Revealing Resonance: Choral Evensong & Sermon in the Netherlands

Abstract

This article investigates experiences of choral evensong in the Netherlands, focusing on the role of sermons, in light of Hartmut Rosa’s theory of resonance. The study explores how attendees experienced this Anglican prayer service, known for its music and contemplative atmosphere. Notably, many respondents contrasted evensong with their past experiences of preaching, often recalling sermons in a negative way. For some, the absence of a sermon in evensong encouraged their return to church after a period of non-churchgoing. Using Rosa’s resonance theory, the article highlights the potential of choral evensong to facilitate resonant relationships. The main question of this article is as follows: What is the role of the sermon in the Dutch appropriation of choral evensong? Three sub-questions are addressed: (1) Is there a practice of preaching during choral evensong services in the Netherlands and, if so, at which moments in the liturgy? (2) What meanings do the respondents attribute to the experiences of evensong, and what is the role of the sermon? (3) How can these findings be interpreted in light of Rosa’s theory of resonance?