Kensington Service

Francis Melville’s Kensington Service offers a rich SATTB setting of the Evening Canticles. The composer crafts an intricate texture, with voices weaving in and out, creating moments of both broad homophony and delicate polyphony. The setting unfolds in a blend of English and French texts, the words of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis treated with sensitivity. Melodic lines are clear and often expansive, supported by a harmonic language that is both traditional and engaging. The extended vocal ranges and varied dynamic possibilities make this a rewarding choice for an accomplished choir seeking a substantial yet approachable setting for Evensong.