Music

Music plays an integral role in the life and worship at the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, where a rich musical tradition has been present from the church’s very beginning.  By participating in one of the choirs, playing an instrument, singing a hymn, or simply listening from the pews, we are spiritually fed by our parish’s music program.

Listen to live recordings of the St. Martin’s choir:
    Preces - William Smith
    Psalm 34 - Anglican Chant by Martin How
    Like as the Hart - Herbert Howells
    Ezekiel Saw The Wheel - William Dawson

Choirs

The Chancel Choir is an auditioned group of thirty-five volunteer and professional singers. Members must have vocal or choral experience, and must be fluent music readers. During the choir season (mid-September through May), the Chancel Choir sings weekly at the 11:15 a.m. Sunday Eucharist, and sings Evensong at 5:00 p.m. on the first Sunday of each month. Practices are held on Thursday evenings from 7:30-9:15 p.m.

The Parish Choir is a more casual ensemble of volunteer and professional singers who sing at the 9:00 a.m. Eucharist twice a month.  Membership is open to anyone who is interested, and choral experience is not required.  The Parish Choir rehearses at 8:15 a.m. on the Sundays they are singing.

The Treble Choir is open to girls and boys in second through eighth grade.  They sing at the 9:00 a.m. Euchrist twice a month - once by themselves, and once with the Parish Choir adults.  Rehearsals are held on Wednesday afternoons from 4:00-5:30 p.m.  During rehearsals, the Trebles are given age-appropriate instruction in music theory, voice building, and liturgy.  St. Martin’s is an Affiliate Member of the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM); as Trebles develop their voices and musical skills, they earn color-coded awards to mark their progress.  Teens in grades nine through twelve and boys whose voices have changed are invited to join the Parish or Chancel Choir.

The Handbell Choir is open to anyone with music reading experience. During the choir season, the choir plays twice each month at one of the Sunday services. The choir practices on Tuesday evenings from 7:30-8:35 p.m.

The Music Staff

Erik Meyer has been the Music Director at St. Martin’s since August 2011.  He holds degrees in organ from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, and has performed all over the world. 

The St. Martin’s Cantorei are professional singers who serve as section leaders in the choirs, soloists and cantors at services, and sing together as a choral ensemble.

Jerome Brandt, soloist emeritus
Krystianne Cooper, soprano
Alyson Harvey, mezzo-soprano
Wilson Jeffreys, tenor
Matthew Zimnoch, baritone

Assisting musician Adenike Webb leads the music for Worship Together, the 10:15 a.m. Sunday service for young children.

St. Martin’s choir library is managed by volunteer librarian Connie Haggard.

New Members

All of the choirs regularly welcome new members. If you are interested in joining one of the groups, or would like more information, please call Erik Meyer at the church office (215-247-7466, ext. 104) or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

The St. Martin’s Organ

In 1888 the first St. Martin’s organ was built by the Roosevelt Organ Co of New York. This two-manual and pedal instrument underwent numerous rebuildings by Hope-Jones, E.M. Skinner and others of lesser reputation. A new console was built and installed by E.M. Skinner in 1939 to make operable the existing instrument of ancient and completely undistinguished vintage. That console and several stops were refurbished and adapted for the installation of an otherwise new organ built in 1957 by the Aeolian-Skinner Organ Co. of Boston. This organ was one of Joseph Whiteford’s first instruments after his appointment as president of the firm after G. Donald Harrison’s death. The choir division of this organ was revised by Aeolian-Skinner in 1959, and the swell Bombarde extended in 1975.  Click here for the organ specification.

The church tower is notable for having two sets of bells: a nine-chime set dating back to 1889, and a ring of eight bells (1980) hung for English change ringing. The latter are rung by members of the Philadelphia Guild of Change Ringers.

Sing Joyfully

Sing Joyfully, a recording by the choirs of the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Chestnut Hill. The compact disc contains a wide range of repertoire, ranging from 16th-Century Latin motets to newly arranged spirituals, sung by the two singing choirs of the church, as well as two selections played by the handbell choir. The cost is $15 each (plus $2 shipping).  Please contact the church office to obtain a copy.