Music
Music is integral to our worship and a crucial part of Sunday morning service. Vigorous, enthusiastic congregational singing is encouraged, supported by a fine Austin pipe organ. A variety of musical groups invite your participation at Trinity Church. Please see below to learn more about our specific music groups, and consult this website’s calendar for specific rehearsal times and special events.
All are invited to make a joyful noise to the Lord!
O God, whom saints and angels delight to worship in heaven; Be ever present with your servants who seek through art and music to perfect the praises offered by your people on earth; and grant to them even now glimpses of your beauty, and make them worthy at length to behold it unveiled for evermore; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
– The Book of Common Prayer
– The Book of Common Prayer
The Choir of Men and Women
This talented group of adults sings at one Sunday service each week and at other special liturgical services and Feast Days from September to June. With rehearsals on Thursday evenings, membership is open to all adults who love to sing and are committed to the music of the church. The choir learns repertoire from the Middle Ages to the newly-composed, in a setting of education, fun and Christian fellowship. Choral singing experience is helpful though not essential.
Trinity's youth Choristers are currently singing once a month with the Choir of Men and Women. This Choir is a member of the Royal School of Church Music in America and, as such, participates in the Voice for Life training program.
"The choir is spiritually uplifting and personally challenging. It is the non-negotiable on my weekly calendar!" -Adult chorister
"Thursday nights are always something to look forward to now… It has become a time to relax and have fun in the middle of the week. I love it!" -Teen Chorister, age 16
This talented group of adults sings at one Sunday service each week and at other special liturgical services and Feast Days from September to June. With rehearsals on Thursday evenings, membership is open to all adults who love to sing and are committed to the music of the church. The choir learns repertoire from the Middle Ages to the newly-composed, in a setting of education, fun and Christian fellowship. Choral singing experience is helpful though not essential.
Trinity's youth Choristers are currently singing once a month with the Choir of Men and Women. This Choir is a member of the Royal School of Church Music in America and, as such, participates in the Voice for Life training program.
"The choir is spiritually uplifting and personally challenging. It is the non-negotiable on my weekly calendar!" -Adult chorister
"Thursday nights are always something to look forward to now… It has become a time to relax and have fun in the middle of the week. I love it!" -Teen Chorister, age 16
Re-Creation
Re-Creation, a group of pianists, guitarists and singers, supplements the the more formal choirs with songs of contemporary Christian music during some of our Sunday services during the school year and our periodic outdoor services in the Summer.
The Re-Creation music group was started at Trinity over ten years ago to praise the Lord in song. During that time, the group has performed regularly at Trinity and other venues in the area. The requirements for membership are simple: a love of music and willingness to attend the rehearsals and services.
Taizé Choir and Ensemble
A group of men and women, boys and girls who come to sing and play together, leading the worship in the style of Taizé. We gather prior to each of these prayerful (and musical) services to rehearse, then lead the congregation through the songs. Please join us!
Re-Creation, a group of pianists, guitarists and singers, supplements the the more formal choirs with songs of contemporary Christian music during some of our Sunday services during the school year and our periodic outdoor services in the Summer.
The Re-Creation music group was started at Trinity over ten years ago to praise the Lord in song. During that time, the group has performed regularly at Trinity and other venues in the area. The requirements for membership are simple: a love of music and willingness to attend the rehearsals and services.
Taizé Choir and Ensemble
A group of men and women, boys and girls who come to sing and play together, leading the worship in the style of Taizé. We gather prior to each of these prayerful (and musical) services to rehearse, then lead the congregation through the songs. Please join us!
Trinity's Organ
Austin Organ, Opus 2652, is the fourth instrument in the present Trinity Church, but only the second pipe organ. In 1870 George Jardine of New York built a pipe organ for the then new church. By the 1950’s, this instrument was in poor condition, and was followed by two unsuccessful electronic imitations. The Austin organ is the result of an exhaustive one and one-half year study of the organ situation and a forty-five page report which the Organ Commission submitted to the Vestry. The Austin organ was chosen from among the several possible builders because of a history of reliability, and because of the tonal beauty and versatility revealed in such other Austin organs as those of Trinity College Chapel, Hartford, and Church of the Good Shepherd, Rosemont, PA.
