First Congregational Church of Cheshire

Programs | Junior Choirs | Senior Choir | Handbell Choirs | Rehearsal Schedules

Music and Worship

In Jewish, Islamic and Christian worship, music is the bearer of the Divine Word. Whether in the form of the pealing of the steeple bell or the chanting of the muezzin from the minaret, music calls us to prayer. All cultures and civilizations have made of their music an offering to God. The foundation of its association with religious ritual lies buried deep within the common roots of our ancient past. The Psalms abound with injunctions to "Sing to the Lord!". This phrase occurs in varying forms more than three hundred times throughout the Bible, making it the most repeated of all biblical mandates.

Music is a powerful spiritual tool. One of the earliest examples of what today would be termed "music therapy" is found in the Bible in First Samuel, chapter 16, where David relieves Saul's mental anguish by playing upon his lyre.

Music is a mental discipline. It develops the faculties of concentration, memory and abstract thought, and integrates the left and right hemispheres of the brain. Recent studies have shown that children perform math problems more easily and accurately while listening to Mozart!

Programs

First Congregational Church offers music programs in three areas:

Primary and Junior Choirs (K through 3rd grade and 4th grade through High School respectively)
Senior Choir (High School through adult)
Handbell Choirs (Handchimes - Grades 2 and 3, Junior Handbells - Grades 4 through 8, and Senior Handbells - High School through adult)

Junior Choirs

Two junior choirs participate actively in our worship life. The Primary Choir is open to children from kindergarten through third grade. Rudimentary concepts of music are introduced such as pitch association and simple rhythms. Rote learning characterizes the fundamental teaching approach for this group.

In the Junior Choir, open to all children from fourth grade through high school, children learn to read basic music notation and develop concepts of melody, tempo, and dynamics. They also gain familiarity with the Worship and Rejoice Hymnal and fundamental structures of Christian worship.

Both choirs sing regularly at the 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. Sunday services, as well as on special occasions such as Christmas Eve, Easter, and Children's Day.

It is not necessary to audition to join the junior choirs. Just contact their Director, Joseph D'Eugenio.

Senior Choir

The Senior Choir sings two Sundays a month, usually the first and third, at both the 9:00 and the 11:00 a.m. services. The Senior Choir presents music of all periods and styles, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and needs of our congregation. It assists the congregation in the singing of hymns and responses and provides special music to enhance the worship experience.

Choir members can participate for the entire season or just for a special service and the rehearsals leading up to it. Some of our special services include:

Lessons and Carols. A beautiful, traditional candlelight service held in the afternoon on the third Sunday of Advent.

Memorial Music Sunday. Every year the Senior Choir presents a major choral work with orchestra, a tradition that allows both congregation and singers to experience some of our culture's most powerful faith expressions.

Our choir is well supported:

Choir Academy is available every Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. before the Senior Choir rehearsal. Experienced choir members will take you through the written music so that when rehearsal time comes you will be ready to sing with confidence. Please contact the director ahead of time if you would like to participate.

Section Leaders. Our choir is very fortunate to have the assistance of professional musicians Patricia Barbano (soprano), Paul Fletcher (baritone), and Paul's wife Jessica (alto).

Auditions are not necessary. Contact the Director, Joseph D'Eugenio.

Handbell Choirs

The Handbell Choirs usually perform one Sunday a month at both the 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. services. The Senior Handbell Choir also performs on Christmas Eve and Maundy Thursday.

Handbell ringing originated in England in the 17th century as a means for tower bell ringers to practice "change ringing" - a method of ringing the bells in a tower consecutively through all their mathematical permutations, called a "peal" - without disturbing the neighborhood! By the mid-19th Century, handbells had evolved as instruments in their own right, and handbell bands flourished throughout England, drawing huge crowds to their concerts and contests.

Handbell ringing is a great way to make beautiful music if you don't sing or play an instrument. Of course, if you do sing or play an instrument, you can still join a bell choir!

The Bell choirs are open to all who are interested. Please note that the schedule is arranged so that it is possible for children and adults to both sing and play the bells if desired. Contact their Director, Marianne Beckmann.

REHEARSAL SCHEDULES
Wednesday night is music night at First Congregational!

Handbell Choirs (Rehearsals in Parish Hall)
5:15 - 5:45 p.m. Handchimes
5:45 - 6:30 p.m. Junior Handbells
6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Senior Handbells

Junior Choirs (Rehearsals in Music Room)
6:00 - 6:30 p.m. Primary Choir
6:30 - 7:15 p.m. Junior Choir

Senior Choir (Rehearsals in Music Room)
7:30 - 9:30 p.m.