Music Ministry at St. Paul’s
The music ministry is under the leadership of Mark Meyer, Music Director at St. Paul’s since 2005. He plays the organ and piano for worship services and works with a music committee which includes the Rector and several parishioners. Hymns, psalms, service music, anthems, and other sacred music for worship services are chosen according to the scripture readings and themes for the day, season, or special celebrations. The music repertoire spans many centuries and musical styles, ranging from traditional to contemporary. Music at St. Paul’s is chosen to give glory to God through our worship, and to support and inspire congregational singing.
St. Paul’s Choir and other musicians:
The Music Director leads the volunteer choir of about twelve voices. After the COVID-19 emergency, the choir will resume rehearsals on Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:10 pm and a half hour before Sunday services. The choir season begins in September and runs through early June. During this time while in-person worship services are suspended, several choir members are leading the congregation in singing hymns and liturgy, as well as singing appropriate anthems and psalm settings for St. Paul’s online services. In order to observe distancing and safety practices, we currently limit the number of singers to five. There are also frequent opportunities for other volunteer instrumentalists to share their talents in our worship services.
Instruments at St. Paul’s:
The organ in the main church at St. Paul’s is a 3-manual Austin pipe organ (1923, rebuilt 2000). It is a fine instrument for accompanying choral and congregational singing, as well as for performing solo literature. In January 2020, with the help of many enthusiastic donors, St. Paul’s purchased a 1968 Steinway Model B 6’11” concert grand piano. This instrument is in superb condition and will serve the church and community in worship, recitals, and to accompany instrumental and choral ensembles. There is also 5’6” Steinert grand piano in a rehearsal room on the lower level of the church.
St. Anna’s Chapel has a one-manual, fourteen-stop William Stevens tracker organ (1863), restored in 2013 by the Andover Organ Company. The chapel also has a 5’3” Schafer and Sons grand piano, thanks to a generous Newburyport resident in 2019. Both the main church and the chapel are known for their outstanding acoustics.
Music Notes
Via email on most Friday mornings, Mark sends a write-up about some aspect of worship music at St. Paul’s. Very often it includes background information and a reflection about one of the hymns or other music that will be part of that Sunday’s worship service. To receive the Music Notes each week sign up for our newsletter at the bottom of the page.
The Concert Program
is a vibrant part of our church life and St Paul’s outreach to the community. Due to COVID-19 guidelines, currently there are no scheduled musical events. When restrictions are lifted, we plan to continue offering some of the finest classical music in New England through our partnerships with the Newburyport Chamber Music Festival, Grammy-nominated Skylark Vocal Ensemble, and the Ballets Russes Arts Initiative, which features outstanding musicians from the former Soviet Union. In addition, we offer community concerts featuring talented local groups and individuals. We hope to expand our exciting and uplifting repertoire of concert programs in the future.
O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise
to the rock of our salvation! (Psalm 95:1)