Night Song is a weekly compline liturgy at First Church in Cambridge, held on Sundays at 7:30 PM from September through May.  It’s contemplative in nature, and offers a mix of ancient and modern music.  Everything is sung, with no participation from the congregation other than to be still in the darkness for respite and reset.  Night Song is also available via live stream broadcast.

There are three choral ensembles that rotate singing:  women SSA on the first Sunday of the month, led by Teri Kowiak; men ATTBB (Beneficia lucis) on the second Sunday of the month, led by James Busby; and SATB (Canticum vespertinum) on the fourth Sunday, led by Jennifer Lester.  The literature is Gregorian chant, modern chant by Daryl Bichel, Renaissance polyphony, psalm settings by Patricia Van Ness and Daryl Bichel, and occasionally contemporary choral works.  The time commitment is minimal.  Each group sings once a month, rehearsing from 5:30-7:00 PM, singing Night Song at 7:30 PM, and finishing shortly after 8 PM.

The women’s group is small, often one on a part.  The other two ensembles usually have about a dozen singers, and frequently sing music of five or more parts and sometimes double choir works.  Singers tend to have studied voice privately, to have had experience in other small a cappella ensembles, have the ability to sing one on a part, and in some instances may be singing for pay with other choirs.

Solo opportunities include serving as cantor with the ensembles described above (a major role), and singing chant on the third Sunday of the month with collaborative keyboardist Ben Schwendener, who specializes in modal improvisation.  Opportunities for modal  improvisation are usually included for these singers.

Auditions usually consist of singing one Night Song with us.