ABOUT THE FMMC CHORALE

(A more complete history of the Chorale, written by long-time member Alan Crane, may be downloaded from this site.)

The Chorale of The Friday Morning Music Club, founded in 1902 as a women's chorus, became a mixed chorus in 1986. Under Webster Alexander Rogers, Jr., it has become a well respected and favorably reviewed ensemble, performing works by Bach, Beethoven, Bernstein, Brahms, Handel, Haydn, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Poulenc, Rutter, Saint-Saëns, Schubert, Vaughn Williams, and Vivaldi, as well as lesser-known, neglected literature. The Chorale has performed original works by FMMC composers, including the world premiere of Wang An-Ming's Gloria in 1991; the world premiere of The Flight into Egypt, an FMMC Chorale commission by Leonard Moses; and in 1992, the Washington, D.C. premiere of Lament and Reconciliation by Jo Lombard and Alan Newhouse. In addition, the Chorale has performed Ms. Wang's original carols, The Christmas Gift, Maryís Lullaby, and Christmas Revelation.

The Chorale has performed in many Washington metropolitan venues, most notably as part of the White House Christmas Celebration Series, the Annual Candlelight Concerts of the First Baptist Church, and the Grand Foyer Christmas Concerts of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

The Chorale performs two major concerts each year: a Twelfth Night Concert, usually on the first or second Sunday afternoon in January, and a Spring Concert, typically on the first or second Sunday evening in June. In recent concerts, the Chorale has performed Bach's Mass in B Minor, Brahms' Ein deutsches Requiem, Fauré's Requiem, Handel's Messiah and Dettingen Te Deum, Mendelssohn's Elijah and St. Paul Oratorio, Schubert's Mass No. 6 in E-flat Major, Haydn's Mass in Time of War and The Creation, and Beethoven's Missa Solemnis. The Chorale also participates in smaller concerts in December to celebrate the holiday season in song.

A sample of the Chorale's music in MP3 format can be downloaded from the Washington Post's website by clicking here. Click on the link to one of the four pieces, accept the agreement, and your computer software should take care of the rest.

Concerts of the Friday Morning Music Club are open to the public free of charge (donations welcome) with no tickets needed. Programs are subject to change without notice.

Please support our artistic and educational programs through the United Way or the Combined Federal Campaign. Donations can also be made by check to The Friday Morning Music Club, Inc,at the address below. Please write "Chorale" on checks intended for the Chorale fund.