Across the Channel: Passions Baroque to Romantic Saturday, July 26th at 7:30 PM

Tess Mattingly will be in concert at St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church on Saturday, July 26th, at 7:30 p.m. The concert, “Across the Channel: Musical Passions Baroque to Romantic,” will include works by Handel, Scarlatti, Debussy, Liszt, and Britten.  Miss Mattingly is a Jacksonville native who is equally at home singing opera, art song, and sacred music.  She has performed throughout the United States and in western Europe. Recent honors include the Coeur d’Alene Symphony Orchestra and Voices of Music Young Artist awards, and an invitation to sing at the Froville Baroque Festival in Froville, France.

To hear (and see) a recording of her artistic singing, type the following into your browser: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO4n219LoEY

Dick Kerekes of eujacksonville.com says that with “. . .great stage presence and a beautiful voice, she will blow you away with her talent.”

Collaborative performers are Edie Hubert (piano) and Peter Florek (trumpet).  

Ms. Hubert currently teaches at Jacksonville University.She is also no stranger to St. Mark’s since she has played with the orchestra for past Bach Vespers services and also appeared with the San Marco Chamber Music Society. 

Paul Florek, trumpet, will also be a part of the concert.  He made his symphonic solo debut at the age of 15 and has gone on to perform with numerous ensembles such as the Elmhurst Symphony, Chesterfield Symphony, Fort Worth Symphony, Texas Camerata, and the Lincoln Chamber Orchestra.

Besides being an active international performer, Mr. Florek is currently a Doctoral Fellow at the University of North Texas where he maintains a full undergraduate teaching load.

You will not want to miss this elegant evening of music.  There is no admission.  An offering will benefit St. Mark’s Bach Vespers program.

Bach Vespers has a twenty year history at St. Mark's and this cantata is being sung as part of the church's 75th anniversary year celebration.  The first cantata was sung under the direction of Jim Rindelaub who was St. Mark's Cantor 1985 - 1999.  We are happy to carry on this great tradition of presenting music by one of the Lutheran Church's best-loved composers within the context of Lutheran worship.

top photo: Miss Mattingly
middle photo: Miss Hubert
bottom photo: Mr. Florek

Why Do They Wear That?

Each Sunday the choir follows the cross into the nave during the gathering hymn.  Dressed alike and striving to keep an equal distance between each pair of singers, they lead the singing and encourage our full participation in the liturgy.

“Dressed alike. . .” Have you ever wondered why?

There are many reasons that choirs wear robes, but in a church setting, the primary reason for doing so is to show that one has particular duties in the worship setting.  The alb (a white robe that is nearly floor length) is the most basic of the liturgical vestments and is worn by acolytes, lectors, assisting ministers, and clergy.  For our choir, we have added one more garment – the scapular.

Scapulars (from the latin word for “shoulders”) are worn over the shoulders and drop fairly close to the ground.  They are different from stoles which remind us of yokes as in Jesus’ saying, “Take my yoke upon you. . .”  It is believed that the first scapulars were practical garments, aprons really, that protected a monk’s robe while he did the work of gardening, food preparation, or whatever else needed to be done that day.

Our scapulars today are a little fancier with their liturgical colors and embroidered crosses, but they still remind us that we come to the house of God to do the work of musically leading the assembly in worship.  They remind us of the work that we’ve done in rehearsing the liturgy, psalm, hymns, and musical offering.  They remind us that, as choir members, we have a unique “job” in worship.

Any choir member will tell you that he or she serves joyfully, but the next time you see one wearing the scapular, be reminded that it takes work and commitment to serve as a chorister. Then say a prayer of thanksgiving for that person’s service and for all who work in the music ministry of St. Mark’s.

Top photo:  Modern monks wearing their scapulars.

Bottom photo: Scapular-bedecked and with hymnal in hand, members of the Festival Choir prepare to serve.