Past Special Music Events
Friday, June 17, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.
Organ Recital by Charlotte Beers
Click to read the article in West Hartford Patch about this recital
Sunday, May 22, 2011 from 5 to 7 pm at the New Britain Museum of American Art
A season preview party for Sacred Music at the Red Door, the new music series of St. John's Church
Our expanded series of musical offerings to the Parish and wider community began in September 2011. The name of the series makes reference to our front doors, with their traditional color of welcome and sanctuary. The series will help to establish St. John's as a destination for those seeking musical refreshment and excellence, drawing on the existing strengths of our choirs (and guest choirs and choir collaborations), architecture, organ, location, and Anglican heritage. The three main elements provided by the series to raise the visibility of St. John's in the wider community are: concerts, monthly evening worship (Evensong), and enhanced Sunday morning worship on more occasions throughout the year (with special offerings with instruments, or formats like Lessons and Carols).
In advance of the new program year, Sacred Music at the Red Door hosted a special event on Sunday, May 22, 2011 at the New Britain Museum of American Art. This event was free and open to the entire Parish, as a thank-you to leadership donors and to 'unveil' the plans for the season, to help generate some advance excitement in the larger arts community. From 5 to 7 p.m. (just after the museum closes to the general public), the event involved beverages and nibbles, a presentation about the Series and delivery of an exciting season brochure, brief musical entertainment, and a private tour of the world-famous Museum by its Director, parishioner Douglas Hyland. Included were a revelation of music in the visual arts, and an opportunity to consider music's transforming power in our lives. The musical entertainment was provided by Trio Cantabile (who also was the series's first concert performer in September), consisting of Margaret Beers, soprano; Amanda Evans, harp; and Stacy Cahoon, piano.
Sunday, April 17 at 5:00 p.m. at St. John's Church
A French Organ Vespers for Holy Week, played by Peter Stoltzfus Berton
Music by Lili Boulanger, Marcel Dupré, Olivier Messiaen,
Charles Tournemire and Charles-Marie Widor. Assisted by Louise Penfield Blood, soprano.
Sunday, April 10, 2011 at 4:00 p.m. at
The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, New York City
Choral Evensong
Sung by the combined Adult and Youth Choirs of St. John's Church and Trinity Church, Hartford.
Click to view photos, listen to recordings, and read more about the day
Music by the combined Choirs:
Introit: God be in my head H. Walford Davies
Phos hilaron: O gracious light David Hogan
Preces and Responses John Barnard
Psalm 130 Anglican Chant after Henry Purcell
Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis David Hogan (Washington Service)
Anthems: Thou, O Lord, art my hope Peter Stoltzfus Berton
Lead, kindly light William H. Harris
Sunday, April 3, 2011 at 5:00 p.m. at Trinity Church, Hartford
Choral Evensong
Sung by the combined Youth Choirs of St. John's Church; Trinity Church, Hartford; St. James's Church, West Hartford and St. John's Church, Waterbury, under the direction of Walden Moore, Organist and Choirmaster of Trinity Church on the Green, New Haven.
Music by the combined Youth Choirs:
Introit: God be in my head H. Walford Davies
Phos hilaron: O gracious light David Hogan
Preces and Responses John Barnard
Psalm 46 Anglican Chant after Martin Luther
Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis David Hogan (Washington Service)
Anthems: Thou, O Lord, art my hope Peter Stoltzfus Berton
Lead, kindly light William H. Harris
Sunday, March 6, 2011 at 5:00 p.m. at Trinity Church, Hartford
Choral Evensong
Sung by the St. John's Adult Choir and Trinity Church Adult Choir combined, at Trinity Church.
Music by the combined Adult Choirs:
Introit: O nata lux Thomas Tallis
Preces and Responses Paul Halley
Psalms 114 and 115 Anglican Chants by George Thalben-Ball and Michael Camidge
Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis Herbert Murrill in E
Anthem: Evening Hymn H. Balfour Gardiner
Sunday, February 6, 2011 at 5:00 p.m. Choral Evensong for Candlemass
A candlelight reception followed in Hubbard Hall.
