Clarinet

Music

“Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with strings and flue, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals…let everything that has breath praise the Lord.”

Psalm 150:3-6

Music is an integral part of worship at Westminster. We believe that music and congregational song are responses that engage the whole self in prayer. Song unites the faithful in common prayer wherever they gather for worship whether in church, home, or other places. Psalms were created to be sung by the faithful as their response to God. Though they may be read responsively or in unison, their full power comes to expression when they are sung. The variety of music at Westminster ranges from traditional and gospel hymns, to children and praise songs. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s "Jesus Christ, Superstar" to great Bach fugues.

Westminster Choir

Our Choir is led by gifted Director Joel Dunlap, who is also Choral Director at Long Beach High School. He puts the choir through its paces during Wednesday evening rehearsals at 7 p.m. and then leads them in worship on Sunday mornings. Joel selects a wide variety of music for the choir also, including a recent rendition of “Down By the River” which consisted of a medley of Appalachian and Gospel songs. Come join the choir, all that is needed is a desire to make a “joyful noise”!

 

Children's Music Ministry

The children meet with Kimberly Buchanan during Children's Church on Sunday as well as after the church service. The children sing songs during Easter, Christmas, and special occasions during the life of the church. The music selection ranges from traditional children's songs to new contemporary songs.

Organ

 

Wicks Opus 4538 Pipe Organ

Mrs. Margery Ritchie donated funds to the church for a pipe organ soon after the church was built, specifying it should be similar to one she had purchased for a church in Muncie, IN. Wicks Organ Company of Highland, Il the largest pipe organ manufacturer in the United States, which built hundreds of modest size organ throughout the country was selected for the project. The 23 rank 1300 pipe organ and chimes was installed in the summer of 1965.

Organ Trumpets

An organ restoration committee was formed in 2004, and began discussing the possibilities for funding the project. Then Katrina happened and the church’s focus immediately shifted to the massive recovery effort. Finally in 2007 the Session of the church voted unanimously to go ahead with the project. Pipe Organ Specialties of Laurel, MS provided recommendation and design drawings for the refurbishment and expansion. Wicks, the original builder was selected to perform the rebuild work and Pipe Organ Specialties the installation and finishing. Wicks manufactured over 800 new pipes, the 1000 pipes kept form the original organ were all cleaned and revoiced, the console was fitted with new electronics and refinished and all new solid-state relays were installed. Finally Wicks manufactured several new wind regulators and Pipe Organ Specialties installed a new two horsepower blower. The 800 new pipes include four new reed ranks that were envisioned for the original organ but never installed. Two of the reeds are the spectacular Festival Trumpets mounted on the front wall of the church and the big booming Bombard in the Pedal Division. The refurbished organ now has 30 ranks, 1780 pipes, a 25 note chime, a 49 note chrysoglott, and a zimblestern. Click here to hear a wonderful organ - piano duet – “Lord of the Dance”.

We invite you to direct your questions regarding our music ministry to either Joel Dunlap, Kay Lang, or Dick Thayer.

 

Special Events