The Ghent Altarpiece by Jan van Eyck

Great Sacred Music

Sundays, 8:00 a.m.-Noon Eastern Time

Over 4 hours of inspiring music.

Our weekly schedule of Great Sacred Music draws from the traditions of many faiths.

Sing for Joy

SUNDAYS AT 7:30 a.m. EASTERN

Alexandra Jacob

Rev. Jacob

Produced by St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., Sing for Joy is a 30-minute program of great choral music and thoughtful commentary.

The musical performances eloquently “do the talking,” while the Rev. Alexandra M. Jacob, your host, concisely illuminates the meaning.

Great Sacred Music

SUNDAYS, 8:00 a.m. TO NOON EASTERN

James Steelmon

Steelmon

We get your Sunday morning off to a gentle start. During Hour 1, you’ll hear a variety of shorter choral and organ works, from the Renaissance through the 20th century.

Then, a Bach cantata airs at approximately 9:00 a.m. Eastern. A major choral work follows. A regular feature of the program is a commentary offered by a distinguished church musician or member of the clergy.

During hours 3 and 4, we feature major choral works such as oratorios, masses and requiems.  Your host is James Steelmon.

Summer 2026

June 7
MacMillan: Edinburgh Te Deum
Bach: Die Elenden sollen essen, BWV 75

June 14
Brahms: German Requiem
Bach: Die Himmel erzählen die Ehre Gottes, BWV 76

June 21
Haydn: Paukenmesse
Bach: Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis, BWV 21

June 28
Jenkins: Mass “The Armed Man”
Bach: Barmherziges Herze der ewigen Liebe, BWV 185

July 5
Bruckner: Te Deum
Bach: Siehe, ich will viel Fischer aussenden, BWV 88

July 12
Zelenka: Requiem in C minor
Bach: O heilges Geist- und Wasserbad, BWV 165

July 19
Tchaikovsky: Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom
Bach: Ärgre dich, o Seele, nicht, BWV 186

July 26
Hummel: Mass in E-flat
Bach: Erforsche mich, Gott, BWV 136

August 2
Vaughan Williams: Mass in G minor
Bach: Herr, gehe nicht ins Gericht, BWV 105

August 9
Mendelssohn: St. Paul
Bach: Schauet doch und sehet, BWV 46

August 16
Thompson: The Peaceable Kingdom
Bach: Siehe zu, dass deine Gottesfurcht nicht Heuchelei sei, BWV 179

August 23
Delius: A Mass of Life
Bach: Lobe den Herrn, meine Seele, BWV 69a

August 30
Mozart: Requiem
Bach: Du sollst Gott, deinen Herren, lieben, BWV 77


Great Sacred Music is made possible by our listeners and the following people and organizations:

  • All Saints Anglican Church, Raleigh, North Carolina
  • The Chapel of the Cross, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
  • First Presbyterian Church, Durham, North Carolina
  • The Kirk of Kildare, Cary, North Carolina
  • University Presbyterian Church, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
  • Dr. & Mrs. Harold Chapman, Macon, Georgia
  • David Crabtree, Raleigh, North Carolina
  • Ms. Ethel Girvin, Timberlake, North Carolina
  • Dr. Alfred Goshaw, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
  • Dr. Jerry Grise, Cary, North Carolina
  • Mrs. Carole Keeler, Raleigh, North Carolina
  • The Rev. David Livingstone James, Cary, North Carolina
  • James H. Lazenby, Fearrington Village, North Carolina
  • William Marley, Raleigh, North Carolina
  • Thomas Nutt-Powell, Boston, Massachusetts
  • Blaine Hall Paxton, Fearrington Village, North Carolina
  • William Raper of Trinity Concepts, Raleigh, North Carolina
  • Carter Reed, Montgomery, Alabama
  • Claude and Sarah Snow, Chapel Hill, North Carolina

If you or your organization would like to be a patron of Great Sacred Music, please e-mail Mary Moonen!

Now Playing

Symphony No. 43 in E flat 'Mercury'

Composed by

Josef Haydn (1732-1809)

Performed by

Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra/Podger

Label

Tafelmusik

Catalog Number

0

Today's Playlist

7:01pm Clarinet Concerto No. 11 in E flat

Composed by

Karl Stamitz (1745-1801)

Performed by

Mannheim Chamber Philharmonic/Meyer

7:17pm Sonata in E for Horn and Piano

Composed by

Nikolaus von Krufft (1779–1818)

Performed by

Bergeron/Milatz

7:39pm Sonata for Cello and Piano No. 5 in B minor, Op. 56

Composed by

Julius Rontgen (1855-1932)

Performed by

Gehweiler/Hengartner

8:00pm Violin Sonata in G Minor

Composed by

Claude Debussy (1862-1918)

Performed by

The Nash Ensemble

8:16pm Symphonic Dances, Op. 45

Composed by

Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943)

Performed by

Trifonov/Babayan

8:47pm From Meadow to Mayfair (Suite for Orchestra)

Composed by

Eric Coates (1886-1957)

Performed by

BBC Philharmonic/Wilson

9:01pm Nocturne No. 1 in E flat

Composed by

John Field (1782–1837)

Performed by

Benjamin Frith

9:06pm Gaude, Barbara

Composed by

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525-1594)

Performed by

Chanticleer/Jennings

9:16pm Concerto in C for Flute and Harp, K. 299

Composed by

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Performed by

Beznosiuk/Kelly/Academy of Ancient Music/Hogwood

9:47pm Requiescat in pace

Composed by

Leo Sowerby (1895-1968)

Performed by

Catherine Crozier

9:56pm Gymnopedie No. 1

Composed by

Erik Satie/orch. Claude Debussy

Performed by

The Knights/Jacobsen

10:01pm Quintet No. 4 in A Minor

Composed by

Antonio Soler (1729-1783)

Performed by

Schrader/Chicago Baroque Ensemble

10:26pm Vox Patris caelestis

Composed by

William Mundy (1529-1591)

Performed by

Tallis Scholars/Phillips

10:45pm Sonatine

Composed by

Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)

Performed by

Elaine Greenfield

11:00pm Improperia

Composed by

Anonymous

Performed by

Benedictines Of Mary, Queen Of Apostles

11:09pm Cantabile in B, FWV 36

Composed by

Cesar Franck (1822-1890)

Performed by

Konstantin Reymaier

11:16pm Lute Suite in A minor (originally C minor), BWV 997

Composed by

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Performed by

Sharon Isbin

11:40pm Music selected by the announcer