The instrument is conceived largely as one which can with variety and subtlety accompany and enhance the liturgy and choral tradition of the Episcopal Church. However, the inclusion of stops (voices) necessary to the correct performance of the concert organ literature of four centuries has not been neglected. Therefore, we have in this two manual (two keyboard) instrument a tonal and dynamic range sometimes not achieved even in larger organs. The stoplist was drawn up by Frederick Krieger, former music minister of Trinity, in consultation with Frederick L. Mitchell, Vice President of Austin Organs, and David A. J. Broome, Vice President and Tonal Director.
The organ is located in the West gallery, as was the Jardine organ, speaking down the length of the nave. The majority of the pipework is on two levels in the central tower area: The Récit orgue (upper keyboard) on the bottom, behind the carved wooden grill; and Grand Orgue (lower keyboard) and Pédale on the second level. Pédale Soubasse and Bombarde reeds are on south and north sides, respectively, and Montre 16 is displayed in the façade. The console is built of solid American black walnut, and contains a wealth of mechanical devices giving the organist instantaneous control over the resources of the entire organ. The console is moveable and connected to the windchest by a 22-foot cable. Wind is provided at 2 ¾, 3 ½, and 4 inches by Zephyr blower, located two floors below. The 2, 369 pipes are arranged in 43 ranks and are made of tin-lead alloy, zinc, brass, poplar and mahogany.
- from the program for the Inaugural Recital, May 8, 1981, played by Douglas R. Major of Washington National Cathedral.
Austin Organ, Opus 2652, is the fourth instrument in the present Trinity Church, but only the second pipe organ. In 1870 George Jardine of New York built a pipe organ for the then new church. By the 1950’s, this instrument was in poor condition, and was followed by two unsuccessful electronic imitations. The Austin organ is the result of an exhaustive one and one-half year study of the organ situation and a forty-five page report which the Organ Commission submitted to the Vestry. The Austin organ was chosen from among the several possible builders because of a history of reliability, and because of the tonal beauty and versatility revealed in such other Austin organs as those of Trinity College Chapel, Hartford, and Church of the Good Shepherd, Rosemont, PA.
The instrument is conceived largely as one which can with variety and subtlety accompany and enhance the liturgy and choral tradition of the Episcopal Church. However, the inclusion of stops (voices) necessary to the correct performance of the concert organ literature of four centuries has not been neglected. Therefore, we have in this two manual (two keyboard) instrument a tonal and dynamic range sometimes not achieved even in larger organs. The stoplist was drawn up by Frederick Krieger, former music minister of Trinity, in consultation with Frederick L. Mitchell, Vice President of Austin Organs, and David A. J. Broome, Vice President and Tonal Director.
The organ is located in the West gallery, as was the Jardine organ, speaking down the length of the nave. The majority of the pipework is on two levels in the central tower area: The Récit orgue (upper keyboard) on the bottom, behind the carved wooden grill; and Grand Orgue (lower keyboard) and Pédale on the second level. Pédale Soubasse and Bombarde reeds are on south and north sides, respectively, and Montre 16 is displayed in the façade. The console is built of solid American black walnut, and contains a wealth of mechanical devices giving the organist instantaneous control over the resources of the entire organ. The console is moveable and connected to the windchest by a 22-foot cable. Wind is provided at 2 ¾, 3 ½, and 4 inches by Zephyr blower, located two floors below. The 2, 369 pipes are arranged in 43 ranks and are made of tin-lead alloy, zinc, brass, poplar and mahogany.
- from the program for the Inaugural Recital, May 8, 1981, played by Douglas R. Major of Washington National Cathedral.