Music . . .
has always been an integral part of St. Alban's liturgy. In addition to our outstanding choir, we have a 16-rank tracker-action pipe organ in the North German historical style, a five-octave set of Schulmerich handbells, a four octave set of Malmark handchimes, and an excellent Yamaha grand piano. The focus of the program is to enhance our worship by making a "joyful noise unto the Lord."
ORGAN
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Organ description: John Leek Organ Company (Oberlin, Ohio), 1982. Two manual, three divisions, 13 stops, 16 ranks. Tracker action, mechanical couplers, no combination action, in the North German style. Organ specification:
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CHOIRS
The adult choir, directed by Frederick Binkholder, sings at 11:00 a.m. Sunday
services from mid-September through mid-June. Sunday services include
several Choral Ordinarys. The choir also performs special music several
times a year, including the Christmas and Easter services. Practice is held
on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.
HANDBELLS
Frederick Binkholder directs the Alle-Bell
Ringers, a group of experienced ringers who play for
worship services several times a year
CONCERT
SERIES
The Muldoon Concert Series, Music at
St. Alban's, presents varied music recitals from
October through early May. The concerts have been well
attended and supported financially by church members as
well as music lovers in the Northern Virginia area
outside the church. Admission
to all concerts in the series is free, but there is a free-will offering. The Hulda Muldoon Concert
Series was founded with a contribution by Ken Muldoon in honor of his wife Hulda,
a long-time member of the St. Alban’s choir. The series is supported entirely
by individual contributions. Patrons are recognized in all programs, and honored
with a special reception each spring.
Frederick Binkholder - Music Minister
Committee Chair - Frederick Binkholder
Vestry Liaison - Ed Walinsky
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Choir Notes
May 18. Trinity Sunday. The well known words to “Holy, Holy, Holy” were written by Reginald Heber, (1783-1826), for Trinity Sunday when he was the vicar of St. Luke’s Church in the village of Hodnet in Shropshire . Later he became the Bishop of Calcutta and died in India . This hymn is most familiar when sung to the tune “ Nicaea ” by another Anglican clergyman, John B. Dykes, so named for the council held at Nicaea in A.D. 325 where the Christian church firmly documented its belief in the Holy Trinity. But on this Trinity Sunday, the choir will sing the familiar words to music written by the famed Russian composer, Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky (1840-1893). May 25. John Rutter may be the best known of contemporary British choral composers. His music is quite popular, particularly in the U.S. and NBC’s Today Show has even called him the “world’s greatest living composer and conductor of choral music.” On May 25 the choir will sing his anthem, “For the Beauty of the Earth” set to the familiar text of Foliot S. Pierpoint (1835-1917) which was first published in 1864. Pierpoint was 29 at the time he wrote the hymn and was entranced by the beauty of the English countryside that surrounded him.
June 2008 As the choir prepares for its summer break, it is interesting to look back at the widely varied music that the music minister, organists and the choir have brought to St. Alban’s during the past year. Music has come from British, Austrian, German, American, French, Belgian, and Slovenian sources. It has been sung in the English, Latin, and German languages; and was written by composers who lives span a continuous period between 1505 and today. During June the choir will sing: June 1. The late Paul Drummond set Psalm 118 to the music the choir will sing on June 1. Professor Drummond taught music at Central Missouri Methodist University in Fayette , Missouri , and was a friend and mentor of Music Minister Frederick Binkholder. June 8. The text to “My Soul, There Is a Country” is from a poem by Henry Vaughn (1622-1695). It was set to music composed by Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry (1848-1918). The hymn is one of hope in troubled times, calling on us to rely on our faith in times of trial June 15. The text of “The Last Words of David” is taken from II Samuel 23:3 and 4. The music was written by Randall Thompson in 1949 for Serge Koussevitzky in honor of his 25th year as director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. It was used in the U. S. State Department’s documentary film “Tanglewood.” June 22. For Saint Alban’s Sunday, the choir will sing “Let us now praise famous men” by Ralph Vaughn Williams (1872-1958). The text of this canticle comes for Chapter 44 of Ecclesiasticus. Vaughn Williams was perhaps the most prolific English composer of the Twentieth Century. His hymns and hymn tunes include an astonishing 27 entries in The Hymnal 1982. Interesting facts about Vaughn Williams: His father was an Anglican clergyman in Gloustershire, his great-great grandfather was the famed English potter, Josiah Wedgewood, his great uncle was Charles Darwin, and he was an important collector of English folk music.
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