The Christ Church Choir
The Christ Church Choir
The worship at Christ Church is deeply sacramental and devotional, making full use of the rich resources of the Book of Common Prayer and rich musical heritage of the Anglican tradition.
THE CHRIST CHURCH CHOIR
The Christ Church Choir sings at Solemn High Mass on Sunday mornings, Compline on Sunday evenings, and at weekday feasts and fasts throughout the year. The auditioned chamber ensemble is made up of students from Yale University and members of the New Haven community. The choir sings polyphonic settings of the Mass ordinary; Gregorian minor propers; Psalms to plainsong and Anglican chant; and anthems and motets drawn from all periods of music history, placing a special emphasis on music of the Anglican choral tradition.
AUDITIONS FOR THE CHOIR
Choir membership includes staff singers and auditioned volunteers. Singers interested in joining the Christ Church Choir should contact Alex Whittington, Choirmaster.
The Choirmaster is auditioning all voice parts for current professional openings during the 2024-25 season!
Compline
Compline
The ancient monastic office of Compline is sung by members of the Christ Church Choir each Sunday night during the academic term. Candles offer the only illumination, and the choir sings from an unseen loft at the north end of the crossing.
The earliest formal description of Compline is found in the Rule of Saint Benedict, written in the early sixth century. Benedict described in fewer than thirty words the form Compline would take for the next thousand years: Psalm, hymn, chapter, blessing, and dismissal. "After Compline," he wrote, "no one may speak."
2024-25 Schedule
Compline is sung each Sunday at 9:00pm during term time. (Dates in italics below denote when Compline is followed by a Sung Mass.)
August 25, 2024 First Compline service of Fall Term
September 29, 2024 Compline for Saint Michael & All Angels followed by Sung Mass
November 3, 2024 Compline for All Saints followed by Sung Mass
November 24, 2024 Last Compline service of Fall Term
January 12, 2025 First Compline service of Spring Term
February 2, 2025 Compline for Candlemas followed by Sung Mass
April 20, 2025 Compline for Easter followed by Sung Mass
May 18, 2025 Last Compline service of Spring Term
The William G. Kibitz Memorial Organ
The William G. Kibitz Memorial Organ
The Rev'd William G. Kibitz, c.1962.
The William G. Kibitz Memorial Organ was built in 2005 by Lively-Fulcher Pipe Organ Builders. The 59 stop, 63 rank, and 3,752 pipe instrument is named in honor of Fr. William Kibitz, the VIII rector of Christ Church, who served from 1950-1978.
The Kibitz Memorial Organ Specifications.
The William G. Kibitz Memorial Organ is curated by the A. Thompson-Allen Company of New Haven, CT.
