Music Program

The music program supports the worship at St. Philip's, particularly the 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. Sunday Liturgies and various Church Festivals throughout the year. As the services differ in style and in formality so does the music used in each service.

The 11:00 a.m. worship (10:00 a.m. in the summer) held in the church is traditional in nature, and its music is supported by a vested Choir and organ.

Music in the service includes

• an organ prelude
• hymns at the beginning, end, and during Communion
• sung service music
• an Offertory Anthem
• sung psalms
• Gospel Alleluias

Choir anthems, reflecting the Lectionary of the day, are drawn from the vast music repertoire from all periods. Styles range from 15th/16th century motets sung in Latin to modern works of 21st century composers such as John Tavener and Michael Sitton.

Psalms are mostly sung responsorily -- the congregation joining the choir in an Antiphon response -- with a Cantor or Choir singing the verses. A variety of Service Music settings is used, changing with the Liturgical seasons.

The 9:00 a.m. worship (September through May) is held in the parish hall. The format of this service is non-traditional with no choir. The people are seated on three sides of the Altar and gather around the Altar for Communion. Music leadership is provided by an instrumental ensemble of piano, strings, brass, flute, and other woodwinds. Congregational song includes

• a Song of Praise (replaced by Lord, Have Mercy in Lent and Advent)
• an Offertory Hymn
• Holy, Holy, Holy
• a sung setting of the Lord's Prayer
• during Communion, a repetitive chant from the Taizé Community.

Hymns at all the services are drawn from the Hymnal 1982, Wonder, Love and Praise (WLP), and Lift Every Voice and Sing (LEVAS II). Based on the Lectionary for the Day, it would not be unusual to sing hymns from the 19th century Victorian period along with hymns from modern poets/composers or from the African-American tradition.

A sung service of Compline is held every Wednesday evening at 7:30 p.m., September to May.

The repetitive music of the Taizé Community is also in use at the Sunday evening Service at 5:00 p.m.

Adjunct to the music program, and shared with the entire community are the Madrigal Dinners. The dinners are a festive celebration of The Birth of Christ, held in the Parish House on or near the Twelfth Night of Christmas. It is a feast of much singing and pageantry. Music is offered throughout the evening by Madrigal Singers adorned in 16th century costumes.

The Organ, Opus 11 (1987), was built and installed by Goulding & Wood Inc. organ builders of Indianapolis, Indiana in 1987. The 42 rank instrument with electro-pneumatic key action and slider chests is distributed over three manuals and pedal.

Opportunities to share one’s gifts in music are available in several ways:

• Adult Choir.  The Adult Choir rehearses Wednesdays after Compline at 7:30 p.m. and again at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings. During the summer, rehearsals are at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday.
• 9:00 a.m. Music Ensemble.  The ensemble of instrumentalists and vocalists meets at 8:30 a.m. Sunday mornings.
• "On Call Choir"  This choir provides sung leadership for Burial Offices. As the name indicates, it is assembled when called.
• Youth Choir and Bell Choir

For more information on the first three, contact the church.

© 2003, Saint Philip's Episcopal Church
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 218, Durham, NC 27702
Telephone 919-682-5708, Fax 919-683-1857

Webmasters: Jack Mitchell, David Smith