"The settings contained in this booklet are from 'The Hymnal 1982', and are found at S 296- S304 (Noonday) and S 321- S 337 (Compline). The hymns are reprinted from the Singers Edition of the Hymnal. Hymn numbers in parentheses refer to the proper number in the Singers Edition". -- Acknowledgements.
"While Anglicans have long cherished the practice of reciting Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer -- often with singing, the Episcopal Church increasingly has also discovered the richness of the brief noonday and late evening Offices only since forms for these services appeared in the 'Book of Common Prayer', 1979. These so called 'little offices', historically owned exclusively by set-apart religious communities, now have been claimed by the church at large. Accordingly, 'The Hymnal 1982' has provided hymns and other traditional musical forms in its Appendix for the singing of these services. There are not many congregations apart from monasteries and convents where it is practical to sing the noonday and late evening Offices on a daily basis. Nonetheless, with repetition and in time, the music of these services and the practice of singing may add considerable beauty and depth of expression to the words prayed". -- Intro.
Contents: Acknowledgements -- Introduction dated 1988 / David Hurd, The General Theological Seminary, New York City -- An Order for Noonday -- An Order for Compline -- Appendix.