Download the service leaflet: Evensong020611.pdf
Read about this event in West Hartford News: Choral Evensong at St. John's
Listen (in two parts): Part1.mp3 Part2.mp3
Music by the Youth and Adult Choirs:
Introit: O nata lux Thomas Tallis
Preces and Responses Plainsong
Psalms 87 and 48 Anglican Chants by Jonathan Battishill and Edward Elgar
Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis David Hogan (Washington Service)
Anthem: When to the temple Mary went Johannes Eccard
Organ: Lord God, now open wide thy heaven, S. 617 Johann Sebastian Bach
Organ: Fugue on 'How brightly shines the morning star' Max Reger
Saturday, December 4, 2010 at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m.
During the St. John's annual Christmas Festival, two short carol concerts were given by members of the adult and youth choirs including some audience sing-along merriment.
Sunday, November 7, 2010 at 10:30 a.m.
Special music for the celebration of All Saints' Day featured excerpts from the Requiems of John Rutter and Mack Wilberg, accompanied by organ, flute, cello and harp. The St. John's Choirs were joined by six choristers from the St. Cecilia Choir of All Saints Church, Worcester, Massachusetts.
Friday, October 29 2010 at 7:00 pm.
PIPE SCREAMS
An hour-long spooky, wacky concert for all ages, sponsored and played by members of the Greater Hartford Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. Free admission; reception following. With a video introduction to the King of Instruments, a screen to watch hands and feet and pipes as they play, and a wicked brief appearance by the St. John's Youth Choir. Costumes welcome!
The program, featuring music of DEAD composers, was:
1. Toccata and Fugue in d minor by Johann Sebastian Bach
Played by Kari Magg, Director of Music, Central Baptist Church, Hartford
2. A Video Introduction to the Pipe Organ
By Peter Stoltzfus Berton, Director of Music, St. John’s Church, West Hartford
3. Fantasy on the name BACH by Max Reger
Played by Eugenia Sullivan, Director of Music, St. Mary’s Church, Simsbury
4. Three Teeny Preludes – by P.D.Q. Bach (Duet arranged for organ by the performers)
Played by Peter Stoltzfus Berton, Director of Music, St. John’s Church, West Hartford and Jane Penfield, of the Greater Hartford Arts Council
SPECIAL APPEARANCE OF THE FELONIOUS MONKS (members of the St. John's Youth Choir) occurred here, singing in solemn procession the Advent hymn-tune 'Nun Komm, der Heiden Heiland' which is the basis for the next piece. Text:
Savior of the nations, come! Virgin's Son, make here your home.
Marvel now, both heav'n and earth, that the Lord chose such a birth.
Something wicked this way comes! Wicked cool, on earth your home.
Wicked good the holy boy; Wicked excellent our joy.
Stanza 3: Kazoos.
5. Dance of Darkness from Advent Dances by Douglas Major (Duet originally
written for organ) Played by Cheryl Wadsworth, Director of Music, United Methodist Church of Hartford, and Lori Bourret, Poquonock Community Congregational Church, Windsor
6. Funeral March of a Marionette by Charles Gounod, played by Francesco Blackmore, a student of Meg Smith
7. Imperial March from Star Wars (Darth Vader’s Theme) by John Williams (not dead yet)
Played by Meg Smith, Minister of Music, Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church, East Hampton
8. Ronde Française by Léon Boëllmann
Played by Peter Stoltzfus Berton, Director of Music, St. John’s Church, West Hartford
9. Sabre Dance (from Gayene) by Aram Khachaturian, played by Natasha Ulyanovsky, Director of Music of Beth Israel Congregation (Synagogue), West Hartford and Director of Music of St. Bridget’s Church, West Hartford
10. Blue Shadows in the Street by Dave Brubeck, played by Natasha Ulyanovsky
11. Danse Macabre by Camille Saint-Saens (organ duet transcription by Edwin H. Lemare)Played by Jason Roberts, Director of Music, St. James’s Church, West Hartford, and Natasha Ulyanovsky
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