Music Group

Music Group playing at a Family Service (click for larger image)

The St James' Instrumental Group meets to provide accompaniment for the Family Service on the second Sunday of each month, and at the Christingle and Crib services at Christmas. New members are always welcome, and they should be able to play an instrument to at least Grade 4 standard. At the present time it is a young people's group, but this may change and adults who play instruments and might enjoy being involved are invited to get in touch with Frederic Goodwin on (01507) 605254. Almost any melody instrument can be included, though not piano or guitar. The group meets at 9:15am to practice in time for the service at 10 o'clock.

Like the Girls' Choir, the Instrumental Group has now existed for ten years, and a sizeable repertoire of hymn tune arrangements has been built up. The problems tackled in connection with this include things like transposing the key of a hymn so that an E flat saxophone can play it, and ensuring that the style of an accompaniment suites an ensemble of this kind generally. In addition to the hymn accompaniments, the group learns to play an ensemble piece each month for use as a voluntary, and examples include music by Handel, Charpentier, Mozart, Schubert, Franck, Scott Joplin, etc.