St. John's Gloucester
Nurture and Challenge Your Spirit
MUSIC
AT
ST. JOHN'S
Surprising visiting clergy and bishops as well as lay folk we sing a large repertoire of hymns and service music for a small parish. From plainsong to the most elaborate hymns and canticles the congregation revels is attempting new things.
SING TO THE LORD A NEW SONG,
FOR HE HAS DONE MARVELOUS THINGS
Psalm 98:1
Music is an important opportunity for everyone at St. John’s Church. Everyone participates in "singing a new song" as directed in Psalm 98 as well as some great old familiar songs. Most often our Parish Choir sings during the program year (September-mid June).
MUSIC & ART PROGRAMS
Parish Choir
Open to musicians who love to sing a wide range of music, from ancient chant to the Renaissance, Baroque and Romantic period masterpieces to occasional forays into modern, even avant-garde music. It is not necessary to be a member of the church to participate. The choir sings most Sundays during the program year. The choir sings for the special services before and including both Christmas and Easter.
Cape Ann Arts Alive
A one-week, late summer arts program for children, designed to foster pride in the unique cultural heritage and ongoing story of Cape Ann, through music, dance, theater, art and engagement with the geographical and cultural magnificence of the region (for ages 6-12, with a few teenage mentors). Visit www.capeannartsalive.org for complete information.
St. John's Church, built in 1863 included a small pipe organ built in Boston. It was replaced by an Estey organ (Brattleboro VT) in 1909 and by the CB Fisk organ in 1989.
The organ at St. John’s was built in 1989 by the organ building firm C. B. Fisk, Inc., whose shop is here on Cape Ann. The company’s founder, Charles Fisk, had long wanted one of his instruments in the local parish, and the contract was signed in 1984, just after his death. The organist at the time had a connection with the Fisk shop, as have most of the organists since.
Our organ is Opus 97 in the Fisk output. It employs purely mechanical key and stop action. The specification might now be considered a bit quirky, but is due mainly to the significant space limitations imposed by the building. Some of the pipework from the previous instrument (by the Estey Organ Company, Brattleboro, Vermont) was reworked. It is remarkable how much color, character, completeness of choruses, and flexibility was achieved in such a small space.
The specification follows. Brackets denote stop knobs that are “double draws” – one pulls the stop halfway for the first rank, and then fully to add the second rank. Ranks from the previous instrument, which were revoiced and incorporated are thus indicated *.
C. B. Fisk, Opus 97
Oberwerk manual 1
┌Stopt Diapason 8′ *
└Diapasons II 8′ *
Prestant 4′
┌Nazard 2 2/3′
└Sesquialtera II
┌Doublet 2′
└Sharp III
Swell manual 2
Principal 8′ *
Wedge Flute 8′ *
┌Gambe 8′ *
└Gambe & Celeste II *
Chimney Flute 4′
┌Octavin 2′ *
└Mixture IV
Trumpet 8′
Oboe 8′
Pedal
Bourdon 16′ *
Octave 8′ Swell
Posaune 16′
Trumpet 8′ Swell
Couplers:
Oberwerk to Pedal
Swell to Pedal
Swell to Oberwerk
Accessories:
┌Flexible Wind
└Tremulant
Zimbelstern
Concerts have featured organists from the US, Germany, England, and Japan.
Steinway Model B Grand Piano
In 2025, St. John's welcomed a rebuilt Steinway & Sons Model B grand piano to the sanctuary. Measuring 6 feet 11 inches, the Model B is widely regarded by pianists as one of the finest performance instruments ever built.
The piano was acquired through a successful fundraising campaign supported by parishioners, friends, and music lovers from across several states. Their generosity reflects a deep commitment to sustaining and expanding the music ministry of St. John's.
Chosen specifically for the sanctuary's remarkable acoustics, the instrument offers a rich, singing tone with exceptional clarity and depth. Its warm, resonant bass beautifully complements the majestic voice of the church's C.B. Fisk organ, while its responsive action and expressive range make it equally suited for congregational worship, choral accompaniment, chamber music, and recital performances.
As both a worship instrument and community resource, the Steinway strengthens St. John's role as a cultural and musical center for Cape Ann. It supports concerts, collaborative arts programs, music education, and visiting artists while helping ensure that future generations of musicians and listeners experience the transformative power of music in this sacred space.
