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Music Ministries

     “I will sing of your love and justice; to you, O Lord, I will sing praise.” -Ps. 101:1

   

The music ministry has three aims: to lead the congregation in the worship of God, to present musical offerings to God, achieving beauty in sound for the purpose of ascribing glory to God, and to edify the congregation with musical settings of scripture, prayer, and other sacred texts.  At any given service, you are likely to hear vocal and/or instrumental music led by our Choir or Folk Group, our organ or our Bell Choir.  We also draw on guest musicians for special services like Christmas Eve and Easter; the Jazz Sanctuary plays for us on All Saints Day.

 

We invite you to explore the various ensembles and musical events at St. Peter’s.  If you are interested in joining one of these ministries or want to learn more, you can find the contact information for each of these groups HERE.

Choir

 

During most Sunday morning services throughout the program year, the  Choir can be heard singing several anthems as well as leading the congregation in the singing of hymns and service music. Highlights of the program year include Choral Evensong, Lessons and Carols, the Christmas Eve Choral Prelude, and Good Friday Tenebrae. The choir’s repertoire spans several hundred years of sacred music and includes a variety of languages as well as genres.The craft of the Choir is the expressive and emotional communication of scripture and prayer. Blessed by God with talent, the Choir strives to serve God and the community with music.  The Choir sings and rehearses from September to May. Rehearsals are held on Thursday evenings from 7:15 to 9:15 in the choir room. The Choir warms up about 45 minutes before services.

Folk Group

 

St. Peter’s Folk Group began in 2002 and is comprised of a small group of singers and instrumentalists who enjoy making “joyful sounds” together. The group often provides music for services that focus on families and children. We offer music that both relates to the theme of the service and encourages congregational participation.

 

We are always looking for people who enjoy making music with others and are committed to regular attendance at rehearsals and folk Sunday services. Being able to read music is helpful but not necessary. The folk group plays six services throughout the year and rehearses two evenings and one Saturday morning before each folk group Sunday.

The Organ at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church

The organ at St. Peter’s is a unique instrument constructed from several smaller organs and augmented with ranks from nearly a dozen different makers. The product of organ builder Brantley Duddy and consultant Richard Alexander, the St. Peter’s organ is equally capable of accompanying a soloist as well as a congregation of several hundred.

 

The instrument began as a 1951 Casavant Frères organ, a gift of Mr. and Mrs. Arch Flower. In 1977, St. Peter’s purchased another organ from the Eighth Church of Christ, Scientist at 103 East 77th Street, New York City. This instrument was a 1952 Æolian-Skinner organ built by G. Donald Harrison, and its pipework enlarged the Casavant instrument already installed at St. Peter’s.

The organ committee designed a Choir enclosure to match the Casavant Swell box, and the enclosure was built by volunteers of St. Peter’s. Over the years, St. Peter’s continued to augment the organ’s tonal resources with pipes from various makers. A 4-manual Æolian-Skinner console was also installed. Since 2011, the organ has been operated with an Opus-Two control system.

St. Peter's Bell Choir

The Bell Choir of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church enhances worship through the art and practice of handbell ringing. Ringers have the opportunity to learn music from a variety of genres. Weekly rehearsals develop music reading skills and specific handbell techniques needed for expressive playing. 

 

The current members of the Bell Choir rehearse on Sunday following the 10:00 a.m. service. The Choir plays five times a year including Christmas and Easter. No prior musical experience is necessary.  All are welcome! Please contact Kathy Flaherty, Handbell Director, to get involved. 

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Folk Group
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