Welcome to the inaugural edition of the Holy Comforter Music News! We hope to bring you new editions monthly, during the program year. | |
HoCo Choir to sing at Lincoln Cathedral in July | |
“Seven whole days, not one in seven, I will praise Thee” – Hymn 382 | |
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The Music Ministry is preparing to be the choir in residence at Lincoln Cathedral in Lincoln, UK, July 17–23, 2023. Under David Kelley’s direction, Holy Comforter will provide the music for daily Evensong services and Sunday Eucharist, with Christopher Reynolds from St. Paul’s, Richmond at the organ.
The choir’s August 2020 pilgrimage to Chichester was first postponed by the pandemic, and later moved to Lincoln due to an international horse racing event making lodging dodgy in Chichester. Funds donated to support the pilgrimage before the pandemic will be gratefully put to use this year. We will share more about our journey as it draws near.
Meanwhile, we invite you to attend Evensong to experience this beautiful and brief form of worship that is part of our Episcopal tradition. Evensong welcomes the close of day with scripture readings, sung prayers, and musical settings of the Magnificat (Mary’s poem of praise regarding her miraculous pregnancy) and Nunc Dimittis (the song of aged Simeon after seeing the infant Jesus). As part of its pilgrimage, the choir is working to improve its sound and expression of these beautiful texts.
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Upcoming Music Ministry Events
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Choristers serve the parish, get top notch musical training, and have fun! | |
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For many years, children have served as musicians at Holy Comforter, thanks to able direction by Paul Patton and his predecessors. The next music minister, Michael Painter, introduced the Royal School of Church Music’s ‘Voice for Life’ program. Then, in 2011, Dr. David Kelley joined the staff as Minister of Music, bringing years of RSCM experience. Under his leadership, the program expanded to include high school-aged singers. Some of our graduates are now music majors in college, one is a graduate student in music theory, and several are singing in college choirs. Before COVID-19 shut everything down in March 2020, there were 22 young singers in the program, and choristers led the music each week at the 9 a.m. service.
Today, choristers play a key role in Sunday worship weekly at the 9:30 a.m. service, and at special liturgies throughout the year. They offer their time and talent to God and fellow parishioners as they participate in the faith life of the church. They experience what it means to be singers, community members, and worship leaders. Choristers develop discipline and confidence as they respond to this responsibility during rehearsals and worship.
We are currently training 8 choristers, ages 8 through 15, on Thursday afternoons from 5 to 6 p.m. Singers in second grade through high school are welcome to join at any time. New choristers rehearse for several weeks before joining the choir on Sundays, and must demonstrate basic skills before they’re allowed to don their vestments. After singing with the choir a few Sundays, they’re eligible to receive their white ribbon and RSCM medal. Older children may qualify to enter the program at a higher level, represented by the color of their ribbon.
Rehearsals are seriously fun as Dr. Kelley and Miss Lolly teach not only the music for Sunday mornings but also leadership skills, proper use and care of the voice, music history and theory. Choristers engage in friendly competition for points as they raise their hands to answer questions. Twice each month, the choristers have dinner together and enjoy time to get to know one another and laugh.
Choir Camp, in August, is a chance for kids to to experience what being a chorister is all about, with returning singers leading the way. Music, games, crafts, and daily Chapel lessons are arranged around a theme. In August 2022, the theme was Being in Community, which included a lesson on local birds taught by parishioner Margaret Bain. At the end of camp week, campers provide the music for worship.
Holy Comforter is blessed to have a ministry that treats children as musicians capable of contributing to the beauty and dignity of worship. We ask for your prayers and help as we work to rebuild the program following the COVID-19 pandemic. If you know any youngsters who love to sing, please urge them to give it a try!
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Three Months, Three ‘New Songs’ | |
“Sing to the LORD a new song” – Psalm 96 | |
How did this piece come about?
I wrote this piece about twenty years ago, when I was working at a Lutheran church in Wilmington, Delaware. Sandra Seaton Michel was one of the altos in the choir there; she’s a very accomplished poet, and had given me a book of her poetry, which is where I found her stunning poem about Mary’s state of mind—I couldn’t resist setting it. As I now have twenty years more experience composing, I did revise the anthem before giving it to our choir!
We’ve all sung about Mary’s acceptance of God’s plan, and the babe in the manger. This piece stands out because it evokes the struggle and sweat of labor. Why?
Sandy has a knack for taking something familiar, and casting it in a different light. We’ve heard so many Christmas carols that romanticize the birth of Jesus, but Sandy reminds us that not only was Mary a very young mother, but was also having a supernatural pregnancy—one has to wonder what she must’ve been thinking!
How does the music depict the text?
At the beginning, the piece uses a sparse three-note pattern and simple vocal lines to create a feeling of innocence. Then when the poem asks if Mary felt afraid, the texture becomes more full and intense, climaxing at the words, “finally, joyfully bring forth.” The piece closes much like it began, with the three-note motive, which leaves the piece sounding a little unresolved, since the last line of the poem asks the question, “were you not excited?” That last line is my favorite part of the piece: it’s such a wonderful, interior moment in the poem, so I set it for a soloist—I think it really captures the imagination there.
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