Photo by George Soules. Used by permission.

A Tradition of Making Music

From our founding in 1876, people have come to St. Saviour’s to make music. Individuals who lived and worked on this island have sung in the parish choirs. Each summer and on festive occasions, voices and musicians from away joined them. Over time, the church doors opened ever wider to welcome all manner of choruses, orchestras, and performers from around the world.

The greater Mount Desert Island community has long treasured St. Saviour’s as a resource for supporting the performing arts. These activities are integral both to the parish’s identity and to the core values of our congregation.

Come sing with us! St. Saviour’s choir continues to welcome singers of all abilities. For more information, please contact Dr. Daniel Pyle, music director, sspmusic@mdi-episcopal.org.

November Concert

November 23, Saturday, 4 pm

Friends of Music at St. Saviour’s presents

Music for Renaissance Flutes and Harp

Evening Music, the series of chamber-music concerts presented by the Friends of Music at St. Saviour’s, will continue on Saturday 23 November at 4:00 pm. The concert will consist of Renaissance music for flute and harp accompanied by chamber-organ. Catherine Bull, playing copies of early 16th-century flutes, will be joined by harpist Phoebe Durand, playing a reproduction of a 16th-century double-harp (a harp with two rows of strings), and by organist Daniel Pyle.

The program is centered on a French chanson, “Doulce memoire,” a song composed about 1530 to a lyric by Francis I, king of France. He wrote the poem, whose title in English is “Sweet remembrance,” after he was defeated in battle in Italy and imprisoned there for two years. It is ostensibly a love-song, but it seems likely that the beloved is not another person but the country France over which he ruled. The musical setting by Pierre Sandrin became one of the most popular songs of the Renaissance. Many arrangements we made by a wide variety of composers during that time, several of which are featured in this concert. The program will also include dance-music, variations, and improvisation.

December Concert

Saturday, December 7, 4 pm

Acadia Choral Society Winter Program

Replete with songs of holiday celebration including carols, Christmas, Chanukah, and Kwanzaa melodies, some familiar and some in contemporary arrangements. Solstice energies will also be included. Something for all of us as we gather together in praise and with generous spirits in this season.

A Wonderful Challenge

Understanding the need to support places that nurture such creativity, members of the greater Bar Harbor community delighted the parish when they came forward with a plan to support music at Saviour’s. In response, the parish established Friends of Music at St. Saviour’s.

Through Friends of Music, individuals, musical performers and local organizations can support the arts that enrich our common life. Donations to this Endowment may be made at any time by check payable to St. Saviour’s Parish and mailed to the church at 41 Mt. Desert St., Bar Harbor, ME 04609

Friends of Music at St. Saviour’s supports the performing arts through:

  • Musical concerts and other performances;

  • Preservation of a community space that welcomes all people;

  • Maintenance of the Visser-Rowland organ

41 Mt. Desert Street
Bar Harbor, Maine 04609
Phone: 207-288-4215

St. Saviour’s Parish

Worship With Us

Sunday Morning Worship:
Holy Communion 11:00 am