T his Sunday we will have an end of the summer choral treat as we welcome the Schola Singers to the 10am service. This will be a taste of what's to come when the full choir returns on September 22. Music will include a Choral Mass setting,  Mass for   The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine  which I composed in 1998 during my tenure as  Cathedral Organist  at the Cathedral. The Mass had its debut at  Lincoln Center  in 2015 when it was performed in concert by the  National Chorale  at  David Geffen Hall (formerly  Avery Fisher Hall .) We will also hear music by the American composer Gerald Near  who was a student of Leo Sowerby, one of the foremost composers of church music, considered the “Dean of American Church Music.” Near’s music has become, along with Sowerby’s, staples within the Anglican Choral Tradition and many of his hymns and arrangements are featured within the 1982 Hymnal. We sing several of his congregational mass settings including the Fraction Anthem which we are currently using. His beautiful setting of Psalm 145,  The Eyes of All Wait Upon Thee  is being sung at the Offertory. The text of this psalm ties in beautifully with Sunday's Gospel. Last but not least, the Schola will sing a beautiful anthem by Canadian  Paul Halley  who served as Organist and Choir Master at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine from 1977-1989. His music has earned him three Grammy Awards and his musical setting of  Summer Suns Are Glowing  takes the words of the stirring prayer by Bishop W. Walsham How and transforms them into an inspiring anthem— Light of Light! Shine o’er us on our pilgrim way, go thou still before us to the endless day. Amen.
 
Members of the Schola are  Adriana Portales, Jessica Reed-Hitchcock, Lori Snow, Sam Cucci,  and  Phil Denny.

I'll see you in Church! Tim