Last week saw the annual service celebrating the medieval amicabilis concordia between Winchester College and Eton. Established by the respective Provosts of both schools (and also sister institutions King's Cambridge and New College Oxford), the partnership was intended to celebrate the mutual bonds between these places of learning, but also to offer support and assistance should the need ever arise. Today, this bond is realised through an annual joint Evensong, hosted alternately.
This year Eton College Chapel Choir travelled down to Winchester. The music played to the strengths of young and enthusiastic voices – the canticles were Herbert Howells' beautiful St Paul's Service and the anthem was Edward Bairstow's rousing Blessed City. The service opened with Wood's Hail, Gladdening Light; this was all conducted by Winchester's Director of Chapel Music. Eton were then generously hosted by Winchester for dinner in College Hall, with mid-meal entertainment from their close-harmony group.
