Music At The Cathedral

The Cathedral Church of the Advent offers a music program to the parishioners of the Cathedral Church, to the parishes of the Diocese of Alabama and to the community-at-large seeking to enable those who participate and those who come to worship an opportunity for enriching worship of Almighty God. Those who participate also benefit from a unique experience of learning and fellowship. The Music Department offers the following programs:

The Cathedral Choir is composed of adults who sing the 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. services each Sunday and all major services of the church year. Additionally the choir presents evensongs and concerts as part of the Cathedral Music Series. Special activities include tours to sing in residency at major cathedrals in England (1990, 1993, 1997, 2004, 2008) and at St. Thomas Church, New York City (2000), seven CD/cassette releases, projects to raise funds for special programs, and concert appearances in Atlanta and Birmingham. The most recent residency in England was in July 2008 for a at Durham Cathedral, and the choir completed a tour of the U.S. east coast in 2011. Rehearsals are 5:45 to 7:45 p.m. each Wednesday. Membership is by audition and interested singers should speak to the Director of Music.

The Cathedral Ringers, an adult handbell choir, presents service music about seven times each year, and performs a Christmas Mid-day Musical Menu concert in December. Rehearsals are 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. each Thursday from September to May. Occasional special appearances and workshops with well-known clinicians have been a part of past schedules. The Cathedral owns a five octave set of Malmark handbells. Interested ringers (ability to read simple music is necessary) should speak to the Director of Music.

Children’s Choirs: All children of the Advent are warmly welcomed to enter the music program. There are four children’s choirs: The Advent Angels (3-4 yr. olds), The Cherub Choir (5 yr. olds), St. Nicholas Choir (1st-2nd graders), and The Gabriel Choir (3rd-6th graders). The Youth Ensemble is grades 7 and up. The only requirement for membership in the two younger choirs is Sunday School enrollment. These children learn new songs each Sunday morning during Children’s Chapel.

The 1st – 6th graders rehearse at the Advent Park location on Wednesday afternoons. (St. Nicholas, 4:00 – 4:45 ) (Gabriel, 5:00 – 6:00) All choirs sing at the 9:00 a.m. service on a regular basis throughout the year, and choristers in grades 1-6 often present a musical or a concert in the spring. For more information contact the Children’s Choir Director.

INSTRUMENTALISTS
If you play an instrument and would be interested in performing a voluntary (solo, ensemble or with organ accompaniment) for the Sunday worship services, please speak to the Director of Music. If you have an interest in contemporary music with a flavor of gospel, bluegrass and rock and roll, please speak to Sharon Benefield about the 5:00 o’clock Evening Service.

SPECIAL MUSIC EVENTS
Each September a music events brochure is published. These include the popular Mid-Day Musical Menu Series, evensongs and concerts by the Cathedral Choir and guest artists. Each parishioner receives a copy; additional copies may be obtained from the Music Office at 443-8553, in the tract racks in the kiosk in Clingman Commons, or downloaded from this website (see link above).

CATHEDRAL INSTRUMENTS
The Cathedral music department owns a five-octave set of Malmark handbells, a Steinway 7′ grand piano, a Baldwin 7′ grand piano, the John and Lucille Urmey Lammermuir chest organ (2001) and several pianos for rehearsal use.

The Grieb-Williams organ, built by the M. P. Moller Company in 1988, is located in the Cathedral nave. It includes 6,056 pipes controlled by a four-manual drawknob console which can be moved to the center of the chancel for recitals. Here is the stoplist. Note that the organ has a playback system.

The Crawford and Virginia Johnson Carillon, including the Mattison Memorial Bell, was installed in the Cathedral tower in 2003. The 15 cast bronze bells by Paccard Foundry, France, peal and play hymns throughout the week.

MUSIC DISCRETIONARY FUND
The Music Discretionary Fund was established to provide special resources for the entire music program. Without the resources of this fund the Music at the Advent series would not be possible. Memorials and contributions may be addressed to the Music Department at the Cathedral or placed in alms basins in the Nave using the special pew envelopes. Acknowledgment of gifts is printed in the music programs and an appropriate card is sent to the family of those in whose memory or honor the gift is made.

CATHEDRAL RECORDINGS
The Cathedral Choir has made several cassette/Compact Disc recordings which are available from the Episcopal Bookstore (205) 323-2959. Evensong at the Advent (2004), a live recording of evensong on October 12, 2003, and Praise Ye the Lord! (2005) are the most recent. Other available recordings include the following: Love Came Down at Christmas (1991; reissued 1999); Christ our Passover (1993- cassette only); Messa di Gloria, Puccini (1994-cassette only); and Of the Father’s Love Begotten(1995). These recordings feature several solo organ pieces; the 1993 and 1995 recordings also include the Ambassador Brass Quintet, noted Birmingham ensemble which plays at the Cathedral each Easter. The Five O’Clock Musicians released Sometimes He Calls (2002-CD); Lift Him Up (2004-CD); and In the Hands of the Maker (2010-CD) with proceeds going to Outreach at the Advent. These compact discs are also available in the Episcopal Bookstore.