Music Updates

By Douglas Starr, Director of Music & Arts

On Maundy Thursday and again on Sunday April 26, a choir soloist chanted from their home Psalm 116. Verse 10 is compelling, especially in times of trouble; “How can I repay the Lord for all the good things he has done for me?” Anytime is the best time to repay by giving thanks and in May, the end of our program year, this time is best.

When your music ministry started in September, all rehearsals, concerts, special liturgies with music were planned to give glory to God. In March, when we were compelled to close the church doors, changes were minimized by the creative use of technology.Rehearsals became Zoom meetings. Concerts became Virtual. The great liturgies of Holy Week and Easter continued with the best music possible.Our church doors closed temporarily but you opened your doors and your hearts at home.

Here, with you, my thanksgivings begin. The next verse in Psalm 116 describes your actions; “I will lift up the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord.” A music ministry can help make worship truly joyful both in the Nave and in your living room or kitchen. We know that now because you showed us the way.

Next, I thank our parish leadership of Clergy and Vestry who continually support music in worship, especially the clergy for their creative approach to virtual worship and encouraging and training staff for effectiveness in that unique context. Christin and I have a tremendous treasure at St. Paul’s, your music ministers who give of their time and talent. The “Collaborative Worship” experience enabled us to see and hear our musicians at home sing solos, perform on instruments, and delightfully present duets and trios “when two or three” were gathered.

Over the years, St. Paul’s held the asset of choral scholars. Usually singing with the choir and occasionally singing solos, choral scholars received a unique musical and educational experience.In the past two years, your financial gifts to Friends of Music enabled us to restore this program. Sarah Richards and Billy Burns have performed beautifully with the choir and especially as soloists in these challenging times of virtual worship. Both these young singers and other parish musicians helped to create a YouTube playlist, please see, Friends of Music Presents: A Virtual Concert. Sarah and Billy's term with us will conclude this month.

Lastly, I am deeply grateful for the creative and diligent work our music assistant, Christin Cooper. Her weekly YouTube songs, Clavinova hymn accompaniments and voluntaries for live-streamed worship, and research and acquisition of licensures for streaming worship are just a few of her recent contributions. The advice and leadership of our Friends of Music Committee, Kathleen Davies, Chair, have been and will continue to be critical to shaping the strength of your music ministry.

We do not know what the next program year will bring but several things are certain. Your Music Ministers are servants to God’s work at St. Paul’s and in the community and will always strive to make your worship truly joyful “in the courts of the Lord’s house, in the midst of you, O Jerusalem, Hallelujah!” Psalm 116, vs. 17.