Today's concert, entitled "Three Choirs, Three Composers" (and three music directors, by the way), was offered by the combined choirs of three churches in Summit, NJ, with four soloists and chamber orchestra, in addition to the main tracker organ and the small portatif organ.
The program consisted of
- Missa Secunda by Hans Leo Hassler
- Prelude and Fugue in C Minor BWV 546 by Johann Sebastian Bach (organ solo)
- Chorale Cantata No. 3 ("O Sacred Head, Now Wounded") by Max Reger
- Cantata No. 79 ("God, the Lord, is Sun and Shield") by Johann Sebastian Bach
The church was packed, which is fairly rare for concerts like this! And I'm sure that most everyone was pleased by what they heard. The choirs had been rehearsing for three months, and did an excellent job.
A combined concert by Summit area churches, championed by George Moser of St John's and John Little of Calvary Episcopal Church, has been offered every Spring for the past several years. It is one way to unite a community - if only for an afternoon.
We have something similar in Stirling called the Festival of Sacred Music. It is headquartered at St. Paul's United Church but includes performances by musical groups from most of the local churches and denominations. "Sacred Music" is somewhat loosely used as secular chamber music is also performed.
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