Music

Welcome!

The Winchester Unitarian Society has a strong tradition of music in worship. You will find many opportunites for making and being sustained by beautiful music. Please contact Music Director John Kramer if you would like more information about our program.

Sunday Music Schedule?

Sunday, April 27th: Look to This Day by Adolphus Hailstork. Plus music by Debussy, Handel and Clifford Brown.

Sunday, May 4th: Hush! Somebody's calling my name, Turn the World Around, and music by Schumann and Bach

Sunday, May 11th: Youth Sunday, No Choir.

Music Sunday

Thanks to everybody for making Music Sunday so successful. A recording will be made available soon.

Sunday, April 13th: Music Sunday. New music by Music Director John Kramer. His Cantata is based on a diverse collection of texts. The seven movements are as follows:

I. You Most Glorious Greenness. Hildegard of Bingen

II. Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts. Psalm 139:23

III. The Dream Keeper   Langston Hughes

IV. The Layers    Stanley Kunitz

V. Shanti (Peace)   Sanskrit meditation

VI. A Book   Emily Dickinson

VII. Prospects   Anthony Hecht

The work is scored for choir, soprano, tenor and baritone soloists accompanied by a small chamber orchestra.

Concert Series

Tuesday, January 29th, 7:30 p.m.

The Galileo String Quartet joins Music Director John Kramer for a wonderful evening of chamber music. The program includes string quartets by Beethoven and area composer Derek Jacoby as well as the Piano Quintet of Dmitri Shostakovich.

Friday, March 14th, 8:00 p.m.

Jazz in the Sanctuary with pianist John Kramer, Ed Sorrentino on drums and Chris Rathbun on bass.

Monday, April 7th, 7:30 p.m.

Dana Russian, Trumpet and John Kramer, piano. Music by Goedicke, Kennan, Torelli, Bozza and more.

Adult Choir

Special Adult Choral rehearsal scheduled for Saturday, April 5th from 9-12.

We are blessed to have a very talented group of 20-25 singers who comprise our Adult Choir. This group is augmented by four tremendous soloists who also serve us as section leaders. The choir is always welcoming of new members and you are invited to contact Music Director John Kramer if you are interested. The choir rehearses most Sunday mornings at 8:45 a.m. and sings at most Sunday services. We also meet for choral retreats on Saturday mornings from 9-12. Our next scheduled retreat is on Saturday, January 12th.

Why should you sing? New research suggests that choral singing might be just what your body wants. According to Victoria Meredith, a University of Western Ontario professor who used the school's adult choirs as a "live research lab," participation in choral music leads to increased respiratory function, improved overall health, a heightened immune system and improved brain function. Meredith also concludes that performing in a choir "can keep you younger and healthier for longer," pointing to similar studies that found people who sing on a regular basis require fewer doctors' visits, are less prone to falls, don't need as much medication, and are less likely to be depressed.

Junior Choir