St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, an urban parish in downtown Chattanooga, will host a Choral Evensong in observance of the Feast of the Ascension. The Choral Evensong event is a collaborative effort between three area churches — St. Paul’s Church (Chattanooga), St. Timothy’s Church (Signal Mountain), and The Church of the Good Shepherd (Lookout Mountain) — and will feature their combined choirs. The Evensong will also feature the premiere of a Magnificat by local composer Ethan McGrath, commissioned by St. Paul’s, St. Timothy’s, and Good Shepherd churches.
Ethan McGrath is an undergraduate student at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga majoring in Music Composition and studying with Dr. Jonathan McNair. Starting on the piano at the age of nine, he became increasingly interested in music and soon found joy in writing it himself. At the piano, organ, and harpsichord, he frequently accompanied choirs and vocalists, which helped him gain the knowledge needed to write effectively for voices. In 2010, Ethan’s first published work, When lilacs last in the dooryard bloom’d, was released by Earthsongs Choral Music. He also published Two Scottish Love Songs, released by Colla Voce Music. In April 2013, Ethan released An Echo from Willowwood, an album that was funded entirely through the website Kickstarter. Ethan’s works have been performed in the Chattanooga area as well as in Florida, Iowa, New York, Washington, and British Columbia. The Magnificat premiering on May 9 was specially commissioned St. Paul’s, St. Timothy’s and Good Shepherd to accompany Ethan McGrath’s already-composed Nunc Dimittis. This enables the young composer to offer a complete set of Evening Canticles (Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis) for future performances and music events.
Other music works to be performed at the Choral Evensong Observing The Feast of the Ascension include:
O clap your hands by Ralph Vaughan Williams
Preces and Responses by William Smith
Phos Hilaron by Richard Proulx
There will be a free-will offering that will benefit Metropolitan Ministries. A reception will follow in Key-Andrews Hall at St. Paul’s. Childcare is available during the event.