Music
Music plays a large part in the liturgical life of St. Luke’s. There are hymns and organ music at the weekly 8:00AM Rite I Eucharist; the Choir is present for the 11:00AM Sung Eucharist Rite II; and on the Third Sunday of the month at 4:30PM we sing Choral Evensong. In addition to the regular services the Choir sings for feast days including Advent Lessons & Carols, and is joined by Strings or Brass for Christmas and Easter.
The Choir has made several tours in recent years which have included residencies at Gloucester Cathedral (UK) in 2014, the National Cathedral (DC) in 2016, a CD recording of Christmas music in 2017, and another UK residency at Ripon Cathedral in 2019. Future plans include a new recording of Motets for the Liturgical Year in 2022, and a tour of Ireland in 2023.
The Parish Choir
This is an adult ensemble made up of four section leaders and five choral scholars. We are joined by a complement of volunteers. Rehearsals are at 7 PM on Wednesday evenings, if you are interested in joining us, please contact Russell Jackson – russellj@stlukes-sa.net, 210-828-6425.
Choral Evensong
The Office of Evensong has its roots in the monastic tradition when monks would sing the liturgical hours throughout the night and day. Archbishop Thomas Cranmer combined the Magnificat from Vespers with the Nunc dimittis from Compline, and this was a foundation stone of the Anglican Choral Tradition. Over the centuries many composers have written specific pieces for these texts along with Choral Responses and the Psalms for the Day. There is a line in the Book of Common Prayer (1662) that reads: In quires and places where they sing, here followeth the anthem. The anthem would be something appropriate to the season and would act as a meditation or inspiration to the listener.
The New Organ
Our magnificent new organ is being installed. The previous instrument served well for many years until the church decided to rebuild it and update the action. Following several problems we realized a new instrument was necessary, which includes a number of good ranks from the previous organ. Reuter Organs was commissioned to build a French Romantic organ in the style of Cavaillé-Coll. The design includes slotted principals and Bertouneche shallots, harmonic flutes and an interesting compound stop (Théorbe) in the pedal division in keeping with nineteenth-century French tradition.”
Organ-Reuter-French
SERVICE MUSIC
- May 17, 2022Oh happy day – Doddridge & Hawkins
- May 16, 2022The God of love – Thomas Tallis
- May 4, 2022O Saviour of the world – John Goss
- Mar 15, 2022How great Thou art – arr. Kevin Sa
- Feb 20, 2022Laudate Dominum (W. A. Mozart)
- Jan 24, 2022The heavens are telling the glory of God (F. J. Haydn)
- Jan 20, 2022O Lord, that seest from you starry height – Charles Wood
- Jan 20, 2022Nunc Dimittis (Fauxbourdon) – Thomas Morley
- Jan 16, 2022Magnificat (Fauxbourdon) – Thomas Morley
- Jan 16, 2022Let the people praise thee, O God – William Mathias
The Arts
Series
St. Luke’s is launching its concert series in light of the new organ and as we emerge from the pandemic. Our first year will strongly feature the organ but we will also be hosting our Artists-in-Residence IlluMen, the Texas Children’s Choir, our own Parish Choir in a performance of Handel’s Messiah, and other exciting events.
IlluMen
April 24 at 3:00 PM
IlluMen, St. Luke’s Artist-in-Residence, was originated by a handfull of charter members who expressed the same dream… to have a professional men’s chorus in Texas. While most large cities have professional symphonies, instrumental chamber ensembles, and mixed professional choruses, it’s rare to have an all-professional choral group of men. IlluMen is composed of vocal coaches, choir teachers, opera singers, and other musical professions.
Alcee Chriss
May 8 at 3:00 PM
We round out our first season with an organ recital by Alcee Chriss, an organist, composer, and conductor from Dallas. He is an electrifying performer who is known for incorporating jazz and gospel influences into his performances. He won the Montreal Organ Competition in 2017 and PBS made a major documentary about the competition and participants.
