User:Jhenson1/Compline Choir

The Compline Choir is a choral group that chants the Office of Compline every Sunday night at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Seattle, WA, USA. The Office of Compline is comprised of sacred music including plainsong and polyphonic compositions, and spoken verses such as the Apostles' Creed and the Lord’s Prayer. The half-hour service begins at 9:30 PM (Pacific Time, GMT -8) and is heard by over 500 people in the cathedral and thousands of listeners via radio and internet.

Compline – Last of the Divine Hours
Compline, from the Latin completorium, or completion, is the last of eight monastic services sung throughout the day. These services were defined by the Rule of St. Benedict.

The Order of Compline at St. Mark’s Cathedral
The Order of Compline consists of short passages from scripture (chapters), psalms, an office hymn, a canticle (Nunc Dimittis), a litany, collects and additional prayers.

The Compline service at St. Mark’s opens as follows :


 * SPOKEN (Listen now)


 * READER: The Lord Almighty grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.
 * CHOIR: Amen.


 * READER: Beloved in Christ, be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist, steadfast in the faith. [from I Peter 5: 8, 9a]
 * READER: But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
 * CHOIR: Thanks be to God.


 * CHANTED


 * CANTOR: O God, make speed to save us;
 * CHOIR: O Lord, make haste to help us.
 * CANTOR: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost;
 * CHOIR: As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.


 * CANTOR: Praise ye the Lord;
 * CHOIR: The Lord's name be praiséd.


 * continues...

Music Sung
The repertory of Compline Choir can be found in the online listing of weekly music presented.

Recordings and Available Performances
Archived recordings of Sunday evening services can be heard in podcast format. The Compline Choir also has made several recordings, which are available on CD.


 * Night Music
 * Music of Faith and Longing
 * Feathers of Green Gold: The Office of Compline and Ten Psalms
 * Carols Old and New

History of Compline Choir
The Compline Choir was formed in 1956 by Peter Hallock. Hallock, who directed and composed for the choir, retired in 2009. Dr. Jason Anderson (CC member since 2004) became the second director of the Compline Choir. The choir consists of approximately 18 men. A video of a rehearsal is available online. Media articles about the choir are available from the New York Times, Seattle Post-Intelligencer and Seattle Weekly.

Other Compline Choirs in the USA
Numerous compline choirs have been modeled after The Compline Choir at St. Mark’s Cathedral. Examples include choirs in Minnesota and Pittsburgh.

St. Mark’s Cathedral
St. Mark’s is the Cathedral church for the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia, and the seat of Bishop Rt. Rev. Gregory Rickel, Diocesan. Saint Mark’s is also a parish church.

Address: St. Mark’s Cathedral is located at 1245 10th Avenue East, Seattle, WA 98102.