DECEMBER 2017 ISSUE
This month's music feature



Jeffrey Parola performs J.S. Bach's  Fugue in C minor, recorded live in concert on the St. Thomas Memorial Organ on 23 Jan. 2016.
December Calendar


SUNDAY, 3 DECEMBER, 10:30a
High Mass for Advent I
Anthem: 'Ave Maria' from Deux Chansons sacrés by Gabriel Fauré


SATURDAY, 9 DECEMBER, 5:00p
Advent Lessons & Carols with the LASchola
Music: Advent hymns, with great choral works by Lassus, Palestrina, Victoria, Mendelssohn, Rheinberger, Britten, Howells, and Rutter.


SUNDAY, 10 DECEMBER, 10:30a
High Mass for Advent II
Anthem: Magnificat by Francesco Durante


SUNDAY, 10 DECEMBER, 12:00p
Choir Christmas Boutique and Sing-a-long
following the 10:30a High Mass


SUNDAY, 17 DECEMBER, 10:30a
High Mass for Advent III
Anthem: Benedixisti Domine  (Gregorian Chant)


SUNDAY, 24 DECEMBER, 10:30a
High Mass for Advent IV
Anthem: Drop down, ye heavens by Heathcote Statham


SUNDAY, 24 DECEMBER, 5:00p
Christmas Eve Family Mass
Music: Festive hymns and an array of Christmas organ music, including Silent Night arr. David Conte (no choir)


SUNDAY, 24 DECEMBER, 11:00p
Christmas Midnight Mass
Music: Festive hymns, Mass No. 1 in G Major by Joseph Haydn, The Snow Lay on the Ground by David Conte, and an array of Christmas organ music, including a piece written by parishioner, Dr. Byron Adams. A string ensemble accompanies the service.


MONDAY, 25 DECEMBER, 10:30a
Christmas Day Mass
Music: Festive hymns, Mass No. 1 in G Major by Joseph Haydn, The Snow Lay on the Ground by David Conte, and an array of Christmas organ music, including a piece written by parishioner, Dr. Byron Adams. Mr. David Daniels accompanies on solo violin.


SUNDAY, 31 DECEMBER, 7:30p
High Mass
Anthem: Organ Voluntary
Looking ahead . . .


Sunday, 7 January, 10:30a
High Mass for the Epiphany
Anthem: 'Et incarnatus' from Missa Paschalis by Jan Dismas Zelenka


Saturday, 3 February, 5:00p
Latin Vigil Mass with the LASchola
Music: All-Mozart, including his rarely-heard Missa Brevis in D Minor


Wednesday, 14 February, 7:30p
Ash Wednesday
Anthem: Nolo mortem peccatoris by Thomas Morley

Parish Clergy & Staff

Canon Ian Elliott Davies, Rector

Fr. Mark D. Stuart, Assoc. Priest

Canon John Crean, Asst. Priest

Dea. Walter Johnson, Deacon

Dr. Jeffrey Parola, Master of the Music

Mr. Weston Harris, Organ Builder

Mr. Joseph Warren, Secretary

Mrs. Anahi Van Zandweghe, Bookkeeper

Mr. Eddie Garcia, Sexton

Mrs. Debby Driscoll, Parish Nurse
Parish Website

 
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Choir Christmas Boutique & Sing-Along



After High Mass on Sunday, 10 December, please join the St. Thomas Choir in the Large Parish Hall for the annual Choir Christmas Boutique and Sing-along. Lots of delicious baked goods and seasonal crafts will be sold while Christmas carols are sung by all. All proceeds raised at the event benefit the Music Program at St. Thomas. Please join for a wonderful time and a great cause!
Advent Lessons & Carols


Lo, he comes with clouds descending! An annual favorite tradition, this service of Advent Lessons & Carols anticipates the birth of Christ with a sense of great mystery and joy. Music includes classic favorites and other gems by Mendelssohn, Lassus, Britten, Rutter, and Howells. Mr. Jae Park guest conducts the radiant LASchola, and Dr. Jeffrey Parola accompanies on the organ. The service takes place on Saturday, 9 December at 5:00p, and a reception follows in the Large Parish Hall. Please be sure to bring friends, as attending this service is a beautiful way to usher in the Christmas season!
Organ Project Update

The St. Thomas Memorial Organ, ca. 1989

The rebuilding of the organ console continues with mounting of new premium keyboards. The bottom 4 keyboards are from the concert organ previously in Bridges Hall of Music at Claremont Colleges. The top keyboard, which will play the Trumpets at the back of the church, is from the historic organ at St. Patrick's Cathedral/New York City. The organist of the cathedral at the time was Pietro Yon, composer of the familiar Christmas song,  Gesu Bambino.

The new 5-manual keyboard for the St. Thomas Organ

Also beginning this season is a vintage set of pipes, named Vox Humana . This particular style of pipes has its origins in 17th century Germany and France. The St. Thomas pipe set was built by Samuel Pierce of Massachusetts, master organ pipe builder, who supplied pipes to organ builders from 1847-1924.
 
Vox Humana pipes to be installed in the St. Thomas Organ

Calling All Singers



The St. Thomas Choir continues to look for volunteer singers: sopranos, altos, tenors, and basses! Singing in the Parish Choir is a fun and meaningful way to give to the community, all-the-while learning how to effectively and skillfully sing the musical treasury of the Church. To inquire and/or schedule an audition, please click here to contact the Master of the Music, Dr. Jeffrey Parola.
Anglican Chant Tutorial


A wonderful video tutorial on Anglican Chant has been made available on YouTube by Mr. Michael Sanchez, the Interim Minister of Music at Christ Church Episcopal Parish in Lake Oswego, Oregon. This resource is a great way to become familiar with technique of reading Anglican Chant, a tradition with which we are very acquainted at St. Thomas! If you have any further questions about Anglican Chant, please do not hesitate to ask our Master of the Music, Jeffrey Parola.