Music

A Season of Festivity 2008

Celebrate our Anglican musical heritage

What should I do, then? 
I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray with the mind also;
I will sing praise with the spirit,
but I will sing praise with the mind also.
I Corinthians 14:15

Episcopalians are the beneficiaries of a musical heritage that is one of the world’s richest. Over many centuries, Anglican music has evolved as a deeply spiritual and multi-layered art that celebrates and encompasses a diversity of traditions.

Music at Saint Christopher's is inextricably woven into the elegance of the liturgy. Rather than "performance for the congregation", the music presented at Saint Christopher's is offered as an oblation on behalf of the worshipping community – a pouring forth of the first fruits of our talents in an effort to enable and enrich the worship of our congregations.  This disciplined approach inspires and ennobles the community, thereby fueling our parish mission to "Reconcile the world to God and celebrate life".

On any given Sunday of the program year, our congregations experience the dignified hymnody and chant of our Anglican tradition, reflective modern music like Taizé chant and folk-style songs, and a variety of instruments.

Parish Choir, a very fine ensemble of 24 volunteers and professional section leaders, supports the music of our 9 o'clock Eucharist – the nucleus of our three Sunday liturgies – as well as occasional Evensongs and special Feast Day celebrations.  The membership of this choir is diverse, with personnel who sing, or have sung, with such ensembles as The Dale Warland Singers, The Rose Ensemble, The Singers, The VocalEssence Ensemble Singers, The Gregorian Singers, The Minnesota Chorale, and Saint Olaf and Luther College choirs. The Parish Choir offers a weekly anthem (generally from Labor Day to Whitsunday), and presents two major liturgical / concert events each season.
Parish Choir rehearsals are held on Wednesdays, beginning promptly at 7:15 pm and ending at 9 pm. Sunday morning rehearsal begins promptly at 8:15 am and the Eucharist begins at 9 o'clock.

Parish Choir membership is open to all parish and community members ages 12 to adult.  A short audition, testing pitch and note reading, is required for membership.

The Schola Cantorum(www.TheSchola.org) began offering a monthly Thursday evening liturgy of Compline in September 2001. Compline is prayer to close the day; it is preparation for rest and renewal. Much of the repertoire is plainsong, as all parts of the service are sung, but polyphonic music is also sung. The group currently numbers 14.
Rehearsals for The Schola Cantorum are on Wednesday night from 9:05 to 9:30 in the Choir Gallery. Interested singers should contact the Director of Parish Music to schedule an audition, demonstrating pitch recognition, rhythmic sensitivity, and sight reading.

Handbell Choir prepares music for the second Sunday of each month.  Currently, there are four ringers. Persons interested in ringing should possess a basic understanding of music (while the ability to read music is not necessary, it is helpful) and have good rhythm. Members of the Handbell Choir are more than welcome to participate in any other Music Ministry ensemble; as schedules are coordinated, conflicts rarely occur.
Rehearsal time for the Handbell Choir is on Wednesday evening beginning promptly at 6:15  in the Choir Gallery and ending at 7:10 pm . Handbell Choir membership is open to all parish and community members ages 12 to adult. Please contact Barb Hovey to inform her of your interest in participating prior to attending your first rehearsal.

Carillon Choirs ring a simple handbell sequence before and/or after the 9 and 11 o'clock liturgies, signaling a call to prayerfullness. Carillon Choirs are made up of individual families and other small groups, for whom a 'custom' bell peal is written. Bells are available for home practice, and you needn't be able to read music to participate! Contact the Director of Parish Music to volunteer your family or small group for this ministry - there is minimal (one time, 15 minutes) training involved.

The All Saints Choir is a music-for-fun opportunity for whole families, beginning singers, retired folk, and everyone in between - we mean All Saints!  If you’d like to sing in a choir and get home at a reasonable dinner time, this is the choir for you.  Rehearsing on Wednesday evenings, from 6 to 6:45, the All Saints Choir rings handbells, leads Sunday music and processionals, and offers an occasional one or two-part anthem.  This choir, generally, sings on the second Sunday of each month.

Cantor Guild members lead "prayer in song" at our 11 o'clock Eucharist. Some of these talented individuals also play musical instruments, and many also sing with the Parish Choir.  Because Cantoring is, essentially, a ministry of hospitality, an audition demonstrating a versatile voice, competent note reading skills, and "grace under pressure" is required.

Instrumentalists should inform the Director of Parish Music (repeatedly, if necessary) of their interest in offering music at Saint Christopher's. Our parish is a big place and, on occasion, talented individuals unintentionally fall through 'cracks' in the Music Director's mindfulness. We are blessed to have many instrumentalists in our midst, and potential for the formation of instrumental ensembles abounds! The Director of Parish Music is committed to supporting and nurturing such activity.

 If you have any questions about our Music Program, or if you would like to chat further about membership in our ensembles, please contact us!

 Jacob Manier - Director of Parish Music

651.633.4589 ext. 12 – SteepleGhost@gmail.com

Barb Hovey - Handbell Choir Director

763.571.9691 – Barb.Hovey@uldp.com