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

The Planets, Op. 32

Composed by

Gustav Holst (1874-1934)

Performed by

NY Philharmonic/NY Choral Artists/Mehta

Label

Teldec

Catalog Number

46316

Today's Playlist

10:50pm Mandolin Partita

Composed by

Alon Sariel (b.1986)

Performed by

Alon Sariel

11:03pm Appalachian Spring

Composed by

Aaron Copland (1900-1990)

Performed by

Cincinnati Pops/Kunzel

11:30pm Mountain Flowers

Composed by

Rued Langgaard (1893-1952)

Performed by

Danish Piano Trio

11:40pm Music selected by the announcer