Music Ministry

The Second Vatican Council stated that the Church’s rich tradition of Sacred Music as “a treasure of inestimable value, greater even than that of any other art.” As such, the Church states that music is not merely an ornament or nicety, but “a necessary or integral part of the solemn liturgy.” Because the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is intended to be a foretaste of the Heavenly Banquet, it is essential that the quality of our sacred music reflects the beauty of the Eternal. Hence, we are committed to excellence in both congregational singing, choral singing, and spoken prayer.

Liturgical Music Opportunities

Adult Choir

This choir of 25-35 skilled men and women sings twice monthly at the 10:30 a.m. Sunday Mass, in addition to most Feast Days and Triduum liturgies. This is our Mission. Leading congregational singing and providing fine motets and anthems whenever we sing. The choir rehearses Wednesday evenings from 7:00 pm-9:00 pm in the St. Cecilia Choir Room, September-May. Its repertoire spans over eight centuries of the finest liturgical music, from Gregorian chant to brand new compositions. If you can do the following, come and check us out:

Willingness to commit to scheduled rehearsals and masses.
Ability to match pitch.
Ability to carry a tune.

You are invited to come to the choir room in the Pastoral Center during rehearsal and check it out if you think you might be interested. We welcome high school students! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Lee Treml, Director of Worship.

Schola

The schola is a mixed-voice ensemble that sings a diverse repertoire of chant, Classical motets, British anthems, and newly composed sacred works. The group offers an excellent opportunity to serve in a vitally important ministry to the community for special liturgies throughout the year. Rehearsals are on select Thursdays throughout the academic year. Singers must have choral experience, be able to read music, and commit to various rehearsals. Contact Lee Treml.

Men’s Schola

Specializing in Gregorian Chant and High Renaissance Polyphony, this ensemble focuses on both chanting the Propers (Introit, Alleluia, Offertorium, Communio) of the Mass and singing works from composers such as Palestrina, Victoria, Tallis and Byrd. The Men’s Schola sings twice a month during the academic year. Once a month for the Sunday, 8:30 am Mass and once a month for the Wednesday, 5:30 pm Mass. Rehearsals are the Monday’s at 7:00 pm, preceding the Sunday Mass they sing for. If interested, please contact Lee Treml, the Director of Worship, at tremll@stjohnnyb.org to schedule an audition.

Children’s Choir

The primary purpose of the choir is to give glory to God and to catechize and edify the faithful. The musical formation is an integral part of the human person. The Children’s Choir enable our young parishioners to use their mind, body, spirit, and voice in service to God. Those who participate in the chorister program learn the musical tradition of the universal Church as well as the leadership skills necessary to advance the future of sacred music in the Catholic Church. By singing in a choir, young people can develop a sense of professionalism and pride in what they do. This will have a positive impact on their religious education and understanding of the liturgy. The Children’s Choir is open to SJB students and parishioners from grades 2-8. Rehearsals are Tuesdays from 4:45 pm – 6:00 pm and Saturday’s from 10:00 am to 11:30 am in the Saint Cecilia Choir Room. Students are encouraged to sign up even if they can only join the group for part of the year. The choir sing at the 10:30 am Mass once a month during the school year as well as the 4:00 pm Christmas Eve Mass. The experience of participating in the Children’s Choir not only benefits the congregation but the choristers too! Sing together, pray together, learn together. Registration is open throughout the school year. Please contact the Children’s Choir Director Nadege Kreitzman at kreitzmann@stjohnnyb.org for more information.

Cantors

Cantors are most often taken out of existing musical groups. They lead specialized music at Mass, such as the Introit, Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Communion processional music. The role of the cantor is never to take the role of the congregation by singing its parts. The cantor assists the people in the singing of hymns only when necessary. Hymn singing and other chants primarily belong to the congregation. Cantors must have choral experience and be able to read music. High school age and older are welcome in this ministry. Please contact Director of Worship, Lee Treml tremll@stjohnnyb.org for more information

Sunday Evening Ignite

The 5:30 pm Mass team is dedicated to offering the Lord a sacrifice of praise through modern Christian contemporary worship music and re-visited hymns. The team almost always includes vocal leadership with keyboard, percussion, brass, and guitar accompaniment. The team is often joined by a youth and young adult choir. Abe Gross, Director of Ignite abrahamjohngross@gmail.com

Handbell choir

The handbell choir meets on Monday evenings from 6:30–8:00 pm in the St. Cecilia Choir Room. We are newly reforming and encourage anyone interested in trying handbells to come and check us out at practice. We play every 4-6 weeks at the 4:30 pm Saturday Vigil Mass. The range is from solo pieces, accompaniment to the choirs, and Contemporary Ensemble as well. The bells add a unique richness to our liturgies; mysterious, mournful and joyful. We offer an opportunity for people of different backgrounds and stages of life to offer their musical prayers for God’s glory and the inspiration of the community. The group is a joining of many talents used to create a joyful sound to honor God and enhance our public worship. We have a full set of Schulmerich bells and Melody bells. If you are interested in joining, drop in for a rehearsal or contact Laura Lind mailto:lalascrapbook22@aol.com

Musical Instruments of SJB

The King of Instruments is in the church. The Hendrickson/Rodgers pipe/digital 5 manual organ is a wonderful classic versatile instrument. The pipe division is twelve ranks of large scale pipework, while the digital division equals 136 stops and 195 ranks.

