Music
St. Philip Music Ministry
Inspiring faith through the beauty of sacred sound.
By joining our hearts with the beauty of sound, we give voice to our faith through the art of music. Music soothes, excites, challenges and unites us in ways in which words alone cannot. Through our hymns and responses, the singing of our choir, and the sounds of our instruments, music enables us to touch the deepest mysteries of God as we unite together in worship and concert. At St. Philip, music for worship spans the centuries from Medieval chant and Renaissance polyphony through the most modern repertoire of the new millennium. Organists, choir, and soloists provide musical leadership throughout our liturgical services each year, and the church houses a magnificent mechanical action pipe organ built by Paul Fritts. The excellent acoustics and inviting architecture of the church building provide a warm environment for music of the highest quality that engages, enriches, and educates both our family of faith and the greater Houston community. St. Philip also provides support, training, and education for tomorrow’s church musicians through its staff singer and organ intern programs. For more information on any aspect of the St. Philip music program, please continue reading below.
St. Philip Choir
Adults college age and above
St. Philip Church has enjoyed a long tradition of musical excellence in both worship and concert settings, and the St. Philip Choir has always been an important part of that tradition. In addition to its offerings in weekly worship services, recent concert and worship repertoire has included beloved classics like Vivaldi’s Gloria, Mozart’s Solemn Vespers, Bach’s Cantata 61 Nun komm der Heiden Heiland, Maurice Duruflé’s Requiem, and Via Crucis by Liszt, as well as more modern works like Howard Goodall’s Eternal Light and Lux Aeterna by Morten Lauridsen.
Adult singers in all voice parts are welcome and encouraged to join the St. Philip Choir. The ensemble focuses on sacred choral music in all styles from the 12th-century chant through music of our own time, and provides members with regular training in vocal techniques, music reading, and sight singing in a warm, welcoming and engaging atmosphere. Rehearsals are on Wednesday nights, and new members are always welcome — come join us! The choir sings on Sundays at the 11:00 am Service.
Staff Singers
Professional singers who also serve as choir section leaders and soloists.
St. Philip maintains a staff of professional singers representing many of Houston’s brightest lights in the vocal arts. Staff singers serve as section leaders in the St. Philip Choir, and regularly contribute to services in featured solos, duets, or form a smaller ensemble for select choral repertoire.
Bell Canto Handbell Ensemble
Adults and high school age youth.
St. Philip is fortunate to own two complete five-octave sets of handbells, and two complete sets of handchimes. The handbell ensemble is open to both experienced and rookie ringers. Some music reading ability is helpful, and there’s room for a sizable number of players! Smaller ensembles of ringers are also formed as needed, and this provides a unique opportunity for experienced ringers to develop their musicianship through playing in small groups. Bell Canto rehearses on Sunday mornings beginning in mid-September, and plays for worship services approximately once a month. Come ring with us! If you’ve never rung handbells or handchimes before, don’t worry, we’ll teach you how!
Ukulele Ensemble
Adults and high school age youth.
A relatively recent addition to our music ministry, St. Philip’s Ukulele Ensemble plays for services 3–4 times per year. The ensemble is open to any experience level, from beginners to experienced players, and the church will provide an instrument to those who are not able to.
Instruments
Organ
The sanctuary organ, by Paul Fritts and Company of Tacoma, WA, was installed and dedicated in 2010. Modeled after Northern European examples from the “golden age” of organ building, this mechanical-action instrument comprises 48 registers or “stops” across three keyboards and pedal. The instrument, Fritts’ Opus 29, is this highly respected builder’s first instrument in Texas.
The specifications of the organ can be viewed on the Paul Fritts and Co. Organ Builder’s website.
Harpsichord
Built in the style of Albert Delin, an 18th century Flemish builder, by John Phillips of Berkeley, CA, this harpsichord was completed and dedicated in 2012. The Delin is a single-keyboard instrument with two 8’ (unison) sets of strings.
Handbells
The church owns two five-octave sets of Schulmerich handbells, as well as two sets of tone chimes—a result of the 2010 merger of Central and St. Philip Presbyterian Churches. The two sets of bells allow for increased flexibility of programming, set-up, and literature which is not possible with a single set.
