(Homepage photo credit: Ira Lippke).
On Sunday, October 4, Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue celebrates the Feast of Dedication, when we rededicate ourselves to Christ and our mission as a parish. The Feast of Dedication also serves as the launch for the 2016 Every Member Canvass. We encourage you to pledge for 2016 during the months of October and November in 2015. Please consider participating in this year’s canvass. No matter where you live around the globe, if you enjoy worshiping with us via the webcasts, we would appreciate your contribution.
Music for the 11am Festal Eucharist and 4pm Festal Evensong will include works by Rheinberger, Brahms, Bruckner, Wood, and Bairstow.
Sunday Ocotber 4
- Service: Cantus Missae, Josef Rheinberger (1839-1901)
- Psalm: 84 Anglican Chant (Parry)
- Anthem: Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen, Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
- Anthem:Locus iste a Deo factus est, Anton Bruckner (1824-1896)
- Responses: Richard Shephard (b. 1949)
- Psalm: 29 Anglican Chant (Ley)
- Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis: ‘Collegium Regale’, Charles Wood (1866-1926)
- Anthem: Blessed City, heavenly Salem, Edward Bairstow (1874-1946)
Tuesday, October 6
- Introit: ‘St. Godric’s Hymn’, Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
- Responses: Gerre Hancock (1934-2012)
- Psalm: 32, 33 Anglican Chant (Russell, Turle)
- Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis: in G minor, Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
- Anthem: Thy word is a lantern unto my feet, Henry Purcell
Wednesday, October 7
- Introit: ‘St. Godric’s Hymn’, Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
- Responses: Gerre Hancock (1934-2012)
- Psalm: 37:1-22 Anglican Chant (Howells)
- Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis: The Edington Service, Grayston Ives (b. 1948)
- Anthem: O pray for the peace of Jerusalem, Herbert Howells (1892-1983)
Thursday, October 8
5:30pm Choral Evensong (sung by the Gentelmen of the Choir)
- Introit: Expend, O Lord, my plaint of word in grief that I do make, Thomas Tallis (c. 1505-1585)
- Responses: William Harris (1883-1973)
- Psalm: Plainsong (Tone V1)
- Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis: in E, Charles Wood (1866-1926)
- Anthem: Great Lord of Lords, Charles Wood
Notes
Josef Rheinberger was born in 1837 and died in November 1901. He was one of the most prominent German organists of his time and was renowned for his teaching of composition (holding the post of Professor at the Munich Conservatoire for nearly 35 years). Described by a distinguished contemporary as ‘unrivalled in skill, refinement and devotion to his subject’, his prolific output includes concertos, oratorios, chamber music, opera and, amongst his considerable contribution to the organ repertoire, a remarkable 20 sonatas. The Cantus Missae is a setting of the Mass for unaccompanied double choir which combines intricate polyphonic writing with homophonic declamatory gestures, thus creating a characteristically Germanic texture of warmth and richness.
Concerts at Saint Thomas: The 2015-2016 season begins on Thursday, November 12 at 7:30pm, with a performance of two of the finest choral works of the Classical period – Mozart’s Requiem and Haydn’s Missa in Angustiis (The Nelson Mass). Maestro Andrew Nethsingha of the Choir of St. John’s College, Cambridge, will conduct the Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys, the Orchestra of St. Luke’s and soloists in a very special tribute to the memory of his friend and colleague, John Gavin Scott. Tickets are available online at www.SaintThomasChurch.org. You are also welcome to contact either Katie Salmon (Concerts Series Manager) or Midge Woolsey (Concerts Development Manager) by e-mail or by phone at 212.664.9360 at any time. Please join us. Your support is especially meaningful during this important time.
