To start, here are some clips from Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm Beach, Florida. First is an anthem commissioned by Stuart Forster, composed by Robert Lehman: A Prayer of King Henry

Next is Stanford’s orchestration of his beloved “Spinning wheel” Magnificat in G. Jessica Reed is the soprano soloist, with the Bethesda Choir, conducted by Stuart Forster.

Also from our 2021 Christmas concert is June Nixon’s delightful orchestration of her charming arrangement of the French melody for “The holly and the ivy.”

Paul Manz’s “E’en so, Lord Jesus” is an American favorite.

Stuart Forster’s orchestration of “How shall I sing that majesty” (Coe Fen), adapted for the orchestra for the Fauré Requiem

And the world premiere of the newly commissioned “How good it is to sing praises to our God” (Psalm 147) by Bruce Neswick:

Rene Clausen’s “Prayer,” with words by Mother Teresa:

And Thomas Tertius Noble’s sublime “Grieve not the Holy Spirit,” with the Bethesda Summer Choir and tenor solo sung by Jorge Toro:

Next is a full service, from Easter Day 2023, at Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm Beach, Florida. Not shown in the full overflow in the Parish Hall, or the overflow of the overflow in the Cloisters outside. Stuart Forster composed the arrangements of the hymns and service music.

Here are some unedited audio samples from concerts, services, etc., performed by Stuart Forster. For full tracks, you will need to buy the recordings, attend the concerts, and go to the services! There are more videos further down.

Organ Solos
Scroll down for choral music (videos at the bottom)

The first sample is the start of the famous “Largo” from Antonin Dvořák’s beloved “New World” Symphony, performed on the Æolian-Skinner organ at the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine, New York, NY (2014). This is an excerpt from Stuart Forster’s organ transcription of the full symphony, published by Éditions Chantraine, Belgium. The full symphony was recorded on the Skinner organ at Holy Rosary Cathedral, Toledo, OH, on JAV113 [see the Recordings page for a link]. Or watch the video from Bethesda-by-the-Sea on the Compositions page of this site.

Edwin Lemare’s transcription of Camille Saint-Saëns’ Danse Macabre performed on the Skinner organ in Woolsey Hall, Yale University, New Haven, CT (1997).

The conclusion of Louis Vierne’s third symphony, also performed on the Skinner organ in Woolsey Hall, Yale University, New Haven, CT (1997).

I really love the Woolsey organ. So here’s some more: Rhapsody No. 1 in D-flat by Herbert Howells.

The opening of Basil Harwood’s first organ sonata at the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine in New York City.

For a little contrast, here is the Magnificat Primi Toni, BuxWV 203, by Dietrich Buxtehude, played on the Taylor & Boody organ at Saint Thomas Church in New York City.

Choral Music
Scroll up for organ solos

Here are some samples of singing by the choirs from Christ Church, Cambridge, Massachusetts—the Episcopal Church in Harvard Square—conducted by Stuart Forster. The accompanist is Michael Murray.

The first recording was from our first tour, a residence at Washington National Cathedral in 2003. This is the Gloria from the Magnificat in The St. Paul’s Service by Herbert Howells.

A second New York City tour in 2009 included singing services at St. Thomas Church and at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine. This is Ego sum panis vivus by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, sung at the cathedral.

A passion of mine is singing Anglican chant. Here is Psalm 24, sung to a chant by George Thalben-Ball on our tour to England in 2011. This is from Salisbury Cathedral.

At that same Evensong service, on the Eve of the Feast of the Ascension of our Lord, the anthem was God is gone up by Gerald Finzi.

We sang Holy Eucharist for the Feast of the Ascension, the following evening, at Bristol Cathedral. The Gospel Procession was sent to us with text, and Stuart Forster composed a new Alleluia Responsory, based on the Gregorian Propers, to be premiered on the occasion. Michael S. Murray accompanied on the gorgeous Walker organ; Lauren Lukason is the soloist.

More recently, we were honored to sing for the consecration of our new bishop. Come, renew us was commissioned from Eleanor Daley “for Stuart Forster and the choirs of Christ Church, Cambridge, MA, on the occasion of the 250^th anniversary of the dedication of the church.” Video for this recording can be seen in the bishop consecration video further down this page, starting just after the 17-minute mark.

