Edington prepares for 63rd music festival

The 63rd Edington Music Festival starts on Sunday 19th August with Compline by candlelight at 9.15pm and runs until Sunday 26th, ending with Solemn Eucharist at 11.30am.

The Priory Church will be full of sublime music around a theme which commemorates the centenary of the end of the 1914-18 War.  Each day will be based on a poem by one of the great War Poets, and the main festival commission is a setting of Vera Brittain’s poem “War” by Joanna Ward, to be premiered on Tuesday 21st at Evensong. Full music information is at www.edington festival.org.

There have been a few subtle changes to the format of the services this year; the full Nave Choir under Matthew Martin will sing Choral Matins on Monday 20th, and while each day will end with Compline, the days’ first services will include the lesser known offices of Prime and Terce as well as Matins.

Paul Brough, principal guest conductor of the BBC Singers and long-time friend of the festival, will be taking over direction of the consort this year, standing in for Jeremy Summerly who is in the States.

As ever, Choral Evensong on Wednesday 22nd August will be at 3.30pm and will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 3. This will be followed at 6.30pm by the Musical Evening and Supper. Contact Hugh Hancock at pcc-t@hancock-of fice.org or by phone on 01225 754626 for tickets as soon as possible.

This year’s Festival Lunch is on Saturday 25th, everyone welcome – info from Susie Hancock, secretary @edingtonfriends.org.uk.