The Music Program

A Note on the St. Anselm Music Program

 

Congregational singing is at the heart of the St. Anselm Music Program; the St. Anselm community sings an average of six hymns a week in the worship service. We use hymns from two Episcopal sources (The Hymnal 1982 and Wonder, Love, and Praise), as well as hymns from other hymnals, hymnal supplements, and text and tune collections. In addition, the music director writes some of the hymns and service music that the community sings.

Hymns are chosen three times a year by the music director and the chaplain. They are chosen to tie in with themes in the lessons of the day and the church year. A wide variety of hymns is used each year; some are very familiar, some are less familiar, and some are new to the worshipping community. New hymns are almost always rehearsed before the service.

 

There are two worship services each year that feature a lot of additional music. They are the summer music program and Advent Lessons and Carols. The summer program includes a large number of hymns that tie into a particular theme, such as peace, hope, faith, and love, to name a few that we have done. The music director reads commentary on the hymns and sings solos, and the congregation joins in singing most of the hymns. In the picture above, you see Kathy Kinman and me rehearsing for the program. Advent Lessons and Carols is held on the second or third Sunday of Advent each year, and has many different lessons, which are read by members of the worshipping community, and many different carols, most of which are sung by the community. This program also features vocal and instrumental solos.

We also have The Three Kings sing solos at the Epiphany service.

 

Lucy Goman