Musica Sacra*

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* This music program is offered and maintained as an outreach ministry of Saint John's Church.

The Schola

The Schola was established specifically to assist in the offering of Evensong with plainsong on Sunday afternoons other than the third, when full choral Evensong is offered by the Choir of Saint John's Church. This ensemble consists primarily of volunteer musicians from the parish and elsewhere, and will assist in the celebrations of the Holy Eucharist on such occasions that the Choir of Saint John's Church is not present. Through its offerings at both celebrations of the Holy Eucharist and at Evensong, the Schola welcomes singers from many traditions interested in the revival of the art of sung prayer and worship through plainsong and simple polyphony. Requirements for membership include a love of singing, willingness to punctually attend applicable rehearsals, and a sincere desire to create a sacrifice of beauty suitable to the presence of Almighty God. Please contact the Master of the Choirs on 410.467.4793 or by e-mail to obtain information on participation in the Schola.

The Choir of Saint John's

The Choir of Saint John's Church is a professional ensemble of singers devoted to the living, unbroken tradition of Anglican choral worship. The choir sings each Sunday between Michaelmas and Trinity Sunday, as well as at choral celebrations of the Holy Eucharist on Principal Feasts. Choral Evensong is offered on the third Sunday of each month within the season, as well as on Principal Feasts which fall on a Sunday.

The choir exists solely to give praise and witness to the glory of Almighty God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost by worship in the historic Anglican tradition, as set forth in the Book of Common Prayer. The choir is supported as a form of Christian outreach to the surrounding community through both the preservation and cultivation of the musical treasures of the Anglican tradition. In accordance with that tradition, only the highest professional standards are employed or acceptable.

Membership in the choir is available by audition to singers interested in the continuation of this tradition. Familiarity with the pronunciation of standard western European languages, especially of Latin, is expected of all choristers, as are skills in sight-reading, stylistically suitable vocal production, and professional demeanor. Recipients of choral scholarships receive a competitive compensation.

One of the mission purposes of Saint John's Church is to educate future generations in the great traditions of western church music. To that end, advanced students and young artists are often admitted to the choir on a probationary basis, and are offered individual assistance by the Master of the Choirs toward the enhancement of their professional skills.

Auditions

Saint John's Church welcomes new professional talent to the Choirs and to the Village Music Series. Occasional choristers are also welcome to audition as deputies for regular choristers and for such times when an augmented ensemble is desired. Please contact the Master of the Choirs on 410.467.4793 or by e-mail to arrange for an audition.

The Friends of Music at Saint John's

From the instructions given Solomon for the building of the temple to the architectural splendour of cathedrals and parish churches throughout the centuries, art has continually been called upon to glorify its Creator. It is indeed fitting that such art should, in its various forms, adorn and perfume this place of Divine worship. Support for fine church music is essential, and gifts to this end are vitally necessary. We depend on our Friends to help us preserve to the Church's use its own brilliant treasury of music for the elevation of the soul to God.

Contributions at all levels are welcome and most gratefully received. Both general and specific gifts to Music at Saint John's Church can make fine memorials for a loved one-for example, patronisation of the Village Music Series, contribution toward the preservation of the organ, or the endowment of a choral scholarship. For more information about ways to become involved in the Friends of Music at Saint John's Church, telephone the Master of the Choirs on 410.467.4793 or e-mail .

The Organ of Saint John's Church

When the M.P. Möller Opus 7285 was installed, it had only about half of the speaking stops that it has now. The late Donald Wilkinson King, Organist and Choirmaster of Saint John's from 1988 to 1994, was responsible for nearly doubling the size of the instrument. Traceable additions include a Mixture IV (playable on the Great and incorporated into the Pedal chorus) from a 1955 G. Donald Harrison-Aolian Skinner organ at Saint Alphonsus Roman Catholic Church in Baltimore; Tromba 8' (Swell, Great and Pedal) and Clarion 4' (Great) from a large E. M. Skinner in Brooklyn, New York (an organ builder from Charleston, South Carolina noticed that these are not actual Skinner pipes!); a Koppleflöte 4' (Great, Pedal), and Cromorne 8' (Choir) from a 1964 Wicks organ from Grace Church (United Methodist), Aberdeen, Maryland. Other additions have included a beautiful memorial Zimbelstern, and the following speaking stops: on the Swell, a Regal 16' & 8' rank, along with a Nasard 2 2/3'; on the Great a Cor Anglais 8'; and on the Pedal, a full length Tuba 16', and a Diapason at 16', 8', and 4' which was originally mitered (bent to conform to a short ceiling) but at Saint John's stands proudly (if not somewhat unattractively scarred) at full height. In 1995, the Tromba 8' was wired to the Pedal; in 1996 the two Pedal flue Resultants were re-wired, and a new Contre Basson 32' (in fact, a "Cornet") was wired to the Pedal. These additions place pipes that were already available on the organ in new positions on the console, making the instrument even more flexible, and better suited to the stature of the liturgy at Saint John's Church.

Built by the M.P. Moller Organ Company as Opus 7285 and dedicated on 23 March 1947, the organ of Saint John's Church lends itself well to the leadership of congregational singing, accompaniment of the Anglican choral repertoire, and the offering of organ repertoire in both Divine Service and recital. At the time of the organ's dedication, the instrument originally conceived was only partially installed, and it has remained so for just over 50 years. Most generous gifts have made possible augmentations to the instrument in recent years, enabling it to more effectively render the repertoire for which it was intended.

David Lawrie, Master of the Choirs & Organist, 1999-2003

A well made pipe organ, like anything of quality, tends to stand the test of time. It bespeaks the merits of the generation of its creation, and does so without apology. Saint John's Church, is indeed most blessed with just such a fine instrument. This instrument has sustained an active parochial music program for half a century, and ventures into the Third Christian Millennium with as much tradition and missionary zeal as the church in which it is housed.

Mark Husey, Master of the Choirs & Organist, 1995-1998

The current configuration of the organ is as follows:

Three Manual drawknob console; intermanual couplers at 16' 8' 4'; intramanual couplers at 16' 4' Unison Off; Zimbelstern Reversible; Choir, Swell, Great, and Crecendo Expression Pedals; Choir, Swell, and Great to Pedal reversible pistons and toe studs; eight general pistons and toe studs; six divisional pistons per manual; six pedal toe studs.

The most recent additions (1999-2001) have been made by The Lawless-Johnson Organ Company, Greencastle, PA and by Bard Wickkiser, Baltimore, MD.

Tabulae Musicae Sacrae

PDF booklet:

Musica Sacra 2007-8

(6.4MB - large file)