Music
Music is central to our spiritual practice and worship life. When we make music together as we worship at St. Gregory's, our most important instruments are our voices. We generally sing without instrumental accompaniment, often adding percussion to help keep us together, especially when we are singing and moving (for example, in procession or when we dance the carol at the end of each service.)
We encourage the full participation of the whole community when we sing, and we try to pay special attention to welcoming and involving first-time visitors. We sing using easy-to-read sheet music and also sing paperless music that is easy to teach and learn by ear during worship. A music leader, or cantor, gives clear directions and offers a starting pitch for each song. On Sundays at 10:45AM, our choir sings three anthems and sits among the congregation throughout the service to support the entire community in singing robust four-part harmony. We sing music from a broad range of sources and traditions: traditional hymns and early American hymns, chant (Russian, Anglican, plainsong, and improvised), spirituals, music from around the world, and original compositions by parishioners.
Questions about singing at St. Gregory's? Contact St. Gregory's Music Director, Sanford.
We encourage the full participation of the whole community when we sing, and we try to pay special attention to welcoming and involving first-time visitors. We sing using easy-to-read sheet music and also sing paperless music that is easy to teach and learn by ear during worship. A music leader, or cantor, gives clear directions and offers a starting pitch for each song. On Sundays at 10:45AM, our choir sings three anthems and sits among the congregation throughout the service to support the entire community in singing robust four-part harmony. We sing music from a broad range of sources and traditions: traditional hymns and early American hymns, chant (Russian, Anglican, plainsong, and improvised), spirituals, music from around the world, and original compositions by parishioners.
Questions about singing at St. Gregory's? Contact St. Gregory's Music Director, Sanford.
The congregation sings the Znameny Trisagion (Russian Chant) to begin a service.
The congregation sings "For the Beauty of the Earth" while dancing around an outside altar to conclude the St. Francis Day service.
The congregation sings a Shaker hymn while carrying the bread and wine in procession to the Table for communion.
The choir sings an anthem while the congregation shares communion on Christmas Eve, directed by own of our youth.
The congregation joins the Presider in singing a setting of the Eucharistic Prayer composed by Christopher Putnam