music
O sing unto the LORD a new song : for HE hath done marvellous things
The Choir
Since its founding in 1861, the parish of St. John the Evangelist has been faithful to the Catholic Tradition of the Anglican Church, as expressed in the Prayer Book and the English Use arising from the Medieval Sarum Liturgy. Music is an important part of this tradition.
St. John’s prides itself on a long-standing tradition of great choral music. Its choir, which was originally composed of men and boys, is currently an adult mixed ensemble of professional musicians and talented undergraduate and graduate students in music and other disciplines.
The Choir is responsible for providing the music at the weekly Solemn High Mass, where it performs a Choral Mass setting, two motets, and the propers of the day. It also sings for occasional Choral Evensong services, as well as other liturgical functions throughout the year. It specializes in 16th and 17th Century sacred polyphony, 19th and 20th Century Anglican repertoire, and plainsong.
If you are interested in joining the choir, please contact the Interim Director of Music, Amiel Elfert.
Show yourselves joyful unto the LORD, all ye lands : sing, rejoice, and give thanks
Organs
St. John’s gallery organ was built in 1984 by Hellmuth Wolff and Associates of Laval (Opus 27) and replaced an earlier Warren/Casavant instrument at the front of the church. The organ was designed along North German lines with input from the Church’s organist, Donald Mackey. The current organ includes a number of stops from the previous instruments, including the large-scaled 16’ Trombone in the Pedal, still on its original wooden shallots. A stoplist of the organ can be found here. [link to Stoplist Pdf].
St John’s is also home to a small chamber organ built by S. R. Warren (1855).
We warmly welcome visiting organists who wish to play our instruments. Appointments to do so can be made by contacting the Interim Director of Music.
Praise the LORD upon the harp : sing to the harp with a psalm of thanksgiving
With trumpets also and shawms : O show yourselves joyful before the LORD the King