Music at Christ Church

As an Episcopal congregation, we are blessed with the glorious heritage of Anglican Choral Music: Hymns, Psalms, and Service Music for congregation and well-rehearsed choirs. As an American and international and international congregation, we draw also upon the best traditions of other Western and Eastern liturgical churches: Catholic, Lutheran, and Orthodox, to name but a few. In addition to English, we sing in Latin, Greek, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Hebrew, Slavonic, and Hawaiian, as appropriate to the composition and the occasion. We take great care in choosing and preparing music which reflects upon the readings for the day, and will feed our minds and souls both in the present, and for years to come.

Music for the Congregation
In a typical Sunday Eucharist, we sing Service Music (Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, Christ our Passover, Agnus Dei), the Gradual Psalm (metrical, Anglican, or plainsong), the Sursum  Corda (our most ancient connection with early Christians and the Church around the globe), and Hymns from The Hymnal, 1982, the supplement Wonder, Love, and Praise,  and other sources.  Very parishes can boast of such a large and varied congregational repertoire.

Choirs
Christ Church has long supported a number of choirs for children, teens, and adults, both to lead congregational singing, and to offer exquisite choral music as an integral part of our worship.  The choirs enrich our services on a regular basis with special Psalms, Anthems, Motets, Masses, and Descants.

Choristers
Boys and Girls in Grades 3-8
No previous musical background is required.  Training in vocal production and music reading is woven into each rehearsal.

Rehearsals - Thursdays - 4:30 - 5:30 pm
Sundays - Warmups - 8:25 am
                Service      9:00 am

The regular participation in leading liturgical worship is a fantastic experience of ritual and spirituality, which will last a lifetime.  IN no other area of church life can children of this age function and contribute on an equal basis with adults!

Choir
Teens & Adults may audition.  Consideration is given to:

• Meeting the schedule on a regular basis

• Sense of pitch and ability to blend

• Music reading skills.

Rehearsals - Thursday - 8:00 - 10:00 pm
Sundays - Warmups  - 10:15 am
                Service     -  11:00 am

Christ Church Choir draws on the fullest of traditions in offering choral music of many styles and historical periods during liturgical celebrations.  We are blessed with the singing talents and efforts of many volunteer members, teen Choral Scholars, and also the skills of six dedicated professional Section Leaders.  Eight times a year we are privileged to offer choral settings of the communion service ("Mass of the Month,") often a Viennese Classical Mass with strings, or perhaps an a cappella masterwork of Renaissance polyphony.

Summer Choir 
June, July, and August
Children & Adults
Sundays - Rehearsal -  9:15 am
                Service    - 10:00 am
Come for a single Sunday, or several weeks.  Rehearse directly before the Eucharist.  Prepare a simple Psalm, Anthem, and Motet.

Mass of the Month
First Sundays

October 1^st          11:00 am
     Missa Brevis in F
          Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

November 5^th       11:00 am
     Missa O quam gloriosum
          Thomas Luis de Victoria

December 3^rd        11:00 am
     St. Nicholas Mass
          Franz Joseph Haydn

December 24^th      11:00 pm
     Messe de Minuit pour Noel
          Marc-Antoine Charpentier

February 4^th         11:00 am
     Miss Brevis in D
          Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

March 4^th             11:00 am
     Mass for Five Voices
          William Byrd

April 1^st & 8^th         9:00 & 11:00 am
     Special Palm Sunday & Easter Choral Music

May 6^th                11:00 am
     Missa Resurrectionis
          Gerre Hancock

June 4^th                10:00 am
     Little Organ Mass
          Joseph Haydn
         

Contact:

Tad Cavuoti, Director of Music, 301-762-2191 ext 14 tcavuoti@cecrockville.org

Reuter Pipe Organ 1966/2003
Recently restored & enlarged
26 Ranks of pipes
3 Manuals & Pedal
Moveable Console
     In the Chancel

Oberlinger Chest Organ 2001
3 Ranks of Pipes
Transposing Keyboard
     In the Balcony

Steinway Grand Piano 1893
Model A, historically restored
     In the Choir Room

Schulmerich Hand Bells
4 Octaves

Our Musical Director  

Tad Cavuoti   Williams College, Catholic University, Westminster Choir College, overseas programs in England, Germany, and France, former National Cathedral Choir, composer & arranger.   

Director of Music & Organist at Christ Church since 1994, Tad provides inspiring accompaniments for hymn singing, gives imaginative leadership to the Choristers and Choir, writes music especially for the people of Christ Church, and serves as Cantor upon occasion. An active member of the Association of Anglican Musicians, AGO, and the Royal School of Church Music, he represents our parish and musician colleagues on the Diocesan Human Resources Committee. Since 1977 he has served as Music Director at the Landon School for Boys in Bethesda, where he directs singers and handbell ringers, teaches music history & composition, and organizes music festivals.