Percussion & Children’s Instruments
St. Philip is proud to have several professional level percussion instruments, including Djembes, tambourines, and a set of Adams timpani drums, all of which enhance the many offerings of our music ministry. The church also owns a full set of Orff instruments, as well as an array of children’s percussion instruments like handbells, drums, shakers, and more,
Pianos
The sanctuary includes two Steinway grand pianos, a concert grand in the chancel area, and a standard grand in the choir loft. Many other pianos are located throughout the campus in choir rehearsal rooms, class rooms, and community rooms, making it possible to have live accompaniment not only for choir rehearsals, but also for various classes, meetings, and meals.
Music Skills & Links
Tools for building your music reading and listening skills.
FREE ONLINE RESOURCES for SKILLS BUILDING
www.8notes.com
www.teoria.com
www.musictheory.net
www.gmajormusictheory.org
FREE ONLINE METRONOME
www.metronomeonline.com
FREE APPS FOR MOBILE DEVICES
Classical and Choral Music from Minnesota Public Radio
FREE INTERNET RADIO
- Classical Music - 35 different commercial-free streams! (from CBC Music)
- Classical Music - commercial-free streams and hosted programs (from American Public Media)
- Classical Music - from Minnesota Public Radio
- Choral Music - from Minnesota Public Radio
- Medieval & Renaissance Music - (from Ancient FM)
Music Staff
Justin Langham
Director of Music
Justin Langham enjoys a multi-faceted career as a conductor, composer, performer, and educator, and is proud to serve as Director of Music at St. Philip, a welcoming community where music is an integral part of the spiritual life.
Through his background in both choral and instrumental areas, Justin is most passionate about bringing people together through music at St. Philip, whether in weekly services or special musical offerings with choir and orchestra. As a conductor and music director, Dr. Langham has curated concerts highlighting a variety of repertoire in creative ways, leading performances of masterworks by Handel, Mozart, Britten, Vivaldi, Vaughan Williams, Beethoven, Goodall, and others. In addition to his responsibilities at St. Philip, Justin also serves as Artistic Director of the Houston Masterworks Chorus, one of Houston’s most recognizable community ensembles.
As a performer, Justin maintains an active schedule as a freelance musician in the greater Houston area, and as a member of the internationally renowned trumpet and organ duo, Deux Voix (“two voices''), with whom he has given over 350 performances over the last decade, including some of the world's most magnificent cathedrals and concert halls across 20 states and multiple overseas tours to Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and France. Justin is also an award-winning composer and arranger, with many works that are frequently heard in St. Philip services and beyond. A devoted educator, Justin is in-demand as a lecturer and clinician, Justin also maintains an active private teaching studio at his home in the Museum District, where he enjoys spending time with his partner, pianist Andreea Muţ, and their Great Pyrenees Risa.
Originally from Mobile, Alabama, Justin earned a double Bachelor of Music in performance and composition from the University of Alabama, followed by his Master's and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the University of Houston.
Matthew Dirst
Organist
Organist Matthew Dirst, who joined the St. Philip music staff in 1997, plays the 11 am Sunday service, accompanies the St. Philip Choir, and has served St. Philip in numerous other capacities over the years, including three periods as interim choirmaster.
Matthew was closely involved in the commissioning of the Fritts organ and Phillips harpsichord and is immensely grateful to serve in a church where music is so highly valued.
The first American to win major international prizes in both organ and harpsichord, Matthew is also Professor of Music at the Moores School of Music, University of Houston, where he teaches courses in music history and performance practice, and Artistic Director of the Grammy-nominated early music ensemble Ars Lyrica Houston.
His degrees include a PhD in musicology from Stanford University and degrees in organ and sacred music from the University of Illinois and Southern Methodist University. A Fulbright scholar to France, he received the coveted prix de virtuosité in both organ and harpsichord.
The author of numerous articles on the music of Bach and its reception, Matthew is the author of Engaging Bach: The Keyboard Legacy from Marpurg to Mendelssohn (Cambridge University Press, 2012).
