Music
Music at First Church Somerville is joyful, collaborative, inclusive in language, and community-led.
Worship services include congregational singing, choir music, amateur instrumental participation, and special performances, contributed by people of all ages and experience levels. Whether you are an experienced musician, a casual singer, just curious, or some combination of all three, you are warmly invited to take part. Children and youth are welcome participants throughout the musical life of the church.
FCS Choir: Weekly Anthems and Seasonal Cantatas
Every Sunday, September through June, community members are invited to join in our choir, rehearsing a single piece during the hour before worship to offer during the service. These anthems are drawn from a wide range of traditions. All voices and experience levels are welcome; no audition or long-term commitment is required.
In addition, we have two “cantata” Sundays (during Advent and on Palm Sunday) that feature multiple choral anthems and offer a chance for interested singers of all levels to explore a richer repertoire. We prepare for the cantatas with one or two additional practices in the weeks prior to the service, often in conjunction with a choir brunch/dinner/social gathering.
Participation in Hymns and Service Music
In addition to the weekly choir anthems, every worship service at FCS typically includes opening and closing hymns and other service music in many styles, with all congregants invited to sing along.
Besides participating from the pews, community members of all ages—from experienced players to enthusiastic beginners—are encouraged to bring their instruments and “make a joyful noise”! We have enjoyed contributions of percussion, guitar/mandolin, wind instruments, bowed instruments, electric bass, and more.
On Sunday morning, musicians can gather informally in a welcoming “pickup band,” anchored by our music director on piano or organ. Possible instrumental parts and lead sheets (chords) are sent out a few days prior to worship in the weekly music mailings (see below). Last-minute additions, improvisation, and spontaneity are also welcome—even just grabbing one of the percussion instruments from the front during a hymn as the Spirit moves you! Our worship music is a celebration among friends, not a recital. “Praise God with drums and dance, with strings and pipe!”
Preludes, Postludes, and Special Music
FCS community members who want to contribute a prepared piece of music for Sunday worship, either solo or in a small group, are invited to contact our music director to find an opportunity to offer it as a prelude or postlude, or, on occasion, a musical interlude during the service. Youth are welcome!Recent examples of such music have included an FCS handbell choir (organized via the music mailing below), classical and renaissance duos and trios, piano solos, a contra dance band, a capella trios, guitar/vocal solos, and even a melodica quartet. (If you have an idea but not a full ensemble, we’re happy to help connect you with other musicians.)
Contact and Weekly Music Mailings
If you are interested in participating in music at FCS or have any questions, please contact our music director, April Sun, at music@firstchurchsomerville.org. We would love to hear about your interests and musical background, or simply your curiosity about participating in FCS’s music ministry. If you want, you can receive weekly emails about music for upcoming Sundays along with announcements of other musical opportunities.