Seldom in our lives are we presented with something so unlikely. As someone who lives in North America where the ancient past is considered 50 years, what are our chances to chant Compline in an 800 year old Spanish Monastery's Chapter House, or any 800 year old structure? Even if we could make a pilgrimage to Spain we would find the main building of the Spanish Monastery has moved to Vina, in Northern California. William Randolph Hearst had workmen disassemble the Chapter House (built by the Monks, 1190-1220) and ship it to San Francisco in 1930. He had a vision to construct a bigger and more magnificent "Hearst Castle", and the Chapter House would be a key element. He lost interest as he lost in the 30's economy, and the limestone 'stones' gathered moss in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. The first Abbott of New Clairvaux petitioned the City to buy the stones for reassembly on the grounds of The Cistercian Abbey of New Clairvaux. They accepted his bid of one dollar and shipped the stones to the Abbey where they were slowly reassembled by skilled stone masons. Over time some stones were pilfered from the Park and the masons had to improvise with some new pieces. On an Anglican men's retreat of the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church (est. 1854) in Nevada City CA, we decided to chant Compline in the confines of the 'sacred stones', as they are called. We had two men who had sung Compline before and two volunteers who could read music. I put a simple, Medieval Compline together in book form and we had one rehearsal with the two that had never sung Compline before. The result was authentic, if not great. It was a truly mystical experience. Nothing 'performance' about it. It was all worship. You simply were not in the here and now. The 'Stones' seemed to radiate some ancient vibes of worship long past.

Compline video onto you tube: Compline at New Clairvaux
http://youtu.be/aUqnGDTdhiE

audio only is here:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/54429594/chapterhouse.mp3
Having done about 60 or more Complines at Trinity Church, I pulled together and all chant Compline just for this occasion. We timed the office to be right at sunset as the 'stones' have no power, or windows or doors. I borrowed a shop broom from one of the Monks and swept out the Chapter House just before our Compline. The acoustics were very good, if not great because of the lack of doors and windows. But, there is something acoustical about limestone and chant.
To hear our regular Compline Choirs, go to our website:
http://www.trinitycomplinechoir.org
regards, as always, jefe
In manus tuas, Domine, commendo spiritum meum