Here is a video of Stuart Forster conducting the Evensong Choir from Christ Church, Cambridge, MA, on their 2015 tour. This excerpt is from a concert at Notre Dame de Paris.

Here is the Evensong Choir again, this time in an impromptu gathering, later during the same tour, in the Lady Chapel at Ely Cathedral, singing “Ave Maria” by Robert Parsons.

And, again on that 2015 tour, they sang mass at St. Eustache, Paris. The communion motet was “O taste and see” by Stuart Forster. There was no video, so this slide show accompanies the choir:

Here is a clip from the Sanctus during the annual Requiem at Christ Church Cambridge, conducted by Stuart Forster. There was an 18-piece orchestra for this service in 2016.

Finally, here is a link to video of the Ordination and Consecration of The Right Reverend Alan Gates as Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts on September 13, 2014. Stuart Forster was the Director of Music and Organist for the occasion. He recruited a choir of 640 singers, made the logistical arrangements for the various ensembles who participated, composed most of the hymn arrangements with descants and brass, played the organ for the service, and conducted the Christ Church Cambridge choir. Music List:

Preludes
Steel Drums: Happy — Pharrell Williams, arranged by Kalea Pollman. St. Mary’s Steel Pan [St. Mary’s, Dorchester], directed by Kalea Polmann and Shaquan Gabriel
Hymn: Be thou my vision [Slane, descant by Stuart Forster]
Anthem: Draw us in the Spirit’s tether — Harold Friedell
Hymn: Come down, O Love Divine [Down Ampney, descant by Stuart Forster]
Handbells: Renewed Spirit — Michael Mazzatenta. Handbell Choir from All Saints’, Chelmsford, conducted by Debbie Psilopoulos.
Anthem: Come, renew us — Eleanor Daley. Choirs from Christ Church, Cambridge, conducted by Stuart Forster
Anthem: Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace — Samuel Sebastian Wesley. Choirs from All Saints’, Ashmont, and Trinity Church, Boston, conducted by Richard Webster
Hymn: Amazing grace [New Britain, arranged by Stuart Forster]

Main Procession
Anthem: I was glad — Hubert Parry, arr. John Rutter
Hymn: Lord, you give the great commission [Abbot’s Leigh, arranged by Stuart Forster]

Metrical Psalm 98: New songs of celebration render [Rendez à Dieu, arranged by Stuart Forster]

Sequence: We are marching in the light of God [Siyahamba]

Hymn: Like the murmur of the dove’s song [Bridegroom]

Veni Creator: Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire [cantor: Margaret Lias]

Offertory
Choirs & congregation: Christus vincit — Joseph Noyon, arr. Gerre Hancock
Hymn: All creatures of our God and King [Lasst uns erfreuen, arranged by Stuart Forster]

Sanctus: Missa Guadalupe — Joel Martinson [English + Spanish]

Fraction Anthem: “Be known to us, Lord Jesus” from The Cambridge Mass — Stuart Forster

Communion
Hymn: All my hope on God is founded [Michael]
Anthem: Ave verum — Edward Elgar
Hymn: Come, thou fount of every blessing [Nettleton, arranged by Stuart Forster]
Anthem: Duh tvoj blagi — Pavel Chesnokov
Organ: Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele — Johann Sebastian Bach
Organ improvisation on Veni Creator
Anthem: I will bless the Lord at all times. The Gospel Choir from St. Cyprian’s, Roxbury

Retiring procession
Hymn: God the Spirit, guide and guardian [Hyfrydol, arranged by Stuart Forster]

Postlude
Tu es Petra — Henri Mulet

ACCOMPANYING

Here is video of Stuart Forster accompanying Evensong at the dedication service for the new Schoenstein organ at Church of the Redeemer, Chestnut Hill, MA (2018). Michael S. Murray conducts the Redeemer choirs singing the introit “The Greater Light” by Martin Shaw.

And here are the canticles from the same service: Stainer in B-flat.