ORGAN SPECIFICATIONS

ANTIPHONAL

Violone 16 – Viol Céleste II 16 – Processional Diapason 8 – Bourdon 8 – Viols Chorus IV 8 – Gemshorn 8 Muted Viols II 8 – Flute Céleste II 8 – Major Octave Spitzflute 4 – Orchestral Flute 4 – Unda Maris II 4 – Super Octave 2 – Blockflute 2 – Grave Mixture V – Trombone 16 – Tromba 8 – French Horn 8 – Oboe 8 – Orchestral Oboe 8 – Clarinet 8 – Vox Mystica 8 -Tremulant – Echo Chimes – Harp 8 – Legato Strings 8 – Unison Off – Pedal Violone 16 – Pedal Bourdon 16 – Contra Tuba 16 – Resurrection Trumpet 8 – Tuba Major 8 – Tuba Clarion 4 – MIDI V

SWELL

Contre Gamba 16 – Bourdon Doux 16 – Geigen Diapason 8 – Bourdon 8 – Tibia 8 – Viola de Gambe 8 Viola Céleste 8 – Salicional 8 – Vox Céleste 8 – Flûte Céleste II 8 – Octave 4 – Flauto Traverso 4 – Tibia Piccolo 4 – Unda Maris II 4 – Muted Viols II 4 – Nazard 2 2/3 – Super Octave 2 – Flûte à Bec 2 – Tibia Piccolo 2 – Tierce 1 3/5 – Plein Jeu IV – Cymbale III – Double Trumpet 16 – Basson 16 – Trumpet 8 Trompette 8 – Oboe 8 – Hautbois 8 – Voix Humaine 8 – Clairon 4 Tremulant – Swell to Swell 16 – Unison Off – Swell to Swell 4 – MIDI III A – MIDI III B – Choir to Swell 16, 8, 4 – Solo to Swell 16, 8, 4 Antiphonal to Swell 8

CHOIR

Dulciana 16 – Principal 8 – (Pipe) Stopped Diapason 8 – Tibia Minor 8 – Doppelflute 8 – Viola 8 Viola Céleste 8 – Dulcett III 8 – Erzähler Céleste II 8 – Octave 4 – (Pipe) Fugara 4 – (Pipe) Rohr Pipe 4 Flûte d’Amour 4 – Tibia Minor 4 – Fifteenth 2 – Zauberflöte 2 – (Pipe) Larigot 1 1/3 – (Pipe) Cornet III Sifflöte 1 – Jeu de Clochette II – Raushquint IV – Zimbel III – Bass Clarinet 16 – Dulzian 16 – Trumpet 8 (Pipe) – Clarinet 8 – Cromorne 8 – French Horn – Tremulant – Harp Choir to Choir 16 – Unison Off Choir to Choir 4 – Tuba 8 MIDI I A – MIDI I B Swell to Choir 16, 8, 4 – Solo to Choir 16, 8, 4 Antiphonal to Choir 8

SOLO

Cello Céleste II 16 – Grand Diapason 8 – Flauto Mirabilis 8 – Doppelflöte 8 – Tibia Clausa 8 Violoncello Céleste II 8 – Violoncello 8 – Grand Octave 4 – Orchestral Flute 4 – Grand Fourniture VII Mounted Cornet V – Bombarde 16 – Basset Horn 16 – Post Horn 8 – Harmonic Trumpet 8 – French Horn 8 – English Horn 8 – Orchestral Oboe 8 – Harmonic Clarion 4 – Tremulant Solo to Solo 16 – Unison to Solo 4 – Festival Trumpet 16 – Festival Trumpet 8 – Tuba (Ch) 8 – Festival Trumpet 4 – MIDI IV – Antiphonal to Solo 8

GREAT

Double Open Diapason 16 – Bourdon 16 – 1st Open Diapason 8 Pipe – 2nd Open Diapason 8 – Voce Umana 8 – Harmonic Flute 8 – Rohrflute 8 (Pipe) – Gamba 8 – Gemshorn 8 – Octave 4 – Principal 4 Pipe – Viol Octave 4 – Spire Flute 4 – Quint 2 2/3 (Pipe) – Super Octave 2 (Pipe) – Wald Flute 2 – Terz 1 3/5 (Pipe) – Tierce Mixture IV-V – Mixture XI – Scharf IV (Pipe) – Double Trumpet 16 – Trumpet 8 (Pipe) – Clarion 4 – Tremulant – Chimes – Zimbelstern (piston) – Resurrection Trumpet 8 (Ant) – Festival Trumpet 8 (So) – MIDI II A – MIDI II B – Swell to Great 16, 8, 4 – Choir to Great 16, 8, 4 – Solo to Great 16, 8, 4 – Antiphonal to Great 8

PEDAL

Gravissima 64 – Contre Principal 32 – Contre Violone 32 – Contre Bourdon 32 – Principal 16 – Open Wood 16 – Violone 16 – Cello Céleste II 16 – (So) Bourdon 16 – Dulciana 16 – (Ch) Bourdon Doux 16 (Sw) – Octave 8 – Gedeckt 8 – Gemshorn 8 – Bourdon 8 (Sw) – Choralbass 4 – Nachthorn 4 – Harmonics V – Mixture IV – Contra Bombarde 32 – Contra Trombone 32 – Contra Bassoon 32 – Bombarde 16 – Trombone 16 – Double Trumpet 16 (Sw) – Basson 16 (Sw) – Bombarde 8 – Trumpet 8 – Clarion 4 – Rohrschalmei 4 – MIDI – Pedal Great to Pedal 8 – Swell to Pedal 8, 4 – Choir to Pedal 8 – Solo to Pedal 8, 4 – Antiphonal to Pedal 8