Music in Liturgy

". . .and so with all the choirs of angels we join in the unending hymn." Every time we assemble for the Eucharistic Liturgy, the texts of the Roman Rite urge us to join our voices to the divine choral music of the celestial city. In an attempt to manifest on earth hints of the heavenly choirs to come, musical resources at St. James Cathedral are focused to an unusual degree on choirs and groups of choirs. At more than 150 services a year, choirs support the choir of the assembly, provide musical commentary on the texts of the Mass, and reveal something of the eternal liturgy in heaven. The fullest image at St. James of this celestial choral adoration is experienced on the Feast of Corpus Christi, when all of the Cathedral choirs join the assembly’s choir, "rank on rank," in the unending hymn: Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus.

CHORAL MUSIC IN THE SUMMERTIME AT ST. JAMES

During the summer months St. James continues our year-round focus on the singing of the choir of the assembly. Organists, Psalmists, Cantors and, most importantly, choirs support and lead the singing congregation at Sunday masses.

The American bishops proclaimed in their document Sing to the Lord: “God, the giver of song, is present whenever his people sing his praises.”

And God is surely present at St. James every Sunday of the year in the singing of his people.

Sundays 10:00 & 12:00 Noon Masses

The professional singers of the Cathedral’s Cantorei support the singing of the congregation’s hymns, responses and acclamations. In addition, our Cantorei “Leads us to the realm of higher things.” (Sing to the Lord) with music spanning a thousand years of sacred music from Gregorian chant and medieval sacred music to new compositions for the mass. Composers include Lasso, Praetorius, Pachelbel, Bach, Mozart, Cherubini, Brahms, Franck, Refice, Ferko, Proulx and Herbolsheimer.

Sunday Evenings 5:30 pm

The sublime voices of the Women of St. James Schola sing Gregorian chants, English chants, and Latin motets for treble voices.

Fridays of summer at 6:30 pm

Taizé Singers provide vocal leadership for the regular 6:30 Friday evening ecumenical prayer with music from Taizé. Any singers interested in participating in this meditative prayer may contact musicoffice@stjames-cathedral.org

Choral Highlights this Summer

July 4 Independence Day 10:00 & 12:00 Noon

The Cathedral’s professional choral ensemble, the Cantorei, will be joined by tenor Gregory Carroll to sing sacred music by American composers. Stacey Sunde will revive a popular St. James tradition for our Independence Day celebration with her gospel-styled singing of Norah Duncan IV’s Glory to God.

Sunday, July 18 10:00 & 12:00 noon

Woman of the Cathedral Cantorei sing liturgical treasures for treble voices.

Sunday, July 25 10:00 am & 12:00 noon, Feast of St. James

The renowned Cathedral Choir of St. James leads the assembly in song for our patronal feast in the Jubilee Year of St. James. In addition to congregational hymns, responses and acclamations, the Cathedral Choir will sing Richard Proulx’ beautiful motet The Way of St. James. and the medieval Santiago processional song Nostra phalans.

Sunday, July 25 4:00 pm, Feast of St. James

The men’s chant choir, Peregrine, sing the propers of the Feast of St. James at Solemn Vespers with Benediction. Bill McJohn, director.

Sunday, July 25, 8:00 pm, Feast of St. James

The Jubilee celebration of our patron, James, concludes with a evening of Renaissance masterpieces sung by the region’s most respected singers of 16th-century polyphony, the Tudor Choir, with members of the Tallis Scholars. Peter Phillips and Doug Fullington, conductors. Repertoire includes: Praetorius- Magnificat II; Hassler- Verbum caro factum est & Ad dominum cum tribularer; Gombert- Lugebat Absalon; Josquin- Absalon, fili mi; Crecquillon- Pater peccavi; Clemens- Ego flos campi; Praetorius- Magnificat V.

Wednesday, July 28 5:30 pm

Tallis Scholars conductor Peter Phillips leads the Tallis Scholars Summer School participants in Josquin’s Missa Ave Maris Stella during the mass. The Very Reverend Michael G. Ryan, Presider.

Friday, July 30 8:00 pm

Tallis Scholars Summer School

Tallis Scholars Founder, Peter Phillips conducts singers from around the nation who have participated in the summer school. Sacred works will be chosen from the following: Isaac- Missa Solemnis; Lassus- Motet and Magnificat Aurora lucis rutilat; Lassus- Omnes de Saba; Lassus- Alma redemptoris; Lassus- Lamentations III; Clemens- Ego flos campi; Gombert- Magnificat III

Sundays of August 12:00 noon

Summer Choir—our annual opportunity for all singers of all capabilities to join the Cantorei in song. Click here for more information.

Sunday, August 15 10:00 am, Feast of the Assumption

The Cathedral’s extraordinary children’s choir, the Schola Cantorum continues a 90-year tradition at St. James by singing music for the Feast of the Assumption.

Sunday, August 15 12:00 noon, Feast of the Assumption

The choir of Holy Family, Auburn (Rick Antes, director) joins the Cantorei to celebrate the Feast of the Assumption with the assembly.

Sunday, August 22, 10:00 & 12:00 noon

The men of the Cantorei sing the powerful liturgical and sacred music of 19th-century France, Germany and Italy (Cherubini, Brahms and Refice).

Sunday, August 22 12:00 noon

The choir of All Saints, Puyallup (Paula Schmitz, director) with the men of the Cantorei and the Summer Choir “join with all the choirs of angels in the one unending song of joy”.