Community Hymn-sing at Grace Madison Oct. 12

For immediate release on or before Oct. 12, 2022  201-274-4617

Grace Community Music opens its season with a community sing in honor of the 150^th birthday of the great English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams on Wed. October 12 from 7-8 p.m. The event is free, mask optional, and people are welcome to sing or listen. A birthday cake reception follows!

Throughout Ralph Vaughan Williams’ long and extensive career, he composed music “notable for its power, nobility and expressiveness, representing, perhaps, the essence of ‘Englishness’” (The Ralph Vaughan Williams Society). Although described by his wife as a “cheerful agnostic,” Vaughan Williams is beloved for his anthems, hymns, and carols, and his editing of The English Hymnal (1906). This hymn festival will focus on the English folktune-based hymns which he collected and edited for that hymnal with his friend Gustav Holst, as well as original composed hymns, such as “For All the Saints.” The hour will end with the singing of Vaughan Williams’ arrangement of “The Old 100^th Psalm-tune” which was made for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1952.

Organist/Choir director Dr. Anne Matlack holds a B.A. in Music from Yale University, and M.M. and D.M.A. degrees in Choral Conducting from University of Cincinnati College - Conservatory of Music. As well as serving at Grace Church for 32 years, she conducts the acclaimed Harmonium Choral Society.  Grace Church’s choir program explores all styles of high quality music in a liturgical worship setting and follows Royal School of Church Music standards.  Grace Community Music was founded by donations at the wedding of Dr. Matlack and Jabez Van Cleef, to showcase local musicians, build a sense of community, and open the church to the greater Morris County audience. For more information call the church at 973-377-0106 or visit www.gracemadison.org.