The Christ Church Parish Choir
Thomas Baugh, Director of Music and Organist

Hymn: Here from the world – Michael Sitton
Lodovico Viadana: Exultate justi
Thomas Tallis: O nata lux
Orlando Gibbons: Magnificat (The Short Service)
Leo Sowerby: Magnificat (The Evening Service in E Minor)
Harold Friedell: Nunc dimittis (The Evening Service in F)
Benjamin Britten: Rejoice in the Lamb
Gabriel Fauré: Cantique de Jean Racine
Balfour Gardiner: Evening Hymn
John Gardner: Brightest and best of the sons of the morning
Hymn: Abide with me
Ezekiel saw de wheel
Charles Villiers Stanford: Psalm 150

On the Town Again
Tom Lehrer/Gilbert & Sullivan: The Elements
I’m gonna wash that man right outta my hair
This nearly was mine
Chattanooga Choo-Choo

The celebration of our parish’s 100th anniversary in the church at the corner of Franklin Road and Washington Avenue coincides with my 30th anniversary as Director of Music. This collection of music is offered to share the extraordinary achievements and great joy of the Christ Church Parish Choir, with whom I am privileged to collaborate.

I came to Christ Church in October 1986. I was 33 years old, and had the opportunity to make friends with and learn from members of the Greatest Generation who had contributed mightily to making our parish the vibrant Christian witness it is. Gladys Abbe, Nurse Kennerly, Bush Malcolm, Mary Linda Smiley, and Jane Peters all were still singing after years of service. I knew that I inherited the work of those who had come before me: Gordon Baker (1885-1947), who served from 1908-1940; Helen Robertson (1916-2006), who served from 1945-1949 and went on to a legendary tenure of 53 years at Calvary Baptist Church; Marvin Beinema (1930-2006), who served from 1949-1959 and went on to 43 years’ service with distinction at Trinity Episcopal Church, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; Jack Bowman (1934-1998), who served from 1959-1974; and Tom Bailey 1975-77 and Wayne Gibson 1977-1986. At the original Christ Church organ, Miss Blanche Deal held forth the astounding tenure of 1912-1953.

The loving labor of these dedicated musicians built what I happily inherited. Great things had been done. Jane Peters was part of a girl’s choir from Jefferson High School whom Helen Robertson directed Saturday mornings on WDBJ radio during the 1940s. Church music files contain arrangements and compositions from the hands of my predecessors.

Living memories of these accomplishments animated the choir that greeted me. A rich history begets variety in programming–this is the maxim I have tried to follow. We hope this musical sampler offers something for everybody.

We begin with Michael Sitton’s hymn composed for the dedication of the Fisk organ in 2004. Its lyrical strains immediately captivated and spoke deeply to our congregation. With regular use for services of commemoration and ordination as well as the beginning of each program year, the work has been textured by our shared lives and experiences.

A cappella (unaccompanied) music features the choir. Two examples are the serenely beautiful Tallis motet O nata lux and the resounding spiritual Ezekiel saw de wheel, which features the clarion voice of our own Mac McCorkle and the basso profundo of retired Sweet Briar music professor Allen Huszti, who sang special events with us for many years.

In regular Evensong services, our choir has dipped into the richest heritage of Anglican music. The Gibbons Short Service is a longtime staple of our repertory. We complement it here with music by Friedell and Sowerby, accompanied by the 2004 Fisk organ.

Britten’s glorious Cantata, Rejoice in the Lamb, a setting of visionary poetry by Christopher Smart (1772-1771), has similarly been a repertory staple. We present it here in its most recent offering.

Between 1995-1999, the choir, joined by guest singers and instrumentalists, presented works by Bach, Mozart, Haydn, Duruflé and others.  The Cantique was the first full piece I played on our Fisk organ during the Open House introduction of the instrument in March, 2004, at the Fisk workshop in Gloucester, Massachusetts.

The choir’s two “On the Town” Pops Concerts raised funds for Habitat for Humanity and Bethany Hall. Four offerings are presented for your delectation. We are all still extremely moved by Alex Martin III (1932-1999) singing “This nearly was mine” from South Pacific. Bringing Alex on at the concert, I was able to add how his father had known author James Michener in the South Pacific during World War II. “Chemistry Professors” John Eure and Mac McCorkle were a hit in their lab coats, instructing the audience in the Periodic Table of the Elements.

The great doxological Psalm of praise concludes the collection. Here, as always, the Christ Church Parish Choir sings with joy and thanksgiving. It will always be so with this remarkable group at the corner of Washington Avenue and Franklin Road.
With deep gratitude,
Tom Baugh, September 1, 2016