St. David’s Singers
We’re excited to announce the formation of a new choir to offer music to our large and growing parish. The St. David’s Singers is an intergenerational, non-auditioned chorus, open to those with all levels of musical experience. This friendly choir is led by Associate Director of Music Austin Haller and requires a relatively small time commitment.
The St. David’s Singers, which existed a few years ago and is now reconstituted, is open to singers with all sorts of musical backgrounds, or none at all. The members enjoy a relaxed rehearsal atmosphere that is focused on learning to read and interpret music, developing healthy choral and vocal practices, and fellowship with our fellow singers. All who would “make a joyful noise” are welcome!
As a “project” choir, the group rehearses weekly and presents in worship periodically for an approximate two-month period, after which it recesses until the next period. The timing and frequency of these periods is based upon the availability and feedback of the singers. As such, the St. David’s Singers requires less of a time commitment for busy parishioners than the Parish Choir.
The St. David’s Singers meet on Tuesday evenings beginning May 27. We gather for dinner at 6:30 p.m. at Café Divine in Sumners Hall (dinner is $6), followed by rehearsal from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Choir Room.
For the Summer 2008 period, rehearsals are: Tuesdays, May 27 through July 29.
For the Summer 2008 period, the choir will sing at the 9 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. Eucharists in the Historic Sanctuary on:
Sunday, June 22
Sunday, July 13
Sunday, August 3.
The St. David’s Singers also plan to lead the music at the 6 p.m. Eucharist on Christmas Eve.
We hope you’ll join us! For more information, please contact Organist/Associate Director of Music .
Compline
© Rick Patrick Photography
Compline is the last of the daily offices chanted by monks before retiring for the evening. This venerable service is performed every Sunday evening at 9 p.m. by the Compline Choir under the direction of Dr. David Stevens. Initiated in 1986 by former music director Les Martin, Compline is a short, meditative service chanted by a choir anywhere between eight to eighteen experienced singers. Several of these singers have been with the choir since its inception. The music consists of Gregorian and Sarum chant melodies, Elizabethan Tudor anthems, and a variety of contemporary hymns. The congregation sits quietly in the candlelit and incensed Historic Sanctuary participating through silent prayer and meditation.
All are welcome to attend regardless of your religious affiliation. Dress is “come-as-you-are” casual.
Concerts
Vaughan Williams
Please join us for the following concerts at St. David’s:
Saturday, November 1, 5 p.m.: All Saints’ Day Evensong and Concert
On the 50th anniversary of the death of Ralph Vaughan Williams, a festive All Saints evensong will precede a 40-minute concert of Vaughan Williams’ music in the Historic Sanctuary. The Combined Choirs of St. David’s Episcopal Church and Organist Austin Haller will present anthems and hymns as well as Vaughan Williams’ Three Welch Hymn Tunes for organ. This is free and open to the public.
Tuesday, December 9, 8 p.m.: Handel’s Messiah with the Austin Symphony (Riverbend Centre)
The Parish Choirs are pleased to be joining the Austin Symphony in presenting Handel’s immortal masterpiece. St. David’s Director of Music, David Stevens, will conduct the chorus and orchestra in a performance that will thrill with the joy of re-discovery. For tickets, please visit www.austinsymphony.org.
Thursdays in December: Caroling at Noon
A refreshing pause from the hustle-and-bustle of the holiday season, the Caroling at Noon concerts are presented by a different ensemble each week at 12:05 p.m. in the Historic Sanctuary. Free and open to the public.
Followed by lunch at 12:30 p.m. at Café Divine ($7). For vegetarian entrée, please send advance request to .
Dec. 4: The UT Chamber Singers (in conjunction with The Forum)
Dec. 11: The UT Harp Ensemble
Dec. 18: The Soloists of St. David’s sing Bach
For more information on upcoming concerts at St. David’s, please contact Director of Music . Complimentary parking is available for concerts in our garage at 8th St. and Trinity.
Parish Choirs
© Rick Patrick Photography
The Parish Choirs welcome experienced singers to serve with us during the morning Eucharists. These are auditioned choirs in which members sing at the 9 a.m. or 11:15 a.m. service each Sunday. The Parish Choirs practice together each Wednesday from 6:30-8:30 p.m. For more information, contact .
Children’s Choirs
Rejoice and Sing!
Music is a manifestation of the human spirit… It’s greatest practitioners have conveyed to mankind things not possible to say in any other language.
