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Evensong: Notes from the Choir
How is an ancient choral tradition thriving in today’s secular world?
Sir John Rutter
The ultimate insider's guide to everyone's favourite Church of England Choral Evensong, as heard in cathedrals and churches throughout the land.
Tim Popple, ex-chorister and now cathedral choirman, lifts the lid on its mysteries with the lightest of touches, plenty of anecdotes, and some laugh-out-loud moments.
Whether you are a seasoned devotee or you don't know your versicles from your canticles, this book is guaranteed to have you running to your nearest cathedral to experience the beauties of choral worship . . . and you will go back and back.
Sir John Rutter
The ultimate insider's guide to everyone's favourite Church of England Choral Evensong, as heard in cathedrals and churches throughout the land.
Tim Popple, ex-chorister and now cathedral choirman, lifts the lid on its mysteries with the lightest of touches, plenty of anecdotes, and some laugh-out-loud moments.
Whether you are a seasoned devotee or you don't know your versicles from your canticles, this book is guaranteed to have you running to your nearest cathedral to experience the beauties of choral worship . . . and you will go back and back.
286 pages, Paperback
Published April 21, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 26, 2025
This is a highly informative and well-written book, but of interest only to those who a) have sung in a choir, b) have worked in an Anglican church (or wanted to), and c) been to a service of evensong and wondered what all this is about. Popple does a really good job of explaining some of the more esoteric parts of the service (including the pronunciation of some really obtuse terms), and with a dry, gentle humor. (Or humour, since it IS a British book.) But I was misled by the quote on the cover, "Laugh out loud." (John Rutter) Humorous, yes; riotous, no.
July 7, 2026
The ultimate love letter to sacred choral singing. This does such a good job of putting into words what it is I loved about being a cathedral chorister and why I will always be one at heart. Choral music (and cathedral life) shaped me and has left me with a lifelong love of the building and music that were so alien to anything I knew growing up before then.
The author is wrong though- dec is obviously better than can!
The author is wrong though- dec is obviously better than can!
July 2, 2025
Such a funny book- really encapsulated the feeling of being in a choir but it was also informative with quotes from people like Sarah Macdonald.
A great read for both seasoned choir members and people who have never stepped foot in a cathedral!
A great read for both seasoned choir members and people who have never stepped foot in a cathedral!
September 11, 2025
Whitty, Real and Relatable. Excellent. Recomened to anyone involved in cathedrals.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews