"Next to the Word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in the world."

Martin Luther

  • Senior Choir

    The Senior Choir is for high schoolers and adults and provides regular musical support for hymns, sung liturgy and anthems at the 10am service. A varied group of good-natured singers ranging in ability from those who can’t read a note of music (yet!) to those who have advanced degrees in music, these singers are committed to singing to the very best of their ability. Repertoire varies from 16th century polyphony to music by contemporary choral composers. Senior Choir meets on Thursdays, 7:00pm-8:30pm and at 9:00am on Sundays prior to the 10:00am service. Short term commitments can usually be accommodated for those interested in participating in Senior Choir for a smaller part of the year. Rehearsals begin on September 18. If you would like to participate, please contact Brett by clicking below or through the church office (phone below).

  • Junior Choir

    Junior Choir is a musical program for girls and boys. Children in grades two and up learn the basics of music, including actual music reading and making a beautiful choral sound. They fully participate in church services regularly from September through May, many developing a lifelong love for music which carries into adulthood. The Junior Choir frequently collaborates in joint efforts with the other choirs in residence in the parish. Junior Choir sings at the Children's Eucharists on Sundays at 10:00 with a warmup at 9:00 (Fall/Spring dates are: 10/23, 12/4, 1/22/23, 3/12, 5/14) Junior Choir regularly rehearses on Sundays following the 10:00am service, 11:15-12:15pm, beginning on September 18th. If your child would like to participate, please contact Brett at music@cgsnashua.org or through the church office.

  • Chorus ad Diem

    The Chorus ad Diem is the “choir of the day” on occasional Sundays at the 10:00am service. The Chorus ad Diem is tasked with leading the singing and offering a single, simple anthem. The only rehearsal for this choir is promptly at 9:00am that Sunday morning in the church. Chorus ad Diem is an adult ensemble that welcomes children who have the focus and discipline to conduct themselves accordingly. In addition to the Chorus ad Diem, other short term singing opportunities are available. The hefty services with exceptionally special music, particularly All Saints’ Sunday, Christmas Eve, Good Friday, and Easter, incorporate singers from CGS and the greater Nashua community resulting in a spectacular massed choir on these most sacred days—a short term commitment for the busy singer. Upcoming choir dates: Sunday Oct 10 and Dec 19th. If interested, please contact Brett at music@cgsnashua.org or through the church office

  • Special Services

    The hefty services with exceptionally special music-particularly All Saints' Sunday, Christmas Eve and Easter - incorporate singers from Good Shepherd and the greater Nashua community. If you would like to participate, please contact Brett at music@cgsnashua.org or through the church office.

  • Small Ensemble & Funeral Choir

    Small Ensemble

    Musicians interested in singing or playing in a small ensemble should contact Brett at music@cgsnashua.org or through the church office.

    Funeral Choir

    As you likely have noticed on Sunday mornings, having singers in the chancel makes singing in the nave easier and more enjoyable. If you would like to help lead the congregational singing at funerals, please contact Brett at music@cgsnashua.org or through the church office.

    Piano Lessons

    Piano and organ lessons are offered by Brett Greene. Fees are charged accordingly.

The Playing of the Merry Organ…

Music before the service, known here as Voluntaries, is chosen for quiet reflection or to contribute to the festive nature of special liturgies.  Sometimes the organ is used in concert with other instruments such as with our great brass groups on Christmas and Easter.

After the service, other voluntaries give worshippers the chance to hear the great organ at its best!  Grand works by a variety of composers, ancient and modern send us into the world “rejoicing in the power of the Spirit”.

…Sweet Singing

The History of the Church can be found in our hymnody.  The Hymnal 1982 and its supplements, including “Wonder, Love, and Praise” contain hymns that are inclusive of many times, traditions, and nationalities.  Hymns at CGS are chosen with special attention to the lectionary, liturgical season, and last but not least, hymns that the congregation loves to sing! 

When a new hymn is introduced, we often sing it for a couple weeks in succession to give us a chance to become familiar with both the tune and the text.  CGS worshippers are particularly flexible, willing to try most anything in service of God.

 

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Church of the Good Shepherd Pipe Organ

In 1878, shortly after the dedication of the Church of Good Shepherd, a new organ with two manuals and 15 rank was purchased from George S. Hutchings of Boston. The tracker action organ was located on the right side of the chancel. The console was attached to the organ case, with the congregation seeing the back of the organist. The façade pipes facing the congregation were stenciled in bright colors to match the rest of the interior design. The nave had not been painted its present white at this time.

This instrument was replaced in 1949 by a three manual, 27 rank instrument from the Aeolian-Skinner Company of Boston. By 1974, the organ needed substantial leather work and the console was replaced with a new three manual all electric action console. View specifications in detail of Aeolian-Skinner Opus 1095 and more history of Aeolian-Skinner and its organs.

In 1983, E. A. Kelley Associates of Salem, New Hampshire renovated and tonally revised the chancel organ, increasing the size to 30 rank.

In 1988, the people of Church of the Good Shepherd decided that part of the bequest of the late Esther Harless would provide for a new console of four manuals and a processional division to be erected over the main doors at the west end of the church. E.A. Kelley Associates was retained to design and install a four manual console and a new processional organ. In order not to block the main doors to the church, an airlock inside the main doors had to be constructed. It is through this airlock that the congregation passes to enter the church. The airlock and new interior doors were completed during the summer of 1989 and provide the footing for the 23-foot tall processional division. The walls of the airlock contain two large ducts used to bring the compressed air from the basement up to the processional organ as well as the electronic signals from the console located in the chancel. These signals are used to control the valves that allow each of 761 pipes to speak.

The gold pipes are original to the Elias & George Hook facade built in 1852 for the Freewill Baptist Church of Somersworth, New Hampshire (Town of Great Falls in 1852). Over a period of three years, all of the pipework for the processional organ was carefully collected to reproduce a sound similar to that which the Hook brothers would have created in the mid 1850s. The pipework selected was constructed during the period 1845 to 1890 to produce the silvery sound typical of Hook’s work prior to 1865. The pipes came from locations in New York, New Jersey and Maine.

The brass horizontal festival trumpet that protrudes from underneath the processional organ was first used at a service on Thanksgiving Eve, 1989 and is one of two horizontal trumpets in the state of New Hampshire. The resonators are spun individually as are the real orchestral instruments. Each was manufactured by hand and was secured from Australia.

The new four manual console was completed and installed for Advent in 1988. Church of the Good Shepherd may be the only parish in the state of New Hampshire with a four manual organ console. The console is designed with the English organ feature having all couplers on draw knobs, thus there is no rail of rocker tablets over the fourth manual.

By 2014, the processional organ was unplayable. It was found that the expected restoration of the over-a-century old mechanical components and pipework was foregone prior to installing the organ at Good Shepherd. Further damage from the failing plaster wall behind the organ and from the workers who stabilized the wall rendered the pipework a complete loss. The chest, the largest mechanical portion of the organ, has been removed, restored, and reinstalled. Suitable 19th century pipework has been located and will be restored and installed as funds become available. If you would like to contribute to this project, contact Brett Greene at music@cgsnashua.org or through the church office.