Music at Holy Trinity

For years Holy Trinity Church has been a widely-recognized showcase for the rich Lutheran tradition of music, both in its inspiring worship services and through its annual concert series.

Holy Trinity's widely acclaimed, largely volunteer 50-voice Chancel Choir offers music for worship services from all periods from an enormous repertory. Special music is offered for festivals such as Easter, Christmas, Reformation and others. The Choir rehearses from 7:00pm until 10:00pm Thursday evenings weekly from early September through early June, and more frequently prior to major festivals and concerts.

Our Chapel Choir, established in the Fall of 2002, is composed of singers who wish to offer their talents to the church, but are unable to devote the time necessary to sing in the Chancel Choir. The group rehearses twice a month on Thursday evening from 6:00pm -7:00pm from October through May, and sings once a month at the 8:30 service in the Chapel. They also sing at the 10:30 service on the Sundays after Christmas and Easter.

Through our concert series, the Western New York community has been enriched by many area premiers in a remarkable collaboration between the 80 voice Concert Choir of Holy Trinity and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra in performances at the church. In past programs, they have collaborated on varied works such as Bach's Christmas Oratorio, Vaughan-Williams' Dona Nobis Pacem, and Mahler's 8^th Symphony - The "Symphony of a Thousand." At this latter performance, over 250 musicians performed! Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture has been performed on several occasions, complete with choirs, cannons and pealing bells!.

The parish's concert series has also presented numerous organ recitals, silent movies with organ accompaniment, fully staged operas in conjunction with the Greater Buffalo Opera Company, and many notable vocal and instrumental ensembles. Because of the depth and unique nature of the Holy Trinity Concert Series, it has been recognized in Musical America.

The parish is unusually blessed by the gift from the Margaret L. Wendt Foundation of its great organ. This heroic instrument has grown from a modest one in 1948, to its present size of 152 ranks of pipes, with a 5 manual Chancel console and a 3 manual Gallery console. The entire instrument can be played from either console. The Kegg rebuild was completed in 1997, and included two new consoles, complete rewiring, many tonal and mechanical changes, and last but most importantly, many weeks of tonal finishing. The result is astounding and has been proclaimed "a new recital instrument of the highest order." Frederick Swann was the consultant for most of this extensive project.

While there are many notable features to be explored, the Grand Choir reeds are of particular note. They are enclosed and on 10" pressure, and are patterned after those of Father Willis, with modifications required for the placement and acoustics of Holy Trinity Church. They are very exciting with their dark, chocolaty, and powerful sound. The Bangshorn is part of this chorus and is named in honor of the Rev. Dr. Charles D. Bang. In addition, there are three fanfare reeds and two thirty-two foot reeds.

The specification reflects the musical taste of Mr. James Bigham, Organist

and Choirmaster of the church, and it is remarkably complete. Among its many attributes, it is a fabulous accompanying instrument and has been used to stunning effect in virtually the complete concerto literature with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. The instrument does not want for accessories and includes Pedal Divide with selectable division point, unlimited piston memory, MIDI, and two Zimbelsterns..

In 2005, as part of our 125th anniversary celebrations, our chapel organ was replaced with a new instrument built by the Kegg Organ Company. This unusual instrument was designed in collaboration with Richard Alexander of Philadelphia. .

The Chancel Choir with James Bigham on the Margaret L. Wendt Memorial Organ have produced the 125th Anniversary Celebration in Music CD. Get your copy now. Contact the church office, or pick up your copy in the narthexes before or after worship. The cost for this 2 CD set is only $20.

CD 1	CD 2
1. Creation, The Creation of the Sun and Moon, (Haydn)	1. Give Unto the Lord, Psalm 29 (Elgar)
2. Magnificat on the First Tone (Buxtehude)	2. Jesus Christ the Apple Tree (Poston)
3. Jam Sol Recedit (Parker)	3. Die mit Tränen Säen, from Psalm 126 (Schein)
4. Witness (A Traditional American Spiritual)	4. Let Us With A Gladsome Mind (Ridout)
5. Os Justi, from Psalm 37 (Bruckner)	5 - 8. Sonata #4 in B Flat (Mendelssohn) Allegro con brio, Andante religioso, Allegretto, Allegro maestoso e vivace
6. Prelude and Fugue on the Name BACH (Liszt)	9. O Sing Joyfully Unto the Lord, from Psalm 81 (Byrd)
7. Prelude and Fugue in G Major (Bach)	10. Exultate Deo, from Psalm 81 (Poulenc)
8. O Sacrum Convivium (Messaien)	11. I Looked and Behold a White Cloud (Willan)
9. Frostiana Cycle, The Road Not Taken (Thompson)	12. O Clap Your Hands (Gibbons)
10. Frostiana Cycle, Something Like a Star (Thompson)	13. Solomon, Entrance of the Queen of Sheba (Handel)
11. A Little Suite (Corelli)	14. Sing Me to Heaven (Gawthrop)
12. The Holy City (Adams)	15. Overture to Tannhäuser (Wagner)