Refelctions on Our Music
How can the music at First Church meet your needs?
(Posted Oct. 25, 2015)
The best music I have ever heard at this church was in the seventies and eighties when there was a choir of 24-30 under two different very good organists and choir directors! The choir had four paid soloist/section leaders and many volunteers who, at that time, sang more traditional music. The total cost was extreme. Today that just isn’t the case. Church choirs are not as large as they were twenty years ago in most churches. There are fewer people attending church, and thus fewer people available to sing in the choir. In many cases they can’t afford to pay soloists unless there was a special endowment set aside. It is a growing concern for many churches.
I am fortunate to have in my choir a small group of talented musicians who sing here on the average of twice a month. You have also heard them sing individually. The musical selections vary from traditional to contemporary. For other services, I have hired artists from outside our congregation to play.
Should we have a second service during the weekend in which we have a praise band is a question for you. We already have a Jazz Service once each month. Will more musical genres bring more people? What would the cost be to the church?
This is my response to the survey results Pastor talked about in her sermon last Sunday. I would like to know more specifics about your thoughts regarding the music here at First Church.
And speaking of the choir, they will be singing for our special “All Saints Day” service on November 1st, which is also communion Sunday. And if you would like to try singing with the choir, I am having a dinner/rehearsal October 30, at my house beginning at 5pm. Phone me at 203-743-1448 if you are interested.
AND SET ASIDE THE AFTERNOON OF NOVEMBER 1 when the Danbury Concert Chorus will present “Songs of Our Earth” concert at the Visual and Performing Arts Center, Western Connecticut State University at 3PM. It is free and will last no more than an hour with no intermission. The chorus consist of over eighty voices led by an excellent director, Christine Howlett. The selections are one of the best! And if you haven’t been to the VPAC at Western, you should make every effort to hear a concert there. The acoustics are unique, although I still prefer the acoustics in our sanctuary here at First Church.
Peace through whatever music you prefer -- Jim Moriarty