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.

The principal choir of St. James Cathedral is the assembly that gathers on Sundays to celebrate the Eucharistic Liturgy. Led by priests, readers, and deacons who chant their rightful music, and supported by Ministers of Holy Communion, servers, and musicians, this great "choir"--often over 1,000 strong--thunders its Thanks be to Gods, Alleluias and Amens. It joins together in the singing of the "Our Father" with fullness and beauty. It performs the hymns, acclamations and responses movingly and robustly--filling the resonant space of the Cathedral in a very real foretaste of the heavenly choirs.