Church musicians from 26 states participated in the 54th annual Sewanee Church Music Conference July 12-18 at DuBose Conference Center in Monteagle, Tennessee, and at the University of the South in Sewanee. Keith Shafer, director of music and organist of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Augusta, Georgia, planned and directed the conference.
Heading the conference faculty were Malcolm Archer, newly appointed organist and master of the choristers at St. Paul's Cathedral, London; Huw Lewis, chair of the music department and college organist at Hope College, Holland, Michigan; and Iain Quinn, director of music of Trinity Episcopal Church in Hartford, Connecticut. The Rev. Dr. Susanna Metz, assistant professor at the School of Theology, Sewanee, served as chaplain and lecturer.
In a variety of workshops Archer and Lewis covered anthem, psalm, and plainchant accompaniment as well as Anglican chanting. Quinn discussed Episcopal basics that were especially helpful for those who are new in the Episcopal Church. Mark Schweizer of St. James Press, Quinn, and Archer led anthem-reading sessions. For two afternoons Archer demonstrated techniques of choir training with the 22-voice Canterbury Choir of St. Paul's in Augusta, Georgia.
Dr. Metz led the daily services and in a series of lectures focused on the ritual, liturgy, and ministry of small churches. Archer composed The Sewanee Service used at the daily services for which Quinn was the organist.
Two organ recitals were highlights of the week. Lewis played the newly renovated and enlarged Casavant in All Saints' Chapel at the University of the South. Quinn performed on the new Casavant in the Chapel of the Apostles at the School of Theology in Sewanee.
The 155 conferees formed the choir for two services in All Saints' Chapel. Evensong used an Anglican chant setting for the psalm and Stanford in A for the Magnificat and Nunc dimittis. An exciting, once-in-a-lifetime experience occurred when the choir for the anthem was rearranged into eight choirs, each with five voice parts, to sing Tallis's monumental 40-voice polychoral motet, Spem in alium, conducted by Archer.
The University Service on Sunday morning used Archer's Sewanee Service for the setting of texts for The Holy Eucharist. K. Lee Scott, commissioned by the Sewanee Church Music Conference, composed the offertory anthem, A Hymne to Christ, using an extensive text by John Donne and accompanied by organ and brass. Scott attended rehearsals and the Sunday service.
Also commissioned by the conference was Andrew Clarke's organ work, Chorale Prelude on the hymn tune Munich, played during communion. The hymns were sung to organ and brass accompaniments by Roland Martin, Eberhard Ramm, and Sterling Proctor. Malcolm Archer was the conductor and Huw Lewis was the organist for both services in All Saints' Chapel.
