Music from Miller Chapel: O Come, Let Us Sing!—Princeton Seminary CD Release
Princeton, NJ, July 15, 2005—A study of the worship practices of a particular tradition will reveal much of its ideas on God, people, and their relationship. The Reformed tradition is no exception, with its worship services often dominated by metrical psalm singing and a Christological focus, shunning aesthetic elements. However, Miller Chapel at Princeton Theological Seminary exhibits the best of this tradition and its changing nature through the years. A CD released by the Seminary allows the listener to experience the sound of worship at Miller Chapel as expressed through music.
Although many people have requested that the Seminary choirs release a CD, Martin Tel, the Seminary’s C.F. Seabrook Director of Music, has not wanted to add another item to an already full choral schedule, as it would necessitate the removal of some other thing. Also, a recording of only choral music would not accurately portray the musical life of the Seminary, in which most participate through congregational singing. This recording, O Come Let Us Sing! arises from this desire to demonstrate the music of the Seminary as it daily occurs, in the honest and heart-felt worship of God.
The CD features music taken from the Seminary’s chapel services and liturgical concerts. Tel said of the disc, “To my mind there is no greater musical experience than to join heart and voice with an assembly in a lovely, reverberant space. Thus it seems appropriate that this series should capture not only choral singing, but also congregational singing.”
The disc is made up of an eclectic mix of pieces, such as a Syriac Orthodox chant, an Argentinean “Gloria,” African American spirituals, and many others from a wide range of styles. Instruments that can be heard on the disc include the 39 stop Joe R. Engle tracker organ, built by Paul Fritts of Tacoma, Washington; a Steinway piano, gift of The Reverend Sunhee Kwak and the So-Mang Presbyterian Church in Seoul, Korea; trumpets, trombones and horns; djembe; guitar; harp; cello; accordion; and even cowbell.
The CD is available for purchase in the Seminary’s Theological Book Agency (TBA) for nine dollars. For more information about the CD or to purchase it, contact the TBA at 609-497-7735.
