Choir makes use of several sources. The Compline liturgy of plainsong chants dates back to the medieval period of European history. Several of the ‘Nunc dimittis’ settings are from the time of the European Renaissance. Most of the psalm settings are the work of the choir’s founder, Peter Hallock, while the rest are mostly medieval chants. The Hymnal 1982, used in Episcopal churches in the U.S.A., is a source for many of the hymns and orisons sung in the service, which range in date from the medieval period to modern times. Likewise, the anthems sung each Sunday have a similar breadth of origin. While the Compline Choir repertoire includes works from various historical periods up to the present time, it is limited in what it can do. The voicing of the choir — alto, tenor, and bass — places a constraint that can become a challenge when searching for additional repertoire. For example, it is rare to find an arrangement of exquisite works like “Beati quorum via” by Sir Charles
