Music at NPC
See below for calendar information.
Here is a link to Music publications.
Here is the contact information for the Music Ministries.
You can email the Festival Choir here:
NPC's Music Ministry is an important part of worship and the life of our congregation.
Sunday worship is enhanced by an array of choral literature, by vocal and instrumental soloists and ensembles,
by the voices of children singing praise, and by the collective voice of the congregation singing psalms,
hymns, and spiritual songs in response to God's marvelous grace.
We are delighted you are interested in our programs. Better yet, we hope you will consider becoming a part
of NPC's Music Ministries. We look forward to joyful fellowship with you as we lift our voices,
and together make great music, gratefully offered as the music of worship.
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Chancel Choir in Worship
Summer Choir in Worship
Vespers Choir
Chancel and Festival Choirs in Concert
Music for Children and Youth
Grace Chimes Handbells
Instrumental Music
The Organs at National
Music at National Concert Series
Recordings
Weekly Music Schedule
How to Contact the Music Ministries Staff
The Chancel Choir is the church's principal choral ensemble, leading the congregation each week in worship. Beginning right after Labor Day, and continuing through early to mid-June, Chancel Choir members meet from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Wednesdays for rehearsal, fellowship, spiritual formation, and just plain fun. Chancel Choir is primarily made up of volunteers and four professionally-trained section leaders. Some volunteers have had musical training and years of singing experience, but others have not. The common bond lies in an enthusiasm for great music and in a serious commitment to our role as worship leaders. Led by Director of Music Ministries Michael Denham, mere performance is never our goal. Though we always strive for a consistently high level of music-making, we make music within the context of biblical ministry and liturgy. We sing and play to God and for each other, committed to praise and to strengthening each other in the daily walk of Christian faith. Chancel Choir sings at the 9:15 and 11 a.m. Sunday services, though not all members sing both services. Warm-ups and rehearsals begin at 8:30 a.m. for 9:15 a.m. worship and at 10:15 for 11 a.m. worship.
Summer Choir sings in worship between mid-June and Labor Day. Members are drawn from the ranks of the Chancel Choir and include others who love to sing but are unable to join in the regular choral schedule the rest of the year. Though the musical components of summertime worship remain virtually the same, Summer Choir meets for rehearsal only on Sunday mornings. There are no Wednesday rehearsals during the Summer Choir term.
In Advent and Lent, the Vespers Choir sings during 7 p.m. Wednesday evening communion services. This group is also drawn from the ranks of the Chancel Choir, but is open to others. A single rehearsal usually is scheduled on the Monday evening immediately preceding the first of the Advent or Lenten services, and warm-up rehearsals are scheduled at 6:15 p.m. each of the Wednesday evenings, immediately prior to the services.
The Chancel Choir presents several concerts each year, often a beloved Candlelight Christmas Concert or Palm Sunday Concert. These venues provide opportunity for singing wonderful larger-scale choral works with orchestra. Singers who do not regularly perform with the Chancel Choir are welcome to join its ranks for these special events. These works are rehearsed during the latter part of regular Wednesday evening Chancel Choir rehearsals, and on the Friday evening and Saturday of the performance weekend. Occasionally a Festival Choir is convened for even larger works requiring more singers. Again, members of the Chancel Choir form the core of this ensemble, but are joined by others from the congregation and community. Festival Choir rehearsals are scheduled on a series of Saturday mornings, with final rehearsals on the Friday evening and Saturday of the performance weekend.
In recent years, these Chancel or Festival Choir concerts have included several performances of
Handel's
It is so important to teach our children their cherished place in God's kingdom. Jesus himself confirmed the value of their voice in worship, when in Matthew 21 he quoted from Psalm 8:
"Have you never read, From the lips of children and infants God has ordained praise." Matthew 21:16The children's choir program is an important part of the Music Ministries at National, and is designed to work in tandem with the wonderful classes and activities of Children's Ministries. Each week our youngsters prove the value of our church's vision statement, as they show how the worship of God comes to bear upon our life and work.
Angel Choir
Angel Choir is for four-year-olds through 1st graders. They meet from 10:25 - 10:50 a.m. in School 228 on Sunday mornings. Angel Choir is designed to offer younger children group music-making opportunities.
National Choristers
National Choristers is for 2nd through 5th graders.
They meet from 11:20 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in School 228.
They sing occasionally in worship and other venues, and take part in the Christmas Eve Family Service
and in various other presentations for Children's Ministries.
Youth Choir
Youth Choir is for middle and high school students.
Youth Choir sings together several times a year
in worship and other venues and, in the springtime, leads worship on Youth Sunday.
They also work together to prepare a special mid-winter presentation such as a musical or variety show.
Special rehearsals for the mid-winter musical presentation or for Youth Sunday are scheduled on an as-needed basis.
National's handbell ensemble, Grace Chimes,
is directed by Assistant to Music Ministries Carolann Haley.
Rehearsals are Tuesday evenings from 6:30 - 8:30.
