Easter And Holy Week Music Planned At Grace Church

[drops]The choirs of Grace Episcopal Church, Madison, under the direction of Dr. Anne Matlack, are planning special music for all of Holy Week.

On Wed., March 23, there will be a Compline for Kids service with child appropriate prayers and songs, and foot washing. The half-hour service is at 6:30 p.m. and is preceded by a family soup supper and an outreach project at 5:30 p.m. Although geared to families with children two to 12, all ages are welcome.

The Maundy Thurs. service at 7:30 p.m. on March 24, will feature the adult choir and older children in Elgar’s Ave Verum and Owen’s Drop Slow Tears, as well as Taizé music with flutes and violin. The Gargoyles. The Daughters of Zion will sing an early American anthem.

On March 25, the Good Friday three hour service, starting at noon will feature the adult choir in the first hour, followed by soloists Susan Goodman,  Eleanor Wroath, and George Hayman, all of Madison, as well as instrumentalists Helen Raymaker, piano, and Teddy Love oboe, joining Dr. Matlack on organ and flute.  The Gargoyles and Daughters of Zion will sing; younger children join the service, and 50 trebles will sing Hatfield’s “When the Stars Fall and the spiritual Were You There?” There will be congregational hymns, prayers, meditations and organ music.  The community is welcome, and the congregation should feel free to come and go for any part of the service.  Nursery care is provided. A special Good Friday children’s liturgy will follow at 3:15 p.m. for ages pre-school through elementary.

The first service of Easter is the Vigil is Sat. March 26 at 7 p.m., featuring the music of Taizé, with many singers and instrumentalists, including flute, recorder, clarinet, oboe, strings, brass, and guitar.  This mystical, meditative service begins in darkness, with the lighting of the new fire and the chanting of the Exultet, and continues with the ringing of bells and the first alleluias of Easter. Singers from the community who would like to join the choir for this service are welcome at the 6 p.m. rehearsal (please call 073-377-0106×17 to reserve a stot. A festive champagne reception follows.

Easter Sunday March 27, the combined children and adult choirs will be joined by professional brass quartet, percussion, organ and bells at the 9 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. services, in music by G.F. Handel, K.Lee Scott, Tomas Lius da Vittoria,  Jeffrey Rickards and others.  Widor’s “Toccata” will be the organ postlude.  There will be activities for children at both services, including the flowering of the cross, easter drama and an Easter egg hunt.  The 7:30 a.m. Rite I service will feature Peter Sciaino, trumpet.

For more information, call the church at 377-0106 or visit www.gracemadison.org.