Upcoming music events set at St. Peter’s Church in Lewes starting Oct. 16
The Albright Angels and Mane Men will perform a varied program of sacred and secular music at 5 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 16, at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Lewes. The 24-voice ensemble is under the direction of Adlai Binger, director of choral music at Albright College in Reading, Pa. The group’s repertoire encompasses many types of music, including works from the Renaissance, pop favorites, folk, jazz, sacred pieces and American spiritual music.
Their appearance fits perfectly with the energetic program of St. Cecilia Guild's inaugural season. The guild was established at St. Peter's to support and enhance the already extensive music program at the church by offering additional musical presentations and concerts, as well as introducing guest professional musicians to southern Delaware.
In September, at the first of the guild's scheduled events, more than 200 people filled the church to hear the combined St. Peter's adult choir and the Southern Delaware Chorale, accompanied by seven instrumentalists, perform Gabriel Faure's "Requiem," a choral-orchestral setting of the shortened Catholic Mass for the Dead in Latin, presented to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 tragedy.
"Our hope is that high-quality musical presentations will transform the lives of those in our church and our southern Delaware community," said T.J. Thomas, St. Peter's music director.
St. Cecilia Guild's 2016–17 season includes a variety of musical genres and ensembles from jazz concerts, organ recitals, and a handbell performance to the already popular service of choral Evensong. "Of particular interest is our new resident ensemble, the Lewes Chamber Players, composed of local professional musicians and special guests," he said.
In early October, the guild hosted the premier concert of the Lewes Chamber Players, who presented a program of European Traditions with compositions by Zoltan Kodaly and Josef Rheinberger. The group will return to play selections from American composers at 7 p.m., Friday, Nov. 4, and will make three other appearances during the season.
In addition to the church's special choral music normally presented during the seasons of the Christian year, there are some special events in addition to those named above. A choral evensong is set at 5 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 30. The adult choir of St. Peter's sings this uniquely Anglican service of sung evensong prayer featuring music of Bairstow, Paulus and Radcliffe. Eric Mintel Jazz Quartet will perform at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 12.
With performing credits including the White House, Kennedy Center and Marian McPartland's "Piano Jazz" on NPR, the group will present some of the best jazz to be heard in the mid-Atlantic region. Advent Lessons and Carols will be at 5 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 4. St. Peter's Adult Choir leads this traditional service of readings and music as Christians await the coming of Christmas.
St. Peter's is at Second and Market streets in Lewes. For more information, go to www.stpeterslewes.org or call 302-645-8479.
