Special Music Service: West Gallery Group, Sunday, November 23

The West Gallery Quire and Instrumentalists, directed by Bruce Randall, will present music for the harvest season at the 10:00 a.m. Morning Prayer service. West Gallery music is traditional sacred music from English village churches of the 18th and early 19th centuries. As an attempt to introduce church music into rural areas, choirs were formed from the local residents. The village instrumentalists were often recruited as a means of assisting the singers. The mixed ensemble of singers and instrumentalists usually performed from a gallery at the west (rear) end of the church, so the music came to be known as West Gallery music. The style is hearty and rhythmic, sometimes called “Barnyard Baroque.” The West Gallery Group practices at St. Mary’s monthly on Sunday afternoons. Join us for this special Thanksgiving service!