St. Francis of Assisi Choral Evensong at St. Mary's Hamilton Village (10/13/24)

About Evensong and this Program
Evensong is an evening church service following a set form that focuses on psalms and other biblical canticles, usually a sung rendition of vespers following the Anglican tradition. Old English speakers translated the Latin word vesperas as æfensang , which became 'evensong' in modern English.

About St. Mary's Organist and Choirmaster
Dr. Chase Castle, Ph.D. (He/Him) is a music historian, organist, and choral conductor. He received a PhD in Music as a Benjamin Franklin Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania in May 2024. Castle’s research explores American revivalism across the nineteenth century, focusing especially on the politics of race in American evangelical hymnody. His current book project is titled The Gospel in Black and White: Race and Popular Culture in American Hymns, which is based on his dissertation and current research. Unlike previous scholarship that often separates Black from white histories and treats African-American music primarily in terms of spirituals, his research cast a wider net to consider how racial politics played out in widespread, popular, sacred practices.

Castle is also an active organist and choral conductor. He regularly concertizes across the eastern half of the United States and has performed in master classes with Todd Wilson, Marie-Louise Langlais, and James David Christie. Castle believes in the spiritual power of music in worship and has written articles for Christian magazines like Earth & Altar that examine the social capacities of hymnody. He prioritizes a balance between tradition and inclusion in the music program at St. Mary’s and welcomes all participants to help serve in that mission.

About St. Mary's Music
St. Mary’s music program includes a church choir, supported by an extensive music library, an historic Aoelian-Skinner organ, baby grand piano, and cabinet organ. St. Mary’s collaborates with universities and the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania in the composition of new music and in showcasing student performers of sacred music.

During the academic year (the weekend after Labor Day to the Feast of Pentecost), our all-volunteer choir often presents an anthem and leads the singing of the Psalm. New members are always welcome!