MUSIC
Music holds an integral place within the liturgy: it unifies and heightens our communal prayer and offers an opportunity to lift our voices and spirits together in ways that words alone cannot express.
We sing music from a variety of periods and styles, but our core repertoire is from the Anglican choral tradition and the Hymnal 1982 (the primary hymnal of the Episcopal Church). Each week we sing a psalm and an anthem, and we lead the congregation in hymns and service music. Recent anthems have included:
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Jacquet de Mantua, O vos omnes
William Byrd, Ave verum corpus
Felice Anerio, Christus factus est
Amy Beach, Peace I leave with you
Gabriel Fauré, Kyrie
Florence Price, Resignation
Adolphus Hailstork, When storms arise
John Stainer, For God so loved the world
Sarah MacDonald, Crux fidelis
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We encourage every person to sing at SJOTM, whether in the choir or as a member of the assembly.
The Choir of St John on the Mountain
The Choir of St. John on the Mountain is a vital and vibrant part of our parish community. The choir is intergenerational and includes semi-professionals and talented volunteer singers who their talents to uplift, unite, and make transcendent our common prayer. Choir members enjoy both exploring new, challenging repertoire and revisiting old favorites. They are passionate and devoted to both the music and each other.
The Choir sings weekly at the Rite II Sunday Eucharist, for special feast days throughout the year, and at occasional services of Choral Evensong as announced. Rehearsal is on Sundays following service. Membership is open to all members of the community.
The Organs
The sanctuary organ in the church is a three-manual, 44 rank, 50 stop instrument. Originally built in 1967 by the M.P. Moeller Company, it was rebuilt and redesigned by Petty-Madden in 1996. Then-organist John Baldwin desired it to be designed in the French style.
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The chapel organ is a 9 stop mechanical action instrument built by C.B. Fisk of Gloucester, MA, and formerly housed at Boston College. The Fisk organ was refurbished in 2000.
