Category:Compline

Compline (Night prayer) is a part of the Divine Office or Liturgy of the Hours in the Roman Rite that is (traditionally) said or sung before going to bed, especially in monasteries. Sometimes it is celebrated after Vespers (Evening prayer). Indeed, in the Anglican Rite, Vespers and Compline have been combined in a single service which, when sung, is known as Choral Evensong.

Choral celebrations of Compline (sometimes with slight modifications) have grown in recent years, especially in the United States, where there are numerous "Compline choirs" spread throughout the country.

Music for Compline typically includes:

• An Orison which serves with the Bidding prayer to introduce the service.
• Psalmody with accompanying antiphons. The appointed Psalms for Compline are Psalm 4 (Cum invocarem), Psalm 31: 1 - 6 (In te, Domine, speravi), Psalm 91 (Qui habitat), and Psalm 134 (Ecce nunc).
• Responsory, usually chanted.
• Hymn, often the appointed hymn Te lucis ante terminum.
• Canticle, the Nunc dimittis.
• Creed
• Kyrie
• The Lord's prayer
• Collects (chanted).
• Versicles and responses
• An Anthem may be sung
• Marian antiphon, normally one of:
  • Alma Redemptoris Mater
  • Ave Regina caelorum
  • Regina caeli
  • Salve Regina