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Conducted by the Music Director, William David Cooper, the Hills Church Chancel Choir provides music leadership for our worship services. In addition to hymns, the sing an unusually wide range of repertoire from Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina to the best contemporary composers of sacred music. They are often accompanied by professional (and occasionally amateur) instrumentalists, including brass and tympani, especially for festive services. In addition, on Special Music Sundays we usually perform with a small orchestra. The choir rehearses every Wednesday evening. from September through May, and sings for worship services September through July.
While music has always held a special place in the worship services at the Hills Church, twice a year on a Sunday morning - once in Advent and again during Lent - it steps out of its supportive role into the limelight. On these occasions, the Chancel Choir and its soloists, under the direction of Dr. William David Cooper, are typically joined by a chamber orchestra to present a major musical work in lieu of the spoken sermon. Not intended as a concert, Special Music Sunday offers a visceral worship experience that invades the senses, conveying the good news of the Gospel promise directly to the heart as only music can. Past Special Music Sundays have featured cantatas by J.S. Bach, Antonio Vivaldi’s Gloria, Marc-Antoine Charpentier’s Messe de Minuit Pour Noël, settings of the Requiem by W.A. Mozart, Gabriel Fauré and Maurice Duruflé, Théodore Dubois’ The Seven Last Words of Christ, and Conrad Susa’s Carols and Lullabies: Christmas in the Southwest. |
