Music at St. Peter's

Participation in music, for me personally, has always been an entrée into participation in worship and in the life of the church. Part of the reason I began attending St. Peter’s over 20 years ago was because the priest invited me to come and to play my flute.

When St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Detroit was rebuilt in 1929, there was not enough money to finish everything. I believe this is why we have pipe chambers, but no pipes or organ. Like the unplastered brick walls which eventually came into fashion, we have made an asset of our lack of an organ, by accompanying hymns with a small ensemble of instruments. Currently this ensemble consists of cello, flute and sometimes a recorder, but over the years, in various combinations it has also included: viola, violin, banjo, mandolin and keyboard. We are open to the musical energy that is in our midst, when there has been special talent or desire, we have had vocal soloists. We generally sing though, as a choir of the whole, (in fact, for several years our congregation actually sat in the choir) making a joyful noise to the Lord…together.

At various times, hymn sings have been important to us, gathering friends and supporters to invoke God’s help and healing in our lives through song. Often our Sunday hymn selection becomes a mini-hymn sing, as we gather a few beople to run through suggested hymns. We play and sing, looking not just at music, but at words, taking time to consider or comment on their meaning…and their “singability.”

We have often chanted parts of the service, usually as a monotone chant, embellished upon by the leadings we felt, for most of us, without the knowledge of reading music or well memorized tunes. We are open to learning new music and melodies, we even enjoy it, but lack of such knowledge does not prevent us from singing.

For me, music is an embodiment of the Spirit and singing and playing music is both a response to and a voice of that Spirit.

Ruth Hart