Music at Saint Mark's
Saint Mark's Church is known for its distinguished music program that graces our services, and lifts the spirits of parishioners and visitors alike. A core of eight professional singers and approximately fifteen talented volunteers comprise the Saint Mark's Choir, which sings the services for Solemn Mass (11:00 a.m. Sundays), Feast Days, and special services such as Evensong and Lessons & Carols, from the beginning of October to the Feast of Corpus Christi in June. The organ is an historic and beautiful Aeolian-Skinner instrument built in 1937, which incorporates earlier pipework by Austin/Carleton Michell, the Wanamaker Shop (string organ), and recent additions by Cornel Zimmer.
"O sing unto the Lord a new song! Sing unto the Lord, all the earth!"
Musical Rendering of the Liturgy
The purpose of music at Saint Mark's is, quite simply, the musical rendering of the Liturgy, whether that be chanting of plainsong by the clergy, singing of the Ordinary of the Mass (Kyrie-Gloria-Sanctus-Benedictus Agnus Dei) and motets by the choir, hymns sung by the congregation, or voluntaries played on the grand organ. The repertoire is extremely wide-ranging, from the earliest known medieval music, through the Baroque/Classical/Romantic eras, to the most compelling and beautiful classical music being written today. On a given Sunday, one thus might hear organ music by Sweelinck, Bach, Mendelssohn, Widor, or Messiaen; choral mass settings by Tallis, Rheinberger, Howells, or Arvo Pärt; psalm singing in either plainsong (Gregorian) or 19th century Anglican (harmonized) chant; and choral motets by Palestrina, Handel, Mozart, Brahms, Duruflé, or MacMillan.