Music & Choir

Praise ye the Lord! Praise Him with stringed instruments and organs!

Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord!  Psalm 150:1,4,6

The St. Andrew’s choir loves to sing.  It is not just about singing though.  It is the fellowship.  They are a very welcoming group of people who are also dedicated. 

Members sing because they know it is a great gift to offer up to God.  Not just their voices, but their time. Everyone is warmly welcomed.  In this busy world, there are some who cannot commit to every Sunday.  We welcome you!

You do not need to be a professional singer. Reading music is not a requirement: some do, some don’t. Give us a try! During the regular program year, we rehearse on Sunday mornings before the Service at 9:00 am, then again at 11:30.

Our Organs

St. Andrews has the privilege of not one, but two historic tracker organs. The instrument on the floor is an E. & G.G. Hook & Hastings, Opus 714, built 1873 and installed in 1874. While small, with only one manual and a straight pedal board, it is tonally vibrant and can lead the worship with everything from the gentle 8' Stopped Diapason to the brilliant Sesquialtera. Over the years it has undergone many renovations, including the restoration of its golden oak case and stenciled front pipes, the replacement of its original hand pump wind supply with an electric system, and tonal revisions. In the early 1970's, many pipes were replaced with new ranks purchased from Anderson of Brattleboro and Kaes of West Germany, for the purpose of "finer tone, greater versatility, better clarity, and more brilliance."  The pedals were recapped with teak and hard maple, and the instrument was tuned in a meantone temperament. A celebratory concert was held in December, with Mr. John Skelton presenting works of Swellinck, Frescobaldi, Bach, Purcell and others. Extensive cleaning and restoration work was done in 1999 by Andover Organ Company. At this time a proposal was made to add a second manual to the instrument, which would include a Dulciana and a Principal stop, among others. A more moderate proposal was accepted which included stripping the case, which was then painted, and restoring its natural finish, re-stenciling the facade pipes, and releathering the reservoir. 

In the balcony is another tracker organ, a Henry Erben, which has been disassembled and moved numerous times during its long lifetime. It was lifted into the balcony by crane, and includes ranks which provide some of the tonalities lacking in the main organ. While only having an 8' in the pedal, it is not suited to leading hymn singing, but can be used for solo organ works. When tuned together, the two instruments create a wonderful opportunity for organ duets!