They participate in worship several times a year,
and have performed at weddings and other special events at NPC. Performing on five octaves of
Festival seasons such as Christmas and Easter, and special services throughout the year, find the sanctuary filled with stirring sounds: brilliant brass and timpani, shimmering strings, and sonorous woodwinds. Often drawing from the professional resources available in Washington's thriving musical community, we also feature gifted members of our own congregation in ensembles or as soloists.
The organ music of worship at NPC is performed by Organist William Neil.
The John Jay Hopkins Memorial Organ in the sanctuary is
The organ consists of seven divisions. Five are included in the main organ, installed in the front wall of the church, above and behind the choir loft. The space that contains the main organ is actually part of the sanctuary itself, but is shielded from view by a thin cloth screen.
The Swell organ is on the lower left side and the Choir organ is on the lower right. Centered between these two divisions is the Great organ, with the Positiv above it. The pipes of the Pedal organ are located above the Swell enclosure, and behind the Great and Positiv. The Solo division, added in 1991, is on the upper right side, above the Choir.
The Antiphonal organ, with its own Pedal division, is visible in the balcony of the sanctuary. The State Trumpet is mounted on the front of the Antiphonal organ, with its pipes projecting horizontally into the nave.
The console has five keyboards, four manual and one pedal. The organ contains 106 ranks, and a total of more than 6000 individual pipes. Most of the organ speaks on low wind pressure, but the State Trumpet is voiced on ten inches of wind pressure. In 1987, solid state electronic controls were installed to replace the electro-pneumatic controls, and provisions were made for future expansion of the instrument. The console is moveable, and can be fully visible from the nave for concerts or recitals.
Beyond its use for solo performance, this instrument collaborates regularly with the Chancel Choir and serves supremely in the support of congregational singing for the worship of God.
The organ in the Chapel of the Presidents,
Each year Music Ministries sponsors a number of wonderful concerts by visiting artists or ensembles. In the marvelously resonant acoustics of the sanctuary, these performers have thrilled our congregation and community alike. These Music at National events regularly feature NPC's own ensembles and soloists, and popular groups such as
You can now enjoy music from National on several new CD’s. Organist William Neil's Festive Proclamation, inaugurates a new series of recordings by NPC’s Music Ministries. This highly-acclaimed disc on the MSR Label is available in the church bookstore and in stores throughout the United States. Noël, a second disc of Mr. Neil playing beloved Christmas hymns and carols was released during the 2005 holiday season. It is the first recording of another MSR series designed to feature great Christian hymns as they are sung in worship at National. A second disc of Lenten and Easter favorites was released in 2006. Mr. Neil can also be heard in collaboration with Steven Hendrickson, Principal Trumpet of the National Symphony Orchestra, on a new MSR disc featuring the Haydn "Trumpet Concerto in E-Flat."
Former Associate Organist Mary Mozelle joined United States Army Band Trumpeter Chuck Seipp on The Wedding Book, a new disc of "Ceremonial Music for Trumpet and Organ." A wonderful compilation of many ceremonial favorites, it is an invaluable resource for brides, wedding planners, musicians and ministers. A printed volume of all the recorded selections on this disc is also available.
We hope you enjoy these new discs, and invite you to watch for future releases featuring the Chancel Choir, and other gifted musicians at National.
| Sunday | 8:30 | Chancel Choir Warm-up |
| 9:15 | Worship | |
| 10:15 | Chancel Choir Warm-up | |
| 11:00 | Worship | |
| Tuesday | 6:45pm | Grace Chimes Handbells Rehearsal |
| Wednesday | 7:30pm | Chancel Choir Rehearsal |
Office Phone: 202.537.0800, x7553
Office FAX: 202.537.0246
Choir Room Office: 202.537.0800, x7518
Director of Music Ministries
Michael Denham
Assistant to Music Ministries and
Director of the Grace Chimes Handbells
Carolann Haley
Organist
William Neil
CALENDAR
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| Sunday, September 12, 2010 4:00pm | ||||
| This afternoon concert presented by the Sea Chanters will feature some Naval standards, the Battle Hymn of the Republic, and works by Britten, Perry Stroope, and Rutter. Bring the family! All are welcome to attend this free event. | ||||
| Contact: Carolann Haley 202.537.7553 |
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| Sunday, September 19, 2010 4:00pm | ||||
| Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach was recognized as an innovative and revolutionary composer in his time. Enjoy his dramatic and lively Six String Symphonies brought to life on period instruments under the baton of Maestro John Hsu. Tickets $25 | ||||
| Contact: Elizabeth Field 703.980.8840 |
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| Contact: Carolann Haley |
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| Sunday, October 3, 2010 3:00pm | ||||
| The Consort's season opens with a program centered around the nucleus of what was to become J.S. Bach's "Mass in B minor". Other featured works include music by Bach's rivals and colleagues: Heinichen, Veracini and Zelenka. | ||||
| Contact: The Washington Bach Consort 202.429.2121 | ||||
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| Sunday, October 24, 2010 4:00pm | ||||
| With a program of lush choral motets and part-songs, a cappella and accompanied, National Master Chorale presents a rich concert of some of the Romantic era's greatest choral composers. Tickets $10 to $30 | ||||
| Contact: National Master Chorale 202.596.8934 | ||||
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