eimarra | An evening of song and beauty

Every year, Moravian College (and the associated seminary) have Vespers services for two weekends in December. The nondenominational* service begins with music (chorus, brass ensemble, woodwind trio, guitar ensemble, and flute troupe this year), moves to liturgy (including songs, readings, and prayer), and concludes with more music, partially in candlelight (choir, congregation, brass ensemble, and organ). We haven’t gone often (children squirm), but this year we did.

Before the service began, brass players were up in the cupola, playing for all of downtown Bethlehem to hear.

Central Moravian Church has a gorgeous organ.

And, oddly enough, Moravian stars are popular around here. (Sometime, I may do a post on the difference between Moravian and Bethlehem stars.)

The interior of the church is partially lit by actual gaslight lamps, which do remain on during the candlelight portion of the service, although the electrical ones are dimmed.

I found the most moving piece of music this year to be Rachmaninoff’s Vocalise. I’m including a YouTube video here, but a single voice honestly isn’t as incredible as what is possible with a full choir.

What are you grateful for today?

* Where nondenominational means nondenominational Christian, not all faiths.

Originally published at Erin M. Hartshorn. You can comment here or there.