Music at St. James
Music Pro Tempore
While we worship at Crissey Farms, St. James music ministry is continuing at full steam -- or nearly so, thanks to our choir and minister of music Charles Olegar, who describes the choir as "the equivalent of a fantastic pipe organ, in and of themselves!" In addition to leading the usual considerable variety of congregational song, St. James Choir's weekly offerings include a similarly-eclectic mix of choral music ranging from Gregorian Chant to Spirituals, with a great many traditional choral classics included. Where else might you encounter "Ezekiel saw the wheel" and an early-Renaissance motet by Josquin de Prez in the same service?
Our unexpected hiatus from organ music has been providing Charles the opportunity to stage a special "Bachfest" series, in which each Sunday several of that master's keyboard works, such as preludes and fugues from The Well Tempered Clavier, are played as voluntaries.
And -- St. James' congregation is singing better than ever, so do not hesitate to be with us on Sunday mornings at Crissey Farms!
The St. James Choir
As one of the few traditional-type four-part choirs among Episcopal churches in the region, St James Choir comprises a wide variety of ages, personalities, and experience, ranging from novice to professional. Our Choir's primary mission is to provide strong, energetic musical leadership for regular corporate worship (10:00 AM, Sundays) by leading congregational singing, providing choral music during communion,and regularly enhancing services with anthems encompassing a wide spectrum of periods and styles. Annually, St James Choir provides special music on Christmas Eve and Easter.
An all-volunteer organization, St. James Choir's door is always open to any and all who wish to participate in a spirited group noted for its enthusiasm and strong , mutually-supportive sense of community, as it pursues a central role in the parish's music ministry.
Choir rehearsals are held weekly at 9:00 a.m. on Sundays, prior to the 10:00 service, along with monthly Saturday-morning special practices.
Participation arrangements are flexible so as to accommodate individual schedules and needs.
The Ahlborn-Galanti Organ
St. James' Walker-Beatty Memorial Organ was dedicated in May, 2006.
Serving both as a service and recital instrument, our new Ahlborn- Galanti AG-3200 represents the latest and most far-reaching advances in organ building technology. Beginning with a large 376-stop specification on three manuals and pedal that can be readily modified, it provides an amazing range of color and artistic flexibility.
Musical Outreach
As part of our parish's commitment to outreach, musical events offered to the community stand in partnership with worship music at St. James, through self-generated public offerings along with the church's being host to a number of regional presenters. For many years now, musical events at St. James are widely known for their high quality.
Bach and Beyond
Since 2004, the organ series Bach and Beyond has been a primary forum for regularly sharing a wealth of great organ music. Performed by music minister Charles Olegar and associate Tim Boomer on St. James' concert-level Ahlborn-Galanti organ in the church's exceptional acoustical space, the series center-stages the principal organ works of Johann Sebastian Bach, which are balanced with a wealth of music from the twentieth and nineteenth centuries, along with pre-Bach works. Three CD's from Bach & Beyond are now available (for information, contact Charles Olegar at charlesol@juno.com).
Sundays In July
In a similar spirit, St. James Church offers occasional chamber music programs featuring regional talent. Over the past several years, these "open to all without charge" concerts have featured such instrumental ensembles American Double, Les Inegales, and the New England Baroque Soloists, and solo artists Constantine Finehouse, Jack Brown, and Ivan Trabka, among other outstanding programs.
Hosted Musical Organizations
St. James community outreach also continues a history of making the acoustical and aesthetic ambience of the church available to a variety of classical musical presenters, which have included Close Encounters with Music, Berkshire Bach, Simons Rock College, and Aston Magna.
