Music at Christ Church and the Christ Church Black Heritage Committee are proud to present
The 2012 Black Heritage Celebration Program The Spiritual Bach
Marvin Mills, organist Marlissa Hudson, soprano
Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 4 o'clock p.m. Tickets $15 adults
Please join us for this exciting program interweaving the organ works of
Johann Sebastian Bach and the African-American Spiritual.
Philadelphia
native Marvin Mills is organist at St. Paul's United Methodist Church
in Kensington, MD. He has been music director of the acclaimed National
Spiritual Ensemble, as well as University Organist at Howard
University. As a sought-after clinician he has given workshops on the
Negro Spiritual and organ music of Black Composers. As an organ
recitalist on the national scene, he has been featured by the Washington
National Cathedral in their Black History Month celebration.
American
soprano Marlissa Hudson has been described as a "superb lyric
coloratura" (St. Louis Post-Dispatch). At home both on the operatic and
concert stage, she has collaborated with the St. Louis Symphony
Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Pops Orchestra and many others. A featured
recitalist across the continental U.S., she recently completed her
debut CD, "Libera" to critical acclaim.
Christ Church 2011-2012 Concert Series Continues
Saturday, February 25, 2012 – 4 p.m. – Christ Church The Spiritual Bach The noted African-American organist Marvin Mills and soprano Marlissa Hudson present an exciting program pairing the incomparable organ music of J.S. Bach together with African-American spirituals. Co-sponsored by Christ Church’s Black Heritage Committee.
Sunday, March 18, 2012 – 4 p.m. – Christ Church Sacred Music, Sacred Art A Lenten musical reflection on works of art displayed in the church. Sung by Vox Fidelis and others.
Sunday, April 15, 2012 – 4 p.m. – Christ Church Organ Celebration: Mark Trautman Christ Church’s former Director of Music returns in recital to continue our celebration of the 10th anniversary of our Richards-Fowkes organ.
Sunday, May 13, 2012 – 4 p.m. – Christ Church Spring Choral Concert
We conclude the season and the celebration of our Richards-Fowkes organ and the Christ Church Parish Choir in works featuring organ with choir and instruments.
Single-event tickets are $15 for regular admission; $5 for seniors, students and children except for Benny Barksdale, which is $65 (dinner included) and Handel’s Messiah, which is $35 regular and $25 seniors. The following season tickets are also available: $160 for one ticket for all events (a $15 savings); $300 for two tickets for all events (a $50 savings); $70 for the 5 events at Christ Church (no Barksdale, no Messiah--a $5 savings). We are also offering incentives to those who wish to make additional donations to the Christ Church music fund. For more information, click here for our brochure, or contact John Sheridan at the church office or at music@christchurchnewbrunswick.org.
Click here to see the Christ Church Choral Repertoire.
Christ Church Choir and orchestra rehearsing Haydn's "The Heavens are telling"...A. David Moore portative organ.
Christ Church Organ Pipe organs have been a part of the music program of Christ Church since the eighteenth century. The parish records indicate that the church’s first pipe organ was purchased in 1788 for $100—an unusual purchase for any church at that time—and music has held a central place in the life of Christ Church ever since. The parish installed Richards, Fowkes and Company’s opus 12 mechanical action organ in 2002. The organ is one of a handful of modern, handmade musical instruments in New Jersey. Click here to see the organ.
Choral Program The first choir at Christ Church was organized
in the early nineteenth century. Professional musicians have served the
parish since the 1850s. A choir of men and boys was founded in 1894 and
was the mainstay of the music program until the late 1970s. Christ
Church now has seven choirs involving more than sixty singers. The
choral program is an affiliate of the Royal School of Church Music in America.
The Parish Choir is composed of about 35 choristers, four of whom are professional section leaders. Anyone who can read music is cordially invited to join. The Choir sings at the 10:30 am Sunday Eucharist, major Church festivals, and special concerts. Choir rehearsals are Thursdays from 8:00 to 10:00 pm during the academic year. For more information, contact John Sheridan at music@christchurchnewbrunswick.org.
Canticum Novum
is a new, all-adult, all-volunteer choir. All adults are welcome--come
with a desire for good singing and great fellowship. The Choir sings on
occasion at the 10:30 a.m. Sunday Eucharist during the academic year,
major Church festivals and occasional Evensongs. Rehearsals are Mondays
from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. For more information, contact John Sheridan at music@christchurchnewbrunswick.org.
Youth Choir is composed of children in grades 3 through 6. This Choir leads the music at the 10:30 a.m. Sunday Eucharist once a month during the academic year. They occasionally lead Evensong, as well as the 4 p.m. Christmas Eucharist and the Maundy Thursday liturgy. Rehearsals are Sunday mornings at 9 a.m. For more information, contact Renata Koumendouros rkoumendouros@hotmail.com.
St. Cecilia Choir (middle and high school) is a small ensemble that sings at various services throughout the year. Their repertoire includes a variety of literature, including contemporary works. For more information, contact John Sheridan music@christchurchnewbrunswick.org.
Christ Church Schola is a small group of singers who provide leadership for the 4 p.m. Sunday Vespers liturgy during the academic year. The choir gathers for a brief rehearsal at 3:30, and sings Gregorian chant. For more information, contact John Sheridanmusic@christchurchnewbrunswick.org.
Christ Church Women’s Schola is a group of singers who specialize in medieval music, including works from the Las Huelgas mss and works by Hildegarde von Bingen. The Women’s Schola sings for Vespers several times a year; also once a year as part of the Vespers Concert series. For more information, contact Giulia Utz admin@christchurchnewbrunswick.org.
Summer Choir is a group of volunteers who gather at 9 a.m. on Sunday mornings to learn an anthem for the 10 a.m. Eucharist. Anyone who can read music—of any age—is welcome to join us! Simply arrive in time for the rehearsal and remain for the 10 a.m. liturgy. There’s no requirement to sing every Sunday, so you can come one time or many times. For more information, contactJohn Sheridan music@christchurchnewbrunswick.org.
Concerts Christ Church has a fine organ and one of the finest acoustical spaces in the central New Jersey area. About forty concerts a year are presented as an outreach of the parish to the greater community. Organ recitals, choral and orchestral concerts, chamber music and more are part of our highly acclaimed programs. For more information, contact John Sheridanmusic@christchurchnewbrunswick.org.
Philadelphia
native Marvin Mills is organist at St. Paul's United Methodist Church
in Kensington, MD. He has been music director of the acclaimed National
Spiritual Ensemble, as well as University Organist at Howard
University. As a sought-after clinician he has given workshops on the
Negro Spiritual and organ music of Black Composers. As an organ
recitalist on the national scene, he has been featured by the Washington
National Cathedral in their Black History Month celebration.
American
soprano Marlissa Hudson has been described as a "superb lyric
coloratura" (St. Louis Post-Dispatch). At home both on the operatic and
concert stage, she has collaborated with the St. Louis Symphony
Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Pops Orchestra and many others. A featured
recitalist across the continental U.S., she recently completed her
debut CD, "Libera" to critical acclaim.
Christ Church Organ
Choral Program