Zoltan Kodaly
Children and Youth Choirs at St. David’s offer our young singers a quality musical education by incorporating the best elements of Kodaly pedagogy and Orff Schulwerk. Younger children learn to sing in true intervals and match pitch while they experience rhythm, tempo and dynamics in song and play. Experience with beat and rhythm prepares singers for playing accompaniments on unpitched instruments (like drum and claves) and tuned instruments (like xylophone and glockenspiel). Older children and youth develop their singing voices, and translate songs to solfege (do-re-mi) and learn to sing form musical notation. Repetoire includes folk songs, classical anthems, traditional hymns, spirituals and contemporary worship music.
What the Choir Experience Offers
Music makes you smarter
There is overwhelming evidence that music does more than teach children to sing. Research has consistently shown that regular exposure to music results in higher standardized test scores. Music education leads to a better understanding of math and a larger vocabulary. Making music together helps a young child with social, motor and memory development. Music is history, geography, foreign languages, literature and math all rolled into one.
Music Sings Our Faith
Children often find a profound and meaningful religious education in church choir. Scripture in song may be kept in music memory for life. In our musicals we learn stories and artistic interpretations of verses from the Bible. Choice of music follows the church calendar, enhancing our experience of liturgical seasons. The songs we learn for Christmas, Easter, Advent and Lent are music and lessons for the journey.
Music Builds Community
Children receive this life-long enrichment in an enjoyable, social and lively setting. We seek to provide our children the opportunity for a positive group experience. We want each child to know that their voice benefits the whole sound, and the sound of the whole group is a gift and a genuine contribution to our worshipping community.
The Children’s Choirs are in recess for the summer. Rehearsals resume on Wednesdays this Fall.
Pre-K Music Readiness
Pre- K’s join children in Cherub Choir for 20 minutes of songs and games, starting at 6 p.m. Parents may attend with their child or stay close by for dismissal at 6:20 p.m. For more information contact .
Cherub Choir
Children in Kindergarten and First Grade meet from 6-7 p.m. for music education and singing, in preparation for performing at Sunday services once a month. Most of these appearances will be in Bethell Hall. Cherubs will join all choirs for three special services in the Historic Sanctuary (see program highlights).
Music & Movement Choir
Second and third graders meet from 6-7 p.m. in the adult choir room. The first 25 minutes will be given to Orff Schulwerk, learning rhythms of speech and song, transferring these to instruments. During the year we will learn Solfege (d-r-m-s-l) and corresponding Curwen handsigns, decoding and translating heard melodies and rhythms. Performing once a month in Bethell Hall with Cherub Choir and in Historic Sanctuary with Trebles. For more information contact .
Treble Choir
Fourth through eighth graders meet from 6-7 p.m. in Bethell Hall. This older group will learn beginning sight reading, writing musical notation, vocal development, and part singing. Singing in solfege will be a regular part of learning new music. They will participate and perform twice a month in the Historic Sanctuary. Trebles will be singing hymns of the day, descants for these hymns, anthems performed alone and with adult choir. For more information, contact .
Handbell Choir
Two handbell choirs play at special services at St. David’s and at other events. We invite you to join us, whatever your age or musical experience. The Coventry Bell Choir is an entry-level choir focusing on basic handbell techniques while learning music to offer at occasional morning worship services. The Canterbury Bell Choir is a choir of experienced ringers who enjoy learning music of all levels; they bring their music to worship services and other events about 6 or 7 times a year.
Canterbury Bell Choir practices on Wednesday evenings. The St. David’s Ringers practice Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. We meet in the handbell practice room on the third floor in the new wing, behind the kitchen.
To learn more about St. David’s handbell program, please call Handbell Director Gail Findlay at 512-327-4916.
Compline Choir
Sundays: The Compline Choir welcomes all to come experience a beautiful half-hour of prayer, candlelight, and worship. The group, which consists of the finest singers in Austin, prepares and shares an ancient liturgy meant to end the day, honoring God and praying for His protection through the night. The group prays and sings the ancient prayers and responsories using Gregorian chant and Tudor motets. Please, join the choir at 9 p.m., Sundays. For more information, call David Stevens at 472 1196.
The Compline Guild invites those interested in preparing the historical church for the Compline service to call Joan Yamini (459 4737) to find out more about serving in this quiet and transcendent service. We are in need of at least three more people to serve.
