All music, no sermon on “Choir Sunday” at First Congregational Church

March 19, 2010
by Keith Robellard

Twice a year for more than 35 years, the First Congregational Church of Chappaqua Chancel Choir has performed a significant choral piece in lieu of the Sunday sermon. This Sunday, March 21, during morning worship from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., the choir will perform Francis Poulenc’s Gloria. All are invited to share in this special Sunday worship service and join us for Sunday brunch afterwards in the church hall.

Francis Poulenc (1899-1963) was a member of the French composers Les Six, along with Darius Milhaud, Georges Auric, Louis Durey, Arthur Honegger and Germaine Tailleferre. We now know this group was more a journalistic creation than musicians united by common musical ideas.  Of the six, only Milhaud, Honegger and Poulenc had significant musical careers. Poulenc produced music for film, theater and ballet.
 
After the death of a friend in 1936, Poulenc began to compose sacred scores. His Mass in G (1937), Quatre motets pour un temps de pénitance (1939), Exultate Deo (1941), Salve Regina (1941), Stabat Mater (1950), Quatre motets pour le temps de Noël (1952) and the Gloria (1959) – the piece we will perform this Sunday –are his most notable creations. The Gloria uses a variety of sounds and chords set to the traditional text of the Mass. Within its six sections, Poulenc contrasts loud trumpet-like phrases with warm jazz-like chords.

Poulenc’s interpretations of the Latin text for the Gloria were considered too avant-garde for the church in 1959. Its first audiences considered the Laudamus te too cheerful. The haunting Domine Deus, Agnus Dei section reminds me of sci-fi soundtracks from the late 60’s; its last movement reminds me of my favorite passages from Claude Debussy.

The Chancel Choir sets an impressionistic background to the lovely soprano solo sung this Sunday by Virginia Winn, a resident of New Castle for 41 years and a long-time soloist at the First Congregational Church.

The church is located at 210 Orchard Ridge Road, Chappaqua, N.Y.  10514. For more information contact the church office at (914) 238-4411 or visit the church website www.fcc-chappaqua.org.

Keith Robellard is celebrating his 20th year as Director of Music at First Congregational Church, Chappaqua. He will be directing the performance of Poulenc’s Gloria this Sunday and providing accompaniment on the piano. He has also served as organist/accompanist at Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester here in Chappaqua for 20 years. Weekdays, Robellard is a member of the music faculty at the Rippowam Cisqua School in Bedford. He lives in Bedford Hills with his wife, Diane.

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