The Pittsburgh Compline Choir
The Pittsburgh Compline Choir is a mixed
voice, auditioned choir of approximately 16-24 members, that exists for the
purpose of singing and praying the monastic office of Compline. The
name Compline comes from the Latin word completorium or completed, and is
sometimes called Night Prayer or Prayer at the Close of the Day or The way
the Church says “goodnight.” Each Sunday night, The Pittsburgh Compline
Choir joins with members of the community at Heinz Memorial Chapel on the
campus of the University of Pittsburgh for 40 minutes of music, prayer, and
silence to thank God for the blessings of the day and pray for forgiveness,
peace and rest. Attending Compline at Heinz Chapel is a perfect way to
end your weekend or begin your week.
Members of the choir represent various
Christian traditions. They are graduate and undergraduate students, parish &
professional musicians, clergy, and lay people from the metropolitan
Pittsburgh area and the surrounding areas of southwestern Pennsylvania.
Founded in 1988 by
John W.
Becker, the choir was organized to promote and teach the singing of
chant. Chant, in its many forms, still remains at the core of the
choir’s repertoire. Every Sunday, those in attendance hear a wide
range of chant styles including Gregorian Chant, Plainsong psalmody,
Anglican Chant, Russian Orthodox Chant, and newly composed chant.
Additional service music used during Compline at Heinz Chapel is drawn from
the great and diverse historical repertoire of the Church. A typical worship
service includes, in addition to chant, Lutheran Chorales, anthems and
motets from the Anglican Choral tradition, hymns in a variety of styles,
polyphonic motets, as well as compositions by founding director John W.
Becker, and works by current and former members of the Pittsburgh Compline
Choir.
An organ prelude played upon Heinz
Chapel’s 1995 Reuter pipe organ begins our worship every week. A different
guest organist from the Pittsburgh area plays this prelude, allowing the
choir’s ministry to reach churches of all denominations and their members.
The Pittsburgh Compline Choir is grateful to the many volunteers and
supporters who provide publicity, technical support and prayers.
