Hymnus Eucharisticus & the Creator's Dawn Chorus

Magdalen College Tower

Canadians are well aware that "April is the cruelest month" (T.S. Eliot), or at least it can be. The Spring solstice officially marks the beginning of Spring but even in Southern Ontario we play "snow tire roulette", suspicious that as soon as we change over the tires there will be a blizzard. Even with the effects of climate change we can get a flop of snow that is dismaying.

Because of Earth Day on April 22 and the corresponding Earth Sunday is some denominations we have found ways to embrace our place in creation and to give thanks to the Creator. We did so throughout April in our Trenton UC congregation. 

In parts of Europe May 1st (yesterday) is May Day, acknowledged as the first day of Summer, which is mind-boggling. Summer? Wildflowers are gathered, dancing around a maypole takes place, and bonfires are lit. The origins of these festivals are ancient and pre-Christian. 

Still, there are also "if ya can't beat em, join em" events in Christian churches. Yesterday the choir of Madgalen College in Oxford, England, sang a hymn from the roof of the tower, surely not recommended for those with vertigo. They do so at the crack of dawn as people below listen.

 I'd never heard of this tradition until yesterday but I found the notion enchanting. How wonderful! I decribed it to Ruth, my partner in life, who agreed. She then commented that we are able to listen to our backyard choir of birds, the "dawn chorus", every day and she is correct, as always...or at least most of the time. 

Here is the Wikipedia description of this choral event. There are recordings and videos of the event if you're up for an internet snoop. 

The Hymnus Eucharisticus is a traditional hymn sung by the choir of boy choristers and academical clerks of Magdalen College, Oxford in England, supported by professional stipendary clerks. The choristers are boys from Magdalen College School and the academical clerks are students from Magdalen College at the University. 

The hymn is best known for its role in the events of May Morning, a 500-year-old tradition where the choir sings the hymn from Magdalen Tower at 6 a.m. each year on 1 May. This initiates the annual May Morning celebrations in Oxford. Large crowds gather in the High Street and on Magdalen Bridge to listen. The sound is very faint, although more recently amplification has been used. The crowds then disperse for other celebratory activities such as Morris Dancing. The hymn is also sung from the gallery of the college's Great Hall (the dining room) during important college occasions.