Music

Chancel Choir

The Chancel Choir rehearses on Thursday evenings from 8-10 pm in Kohlstedt Hall.

In addition to weekly worship, they present special concerts during the year.

Choir retreats, fellowship occasions and Concert Tours are part of the life of this group.

Contact: Mark Shaull 650-323-6167 x111

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Postludium Concert Series

Once a month join us immediately following worship for the Postludium Concert series, a new series of 20-30 minute musical offerings. In the season ahead we will offer a great variety of musical styles as we explore inspiring masterworks of faith as well as entertaining concert artistry.

Plan to stay for a while and enjoy the gift of music by our music staff and friends.

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Fiume di Musica

Fiume di Musica, the chamber group of First Palo Alto, encourages those in our church family who play an instrument and wish to be part of the river of music to consider joining the group.

We play a range of chamber music, and work as either a full ensemble, or as small sub-groups depending on people's interests and talents.

The core of Fiume is from the church, but musicians from outside are also invited to play as needed and if interested.

Please consider joining, and inviting friends to listen and play.

Check out Fiume's website.

Contact Alan Cooper 650-321-3644 if you would like to participate

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First Methodist Handbells (High School and Adult)

Ready to ring? The handbell choir rehearses in the Sanctuary on Thursdays from 6:45 pm until 8:00 PM.

There is always room for new members. The ensemble uses a five octave set of Malmark Bells

Contact: Deborah Yowell

(650) 493-7663

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Ukelele Strummers

You are invited to become a member of our newest musical group, the Ukelele Strummers.

The group is open to new strummers--no experience necessary. Meetings are 7:30 to 8:30 pm on Monday nights in the Millennium Room. Loaner ukes are available.

Call Toby for more info, 321-3644.

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Listen to Special Music Presentations

The First United Methodist Church of Palo Alto has a very active music program.

We regularly offer special music presentations as part of our worship services.

Past offerings have included:

• Messe de Requiem by Camille Saint-Saëns
• The Duruflé Requiem
• The Mozart Requiem in D Minor
• A New Creation by René Clausen
• The Winter Rose by Joseph M. Martin
• Dubois' The Seven Last Words of Christ
• The Christmas Oratorio by Camille Saint-Saëns

Click here to learn more about, and listen to some of these special music events.

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The Merritt Speidel Memorial Organ

Read all about the history and composition of our magnificent Merritt Speidel Memorial Organ.

Click here to read all about our organ

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Concerts

First's vast cathedral acoustically compliments many quality concerts and recitals held by Bay Area musicians. We regularly host performances of groups such as the Philharmonia Baroque, New Century Chamber Orchestra, and Midsummer Mozart Festival.

Contact the concerts coordinator, Jerry Johnson 650-323-6167

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Messe de Requiem by Camille Saint-Saëns

The First Methodist Church of Palo Alto Chancel Choir and soloists with orchestra presented the Messe de Requiem by Camille Saint-Saëns on All Saints Day, November 7, 2010. The Saint-Saëns Requiem occupies a unique place among the composer's religious choral works.

The work, composed in late 1877 and completed early the following spring, was dedicated to friend and patron Albert Libon. Unlike many of the Requiems compositions of the romantic period, which were conceived in a far more grandiose and operatic style, the Saint-Saëns work is a composition with a true sense of sacred reverence and devotion.

The solemnity in the music, particularly in the opening pages of the Requiem, and again in the Agnus Dei, takes on an added significance when learning that not long after Saint-Saëns completed the work, his young son fell to his death from the fourth floor of the family’s Paris home. A few weeks later this tragedy was compounded when his other child died of illness.

Mark Shaull, Director

Soloists
Kathleen Branyon-Goodman, Soprano
Fran Moyer, Alto
Chuck Carman, Tenor
David Goodman, Bass

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The Faith We Sing

Thanks to a grant from our Centennial Endowment Funds, we have purchased copies of The Faith We Sing . They can be found in the pews.

The Faith We Sing is a supplement to The United Methodist Hymnal and contains a diverse selection of music from newly written hymns, contemporary worship and praise music to world music.

Our own Hoyt L. Hickman was the general editor of The Faith We Sing. During worship on September 24, 2006 he told us the story of how (and why) this new hymnal was developed.

His wife, Martha Hickman, then discussed her book Wade in the Water: 52 Reflections on the Faith We Sing. It offers 52 reflections on hymns from The Faith We Sing.

Hoyt then led us a prayer of dedication for our new hymnals.

to Hoyt and Martha Hickman discuss The Faith We Sing.

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