Carroll St. Lawrence to hold St. Cecilia Sings

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
November 10, 2005

CARROLL - For the second year, St. Lawrence Church in Carroll will host a concert as part of the National Pastoral Musicians (NPM) St. Cecilia Sings. Described as a Concert in Prayer, the event is slated for 4 p.m., Nov. 13.

According to Marcy Anderson, director of music and liturgy at St. Lawrence, this is an international festival where by NPM encourages all parishes to participate. This is the second year that the organization has promoted St. Cecilia Sings.

"They can have a concert, choral festival, prayer event - anything with a title of St. Cecilia Sings - during the month of November," said Anderson, who added that most try to plan the event near the feast of St. Cecilia on Nov. 22. "She is the patron saint of musicians."

She pointed out that by holding a St. Cecilia Sings event it not only raises awareness about the National Pastoral Musicians organization, but it also allows parishioners and other community members a venue to see who is involved in the music ministry at St. Lawrence.

"Who ever sees all of the musicians you work with in one parish? You may see one person song-lead, one choir or one small group. I have 140 people on my line-up - song leaders, musicians, choirs, family groups and children who sing at Christmastime. It's from second-graders to people in their 80s," noted Anderson.

As many as 90 to 100 people may participate in the Concert in Prayer.

"It will be a combination concert and hymn-sing, where people will sing along," she explained. "It will start out with a prelude and there will be a candlelight procession of all the musician."

The musicians and vocalists will go to different places in the church so that when the concert starts, there will be music coming from all different spots.

"I'll have soloists up in the loft, a choir on the left side, a children's band ensemble somewhere else and violinists in another spot," said Anderson. "They will all take turns - alternating between the choirs, cantors, soloists and instrumentalists."

During the concert, about every fifth song will be a hymn with the congregation.

This is a similar concert to the program that was featured last year. More singers have been added and a few songs have been cut. Last year there were 24 songs and it went a little over an hour. Wanting to keep it right at an hour, this year 20 songs will be featured, plus the prelude.

"It features music from the entire liturgical year," she said. "It should be enjoyable, singing favorite church songs. There will be a bombardment of musical styles."

The musical menu will range from traditional to folk and contemporary.

She opted to take part in the St. Cecilia Sings festival this year after receiving such positive comments last year.

"People were simply amazed at the talent and the variety because they had never seen that together in one spot before," said Anderson. "It took them by surprise."

There is no charge for the concert, however, a free-will offering may be taken at the concert. All people are welcome to attend.