In the Netherlands, there is a popular practice of Anglican choral evensong outside the context of the Church of England. Dutch choirs sing the Anglican daily prayer liturgy, which includes preces and responses, psalms, hymns and anthems, as well as lessons and spoken prayers. Choral evensong attracts many people: believers (of all denominations), former believers and non-believers. This paradox, the popularity of choral evensong in a supposedly secularised country such as the Netherlands, attracts attention and raises questions. What exactly is going on here? Why is evensong so popular in contemporary society? This is the central topic of the choral evensong experiences’ research. Who are the evensong-goers? What are their religious, spiritual, musical and social backgrounds? Why do people go? What is the attraction? What are their experiences? What might understanding their motivations and experiences contribute to the study of sacred music and the transformation of religiosity? This research explores these questions from both musical and theological perspectives.

Biography

Dr Hanna Rijken (MMus), a theologian and musician, is Assistant Professor of Theology & the Arts (Church Music) at the Protestant Theological University in Amsterdam and a lecturer in Church Music at the Rotterdam Conservatory of Music (Codarts). Her dissertation, My Soul Doth Magnify: The Appropriation of Anglican Choral Evensong in the Netherlands, was published by VU University Press in 2020. She is the artistic director of the Vocaal Theologen Ensemble, a professional flutist, an ordained minister and initiator of the ecumenical Choral Evensong & Pub.