Music for Fall - From our Director

Dear Friends,


We will begin our regular season of choir and handbell choir at First Trinity on Sunday, September 14, Holy Cross Day. Choir will meet at 9:00 in the balcony and will sing for the service at 10:30; handbell choir will rehearse from 12:00 to about 1:00 in the library.


The choir will be leading the congregation in Evangelical Lutheran Worship Setting 1 of the liturgy with the organ and with Sandra Quaschnick, trumpet. We will sing "In the Cross of Christ I Glory" set to a beautiful new hymn tune - the only one I know of that starts in one key and ends in another. As time permits, we will also work on music for the coming weeks.


Thanks to Amanda Wahlig, who has researched good handbell music for us, we will have several new pieces to try out for handbell choir.


On November 2nd, All Saint's Sunday, we will be singing Requiem by John Rutter together with the choir of First Congregational Church and an instrumental ensemble. Ever since our Bach cantata collaboration last May, people from First Congregational have been asking me "When can we sing together again?" - so this will be our next occasion. I think that everyone enjoyed the selections from this piece that we sang last year, and I think you will enjoy singing the whole thing.


As always, both I and the congregation are grateful for whatever you are able to contribute to the choir and handbell choir as your time and interests permit. I know that people have very busy lives and schedules! Please know that you are welcome to join us as you are able.


If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.


Thanks!


Steve Brodd

Trinity Sunday Bach Cantata

On Trinity Sunday, May 18, the combined choirs of First Trinity Lutheran and First Congregational churches presented J. S. Bach's Cantata 78, Jesu, der du meine Seele, together with soloists and chamber orchestra. This piece, widely considered one of Bach's masterpieces, features a profound opening chorus followed by a duet for soprano and alto and arias for tenor and bass in markedly contrasting styles, and ends with a chorale, all presenting the triumph of Christ's redemptive love over the forces of evil and despair.

Farewell to Amy

Sunday First Trinity gave a fond farewell to Amy, our former interim choir director, organizer of the Men's Choir, founding member of the handbell choir, trombonist, choir member, mission committee member and often found with the Young Adults or the Wise Women - shame we couldn't get her to contribute! She's off to follow her dream, but we will miss her and save a place for her in the pews and in our hearts. Here is a brief snippet video of the bell choir's performance on April 27.

the bells rang out

On Easter, the entire congregation participated in the service by ringing small bells after every Allelulia... The bell choir gave a beautiful rendition of Morning has Broken - Jonathan was quite impressed by Mom (Pastor Wendy) and the big bells she rang. The choir even helped with the children's sermon! We had guests musicians from the Church of Finland, and Sara S. shared her trumpeting with us again. The music was wonderful - on a sad note it was the last Sunday our tenor cantor Wayne will be with us. We'll miss you!!!!

Original posts - new look from Google

Welcome to the home page of the First Trinity Lutheran DC Bell Choir blog! We are a motley crew of all ages - secondary school students to seniors. What we have in common is an enjoyment of music and of the fellowship we share. We even have a break out group - our own power trio, of Amy, Emily, and Amanda. Music is an important part of the worship at First Trinity. We invite choir members, musicians, or any First Trinity member to post to this blog. Other blogs affiliated with First Trinity Lutheran are listed.

During Epiphany, First Trinity enjoyed an international liturgy thanks to the hard work of the Worship Committee. We added extra color in the sanctuary and new hymns from Native American, African, and other cultures. Handbell choir continues monthly rehearsals.

Update from the Office

The handbells were serviced today. "The Bellman" cleaned and serviced the yoke assemblies,adjusted the playing action throughout, and re-voiced the clappers as needed. What this means: All the bells have been set and adjusted to play easily and consistently, so that we can play the whole dynamic range from pianissimo to fortissimo, and so that the bells all have the same "action" -- that is, you don't have to ring the "C" twice as hard as the "D" to get the same volume. No more bells wiggling and flopping on their handles. No more "squeaky axles." No more bells that are actually easier to ring "backwards". I am so excited! Now we are really ready to ring in Easter!
Ruth Worman, Office Manager