About Our Music

Music at St. John's has, for many years, been an integral part of the weekly celebration of our Anglican community at both the 9 a.m. and the 11 a.m. services. Both the current Rector and Choirmaster are of the firm belief that good liturgy, good preaching, and good music that are well balanced bring about meaningful and respectful services to our Parish.

The 11 a.m. Parish Choir is based on the best Church choir one can produce with the money and vocal resources we have in and around the area. The Choirmaster strives for high standards with consistent discipline and commitment from the choristers. As a result, we have built up a great following through our recordings, services (special and otherwise), and our guest appearances and touring.

Our worship at the 9:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist service has been greatly enriched by the Volunteer Choir and by the Wings of Praise, who, on alternate Sundays, provide the choral and instrumental music for this service. Over the past few years, under the direction of Mark Vuorinen, the Volunteer Choir has developed a high standard of excellence. Now, with Mark's departure, we welcome Emily Dow as the new director. Wings of Praise, a group of instrumentalists led by William Parker has formed various groups to lead the 9 a.m. service.

Both these communities within the two services are pleased with their requisite ensembles: both different, but both sensitive chorally to their constituencies.

Emily Dow has been striving to build the children's choir. She is tireless in her dedication and has tremendous ability with this age group.

Music at Sunday Services:

Trinity V                                                                                  
June 22, 2008

Setting: Missa Aeterna Christi Munera                                                     Palestrina

Motet at the Gradual: Alleluia! I heard a voice                                         Weelkes

Alleluia! I heard a voice as of string thunderings, saying, Alleluia!
Salvation and glory and honour be unto the Lord our God, and to the Lamb for evermore.

Motet at Ablutions: Exsultate Deo                                                             Palestrina

Exsultate Deo, adjutori nostro: jubilate Deo Jacob.
Sumite Psalmum et date tympanum: psalterium jucundum
cum cithara. Buccinate in neomenia tuba: insigni die solemnitatis vestrae.
O sing merrily unto God our strength; make a cheerful noise unto the God of Jacob.
Raise the psalm and sound the timbrel, the merry harp with the lute.
Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, at the full moon for our solemn feast day.
 

Feast of St. Peter & St. Paul                                               
June 29, 2008

Setting: Missa Secunda                                                                            Hassler

Gradual Psalm: 31.1-4 (364)                                                                  Plainsong

Motet at Ablutions: Exsultate Justi                                                        Viadana

Praise your God, ye righteous, rejoice and sing, for the Lord is worthy to be praised.
Raise your voices and sound his praise, with lute and harp:  
Strike the ten stringed psaltery bravely.
Tell out his praises, declare his glory.
Sing ye a new song,
O sing praises: sing lustily with good courage.

Trinity VII
July 6, 2008 

Setting: Missa Brevis in F                                                                       Darke

Gradual Psalm: 34.11-15 (370)                                                            Plainsong

Motet at Ablutions:   Ave Verum Corpus                                             Elgar

Ave, verum corpus natum
de Maria Virgine:
vere passum, immolatum
in cruce pro homine:
culus latus perforatum
unda fluxit et sanguine:
esto nobis praegustatum,
in mortis examine.

Hail the true body, born
of the Virgin Mary:
You who truly suffered and were sacrificed
on the cross for the sake of man.
From whose pierced side
flowed water and blood:
Be a foretaste for us
in the trial of death.