The Music Program

Music director and accompanist rehearsing for one of the summer programs.

 

 

A Note on the St. Anselm Music Program

The principal goals of the St. Anselm Music Program are:

1. To familiarize people with a wide variety of good hymns, both traditional and modern,
with an emphasis on the Episcopal tradition.
Congregational singing is at the heart of the St. Anselm music program. The community
sings five or six hymns a week in the worship service, with a minimum of three of these
being from Episcopal sources. Hymns from other hymnals, hymnal supplements, and
text and tune collections are also used. In addition, the music director writes some of
the hymns and service music that the community sings.

2. To help people connect the music chosen to the Scripture lessons of the day and
themes of the church year.
Hymns are chosen three times a year by the music director and the chaplain. They
strive to choose texts that are intellectually responsible, as befits a community devoted
to higher education. The chaplain’s sermons frequently tie the themes in the hymns and
the themes in the lessons together.

3. To learn new music as well as singing old favorites.
A wide variety of hymns is used each year; some very familiar, some less familiar, and
some new to the community. New hymns are usually rehearsed before the service.
There are two services a year, the summer music program and Advent Lessons and
Carols, that contain a lot of additional music. The summer program includes hymns that
tie into a particular theme, such as love, hope, or peace, 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. Advent Lessons and Carols is held on
the second or third Sunday of Advent each year, and includes many different lessons,
which are read by members of the community, and many different carols, most of which
are sung by the community. This program also features vocal and instrumental solos.

 

Lucy Goman