Music
Music at Christ Church
Praise the Lord.
How good it is to sing praise to our God,
how pleasant and fitting to praise him!
- Psalm 147:1
MUSIC SERVES AN IMPORTANT ROLE in the life and worship of Christ Church, Guilford. The 10:00 a.m. service each Sunday includes music to praise God, affirm the scripture lessons of the day, and encourage God’s people.
Our music is grounded in the anthems and hymns of the Anglican tradition. Choral anthems written from the 16th through the 21st centuries are presented by the choirs. Congregational hymns and service music come from the Hymnal 1982. Though traditional, we strive to incorporate music that is relevant and diverse. Hymns are regularly chosen from Lift Every Voice and Sing (LEVAS), bringing songs from the Gospel, Evangelical, and African-American experiences into our worship.
Parishioners are invited to actively participate in the music of the church. Whether providing special music in the summer, singing in a choir, or being a featured instrumentalist, opportunities abound for the members of the parish to share their musical gifts.
The Choirs
CHRIST CHURCH IS HOME to two choirs that sing regularly at the 10:00 a.m. service. These groups are made up of people, young and old, who share a common love and interest in music. Rehearsals occur weekly and are an enjoyable time of learning, practicing, and fellowship.
We always welcome new members. No previous musical experience is necessary!
Adult Choir
THE ADULT CHOIR is group of volunteer singers ranging in age from 16 to 90 who sing at the Sunday 10 a.m. service. Special performances occur throughout the year and include a service of Lessons and Carols and an Easter Vigil service. The choir season runs from after Labor Day in September through mid-June. Rehearsals take place each week on Thursday evenings from 7:30-9:00 and on Sunday mornings from 9:15-9:45. Singers must be in at least 9th grade.
The Choristers at Christ Church
THE CHORISTERS is a children’s choir open to any school-age singer in the Guilford area regardless of religious affiliation. Boys and Girls who are at least in the 2nd grade may join. Boys may sing through voice change and girls through the 8th grade. Rehearsals take place on a weekly basis, beginning after Labor Day and continuing until the end of the school year. Each Thursday the Choristers rehearse from 5:45 – 7:15. A light meal is served at the beginning of each rehearsal, allowing singers to come directly from sports practices and other after school activities. The choir sings once a month at the Christ Church 10:00 AM service, however accommodations can be made for those singers who regularly attend other churches. There are also some additional services that the Choristers will participate in. Rehearsals are a time to develop the Choristers’ individual skills in singing and music theory, enabling them to contribute to the excellence of the entire group. The choir sings some of the finest repertoire written for treble voices. Please contact our Organist-Choirmaster, Frank Dodd, for more information.
The Organ
THE CURRENT ORGAN at Christ Church was built and installed in 2003 by the Southfield Organ Company of Springfield, Massachusetts. Located in the balcony, the organ contains some pipework from the church’s previous M.P. Möller organ, which was housed in a large chamber in the left wall of the chancel.
The prominent location of this new instrument, with its towering façade, aptly reflects the role of the organ in our music program. Voluntaries, hymns, and choral accompaniments are played on the Southfield organ weekly at the 10:00 AM Holy Eucharist.
Southfield Organ Company, Op. 30
Springfield, Massachusetts – 2003
Great
16 Gemshorn
8 Principal
8 Gemshorn (ext.)
8 Flute Harmonique
4 Octave
4 Koppelfloete
2 Superoctave
2 Mixture IV
8 Trumpet
Chimes
Great to Great 4
Swell
8 Geigen Diapason
8 Geigen Celeste
8 Rohrfloete
4 Geigen Octave
4 Waldfloete
2-2/3 Nasard
2 Octavin
1-3/5 Terz
1-1/3 Mixture III
16 Bassoon
8 Trompette
8 Hautbois (ext.)
Swell to Swell 16
Swell to Swell 4
Pedal
32 Untersatz (resultant)
16 Principal
16 Subbass
16 Gemshorn (Gt.)
8 Octave (ext.)
8 Gemshorn (Gt.)
8 Gedeckt (ext.)
4 Super Octave (ext.)
4 Flute (ext.)
16 Trombone
16 Bassoon (Sw.)
8 Trumpet (ext.)
4 Hautbois (Sw.)
Couplers
Great to Pedal 8
Great to Pedal 4
Swell to Pedal 8
Swell to Pedal 4
Swell to Great 16
Swell to Great 8
Swell to Great 4
Organist-Choirmaster
Mr. Frank Dodd serves as the current organist-choirmaster at Christ Church, having joined the staff in August of 2010. Frank is the third in a series of organist-choirmasters to serve at the church while being enrolled as a masters student at Yale University.
A native of Corry, Pennsylvania, Frank began organ study at the age of 11. While in high school Mr. Dodd attended Pipe Organ Encounters in Athens, Ohio, Baltimore, Maryland, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In May of 2010 he graduated magna cum laude from Grove City College, Grove City, Pennsylvania with a bachelor’s degree in Music Education. At Grove City he studied organ with Dr. Richard Konzen. During his senior year, Frank served as Organ Scholar at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Youngsville, Ohio. Also a frequent performer, he has given organ recitals in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Mr. Dodd is currently a candidate for the Master of Music degree in organ performance at the Institute of Sacred Music at Yale University, where he studies organ with Professor Thomas Murray.
Concertato
Once again, Christ Church presents its Concertato program, a series of eclectic music concerts with a post-concert reception.
Spring 2012 Schedule
Saturday, March 10, 2012 at 7:30pm
Julie Harris
Our very own Guilford songstress
Friday, May 18, 2012 at 7:30pm
Yale Whiffenpoofs and Guilford High School Voices
World-renowned collegiate singers and the GHS Voices Chorus
Saturday, June 23, 2012 at 7:30pm
Chad Hardin
Piano recital
Admission: General seating tickets are $15 each, and season tickets are $75. Tickets are available at the door or at Breakwater Books.
Photographs on this page by Sue Shackford