Music Newsletter Article 3/27/06 for Saint
Philip's
Music at Saint Philip's
It is a privilege to work with our very capable choir. Our
musicians
volunteer their time, energy, ability, and hard work every Thursday
night for an hour and a half, and every Sunday morning for another
half hour. They have done everything I have asked of them, and
more.
A fine example occurred on March 12th; as an exercise I asked the
singers to distribute themselves around the walls of the sanctuary, as
far from one another as possible. (Does this give you any idea of the
kinds of requests I make?) The ensemble improved right
away. To my
surprise and great pleasure, the choir suggested singing the anthem in
just this way for the service, which we did. It takes
considerable
confidence and ability to sing a cappella so spread apart. The
congregants enjoyed being enveloped in the sounds. (You could
enjoy this all the time by joining us.) A father related
afterward that his
young child hadn't realized until that moment that the choir sang in
parts (different pitches simultaneously), not in unison.
On March 19, we introduced a Trisagion in place of our more typical
Kyrie. This is part of enlarging the set of sung prayers from
which
we can draw. We have also been growing the set of hymns; our
hymnal is full of treasures, some less familiar at the moment.
On April 2nd, we will have a congregational anthem, in the form of
Hymn 715 `When Jesus Wept', a four-part round. Buxtehude will provide
our prelude and postlude. Thank you Dietrich. For Palm Sunday, our
anthem will be Noble's `Go to Dark Gethsemane,' a remarkable work that
captures the deep emotions that accompany the events of Christ's
betrayal and crucifixion. We will have music for Maundy Thursday and
Good Friday. Easter Sunday will include Handel's soprano aria `I know
that My Redeemer liveth.'
On March 24th, Stefan Maier, whose expertise includes reed voicing,
brought the organ's oboe stop into good regulation. Pipes that spoke
too slowly were adjusted, as were pipes that spoke too loudly or too
softly. Annoying buzzes that did not belong were also corrected. The
result is a very even oboe stop that speaks well throughout its
compass. This kind of voicing work needs to be done from time to
time.
Our organ has room for an additional stop. The space and all of the
mechanisms are in place; only the pipes are lacking. A suitable new
stop would cost in the neighborhood of $2,500. This is not a pressing
need in any sense. Such an addition would however make it possible to
render certain musical literature more correctly and effectively, and
it would add color and brightness to certain combinations of stops.
This could make a very noticeable and audible gift, at any time, that
would add to the ongoing beauty of our worship.
On May 28th, the postlude will be the Allegro from Widor's Sixth Organ
Symphony.
Paul Utgoff
Music Director
Last
Updated: June 8, 2007
128 Main Street (Rt 10), Easthampton, MA 01027
Tel: (413) 527-0862 Email:
music@saintphilipseasthampton.org