Music at First Parish of Watertown
Music at First Parish engages our community and adds a spark to every listener and participant!
As part of weekly church services, we share in singing hymns.
Services are enhanced by either piano or guest musicians who express a wide variety of styles that include Classical, folk, jazz, ethnic and world music, as well as popular music and music composed by contemporary artists. Those artists are often part of our congregation or friends from the musical community in the Boston area.
First Parish has an adult choir that rehearses weekly and sings at a church service once per month.
We have a full rock and roll band that plays at some services, too!
There are times that our music director hosts a family choir event, usually on multi-generational services, in which people learn the music prior to the service and then share the songs at that service. We have a wide variety of talent in our congregation and have had some wonderful youth and children singing at church services.
Charlyn Bethell, Music Director
Guy Urban, Pianist
Creating Virtual Music
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed life for everyone, including the music program here at First Parish. Since March of 2020, First Parish has been web-streaming its services and programs and not meeting in person. This will continue through May 2021.
The members of the FPW Choir have stepped up to this challenge by creating virtual choir performances that are included in the services, both for hymns that the congregation can sing with at home, and in stand-alone anthems that employ video collages. Our instrumental musicians from the congregation have also accompanied some of the hymns, as well as created instrumental ensembles for musical meditations and interludes. Members of the FPW Band have also joined forces with the Choir, adding percussion and guitar to some of our performances.
Musically Speaking Blog
Updates and reflections from Charlyn Bethell, Music Director
Musically Speaking, June 2020
This month’s Musically Speaking is contributed by Guy Urban.
Charlyn is officially the FPW Music Director, and I am officially the accompanist, although it’s probably pretty obvious that we work together on almost every aspect of music at FPW.
Musically Speaking – May 2020
It occurred to me that all churches right now must be doing online services. I do not believe that any church would just stop all operations, especially during a pandemic when they are so needed. HOW they do the online services might be quite different. So, I...
Musically Speaking – April 2020
As I sit to write this, I admit to being at a loss for words. The world has changed. But what hasn’t changed is that music has never been more important.
Musically Speaking – March 2020
Abundance is our theme of the month, and I celebrate all of us as artists with recognition and gratitude. I am serious that I think we are all artists! Special about us is that we are active in the church community and the general community at large as we share our...
Musically Speaking – February 2020
When I think of my identity and sense of belonging in the world, it all centers around music. There is no question that music moves my spirit and that music is essential to my life. Music has sustained me through the good times and the challenging ones. I basically...
From The Directors
Our good friend Chris Jolliffe was a guest musician here, singing three songs that he wrote. A number of people expressed interest in Chris’ music, so below are a few samples of his songs, including “I Never Went Fishing With My Uncle Dave”, which he sang at the service.
Anyone who is interested in talking to Chris or finding out more about his songs can contact him at:
cjolliffe5@yahoo.comHere are some of his songs:
I Never Went Fishing With My Uncle Dave