Music at Emmanuel
From the beginning, “when the morning stars sang together and all the heavenly beings shouted for joy” (Job 38:7), creation has been musical. “When in our music God is glorified, and adoration leaves no room for pride it is as thought the whole creation cried, Alleluia!”
Through music, we are able to reflect some part of the order, beauty, and diversity of God’s creation.
In the Episcopal Church, music and worship work together to lift up our expressions of joy and faith. Drawing from the deep well of the Anglican musical tradition, our services are enriched by choral, congregational and instrumental music from earliest plainsong to newly composed works, music of great composers as well as the world’s folk traditions. In all this, we seek to live into the holiness of beauty with texts and music that might be comforting or challenging, but which always strive to bring us closer to understanding God’s wisdom and feeling God’s love.
Emmanuel’s music program is served by an 8.5 rank tracker organ, built and installed by Rieger Orgelbau in 1976. Its sound and size are appropriate to the architecture and historic nature of Emmanuel’s worship space. A Baldwin piano and three octaves of Schulmerich handbells are also used on occasion to expand our musical offerings.
The choir includes those with extensive choral experience as well as some who want to explore their love of singing within a dedicated group of volunteers. Rehearsals are Thursday evenings, 7:00-8:30 during the program year. Teenagers and adults are welcome to join.
For more information, contact us at music@emmanuelmiddleburg.org
OUR ORGAN
Our organ is an 8.5 rank tracker organ built and installed by Rieger Orgelbau in 1976. Its sound and size are appropriate to the architecture and historic nature of Emmanuel's worship space.
EMMANUEL RINGERS
Our handbell choir rings for Sunday worship and other special occasions throughout the year. They have three octaves of handbells and three octaves of tone chimes.
In addition, Emmanuel’s Parish Hall is the site for community concerts, including an annual series of nine performing arts programs as part of the At The Parish House series. A Steinway Model B from 1896, has been lovingly restored and is used during many of those concerts.
Whether in church or in concert, music is a reminder of God’s creative purpose in our lives, and is sometimes our best hope for expressing the inexpressible.