.Inter-generational choirs in the Anglican choral tradition
O God, whom saints and angels delight to worship in heaven: Be ever present with your servants who seek through art and music to perfect the praises offered by your people on earth; and grant to them even now glimpses of your beauty, and make them worthy at length to behold it unveiled for evermore; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Book of Common Prayer, 1979
Welcome to the choirs of All Saints Church, an Episcopal parish with a music tradition of joy and excellence in God’s service. The Anglican choral program seeks to participate in and transform worship through the transcendent power of music. The choirs sing music from around the world and across the centuries, from Anglican chant and canticles, to pieces by Thomas Tallis, Johann Sebastian Bach, and the music of contemporary composers such as John Rutter, David Hurd, and Craig Phillips.
There are 2 voice choirs – the St. Cecelia Choir of girls, and the Parish Choir of adults. The girls’ choir meets to rehearse on Sunday afternoons, while the adult choir rehearses on Wednesday evenings, both with a summer recess. There is also a hand-bell choir with Wednesday-evening rehearsals that plays on occasional Sundays throughout the year.
The choirs are very vital and important to our worship each and every Sunday. Those in the parish choir enjoy musical instruction at a professional level. Many have studied music in the past and appreciate the opportunity to continue to participate in musical performance. Others have little or no prior experience and simply want the chance to learn more about music. All that is required is the ability to match pitch and to regularly attend rehearsals and services. The choir also gets together from time to time at one of the members’ homes for party and relaxation, which helps build up the community that is such a great and integral part of the worship at All Saints.
Rare in its depth and breadth, instruction for the St. Cecelia Choir is based on the curriculum of the Royal School of Church Music and builds the foundations of vocal performance: music theory, sight-singing, music notation, and vocal technique. In acknowledgment of their developing professionalism and time commitment, the choir is paid a stipend.
Through the ongoing experience of learning and playing together, children and youth also develop lasting friendships and a sense of belonging. Instruction balances warmth and humor with structure and attention to detail, nurturing the development of accomplished musicians and responsible young people who, as they grow to adulthood, understand what it is to be at the vibrant heart of worship.
Both choirs come together on Sundays in a rare inter-generational experience that finds children and youth singing alongside adults, sharing equal responsibility, mastery and creativity.
All Saints welcomes all people, regardless of gender, race, age, culture, ethnic background, sexual orientation, economic circumstances, family configuration, or difference of ability. We celebrate the worth, dignity, and gifts of every person as a child of God and invite all into the full life of the church.
If you are interested in the choirs and would like more information, please contact the church office.
Our Schantz organ was built and installed in 2007 as a replacement to an older instrument that served the church for many years.
Organ Specifications
| GREAT ORGAN - Unenclosed | PEDAL ORGAN - Unenclosed | ||
| Lieblich Bourdon (Swell) | 16' | Resultant | 32' |
| Diapason | 8' | Subbass | 16' |
| Spire Flute | 8' | Lieblich Bourdon (Swell) | 16' |
| Principal | 4' | Double Diapason | 16' |
| Chimney Flute | 4' | Subbass | 8' |
| Twelfth | 2 2/3' | Bourdon (Swell) | 8' |
| Fifteenth | 2' | Octave Diapason | 8' |
| Mixture IV | 1 1/3' | Choral Bass | 4' |
| Tromba | 8' | Open Flute | 4' |
| Trumpet (Swell) | 8' | Grand Cornet | 32' |
| Oboe (Swell) | 8' | Trombone (Great) | 16' |
| Clarion (Swell) | 4' | Bassoon-Oboe (Swell) | 16' |
| Tremolo | Trumpet (Swell) | 8' | |
| Great to Great | 16' | Tromba (Great) | 8' |
| Unison Off | Oboe (Swell) | 4' | |
| Great to Great | 4' | Clarion (Swell) | 4' |
| SWELL ORGAN - Enclosed | COUPLERS | ||
| Lieblich Bourdon | 16' | Great to Pedal | 8-4' |
| Geigen Diapason | 8' | Swell to Pedal | 8-4' |
| Bourdon | 8' | Swell to Great | 16-8-4' |
| Salicional | 8' | COMBINATION ACTION | |
| Voix Celeste | 8' | 99 levels of memory | |
| Principal | 4' | Great Organ Thumb Pistons | 1-8 |
| Traverse Flute | 4' | Swell Organ Thumb Piston | 1-8 |
| Nasard | 2 2/3' | Pedal Organ Toe Studs | 1-6 |
| Block Flute | 2' | General Pistons thumb pistons | |
| Tierce | 1 3/5' | 1-10 duplicated by studs | |
| Full Mixture IV | 2' | Set Piston | |
| Bassoon-Oboe | 16' | General Cancel Piston | |
| Oboe | 8' | Swell Expression Pedal | |
| Trumpet | 8' | Crescendo Pedal | |
| Tromba (Great) | 8' | REVERSIBLES | |
| Clarion | 4' | Great to Pedal thumb and toe stud | |
| Tremolo | Swell to Pedal thumb and toe stud | ||
| Swell to Swell | 16' | Swell to Great thumb | |
| Unison Off | Full Organ thumb and toe stud | ||
| Swell to Swell | 4' | ||
| Zimbelstern (prepared) |
