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.

Fall 2026

This fall brings monumental works from Berlioz, Rutter, Janáček, Dvořák, Biber, Hildegard von Bingen, and more, paired each week with a cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach.

September

  • September 6
    Berlioz: Te Deum
    Bach: Jesu, der du meine Seele, BWV 78
  • September 13
    Tavener: Lament for Jerusalem
    Bach: Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan, BWV 99
  • September 20
    Rutter: Mass of the Children
    Bach: Liebster Gott, wenn werd ich sterben, BWV 8
  • September 27
    Janáček: Glagolitic Mass
    Bach: Bringet dem Herrn Ehre seines Namens, BWV 148

October

  • October 4
    Dvořák: Te Deum
    Bach: Herr Christ, der einge Gottessohn, BWV 96
  • October 11
    Biber: Missa Salisburgensis
    Bach: Wo soll ich fliehen hin, BWV 5
  • October 18
    Gretchaninov: All-Night Vigil
    Bach: Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele, BWV 180
  • October 25
    Mozart: Mass in C, K. 66, “Domenicus”
    Bach: Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir, BWV 38

November

  • November 1
    Handel: Dettingen Te Deum
    Bach: Mache dich, mein Geist, bereit, BWV 115
  • November 8
    Hildegard von Bingen: Hymns and Sequences
    Bach: Wohl dem, der sich auf seinen Gott, BWV 139
  • November 15
    Frank Martin: Mass for Double Choir
    Bach: Ach wie flüchtig, ach wie nichtig, BWV 26
  • November 22
    Gounod: St. Cecilia Mass
    Bach: Wachet! betet! betet! wachet!, BWV 70
  • November 29
    Mendelssohn: Magnificat
    Bach: Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 61

Great Sacred Music is made possible by our listeners. To support the program, contact Mary Moonen at BusinessSupport@TheClassicalStation.org or call 919-556-5178.

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. 6 in C, D. 589

Composed by

Franz Schubert (1797-1828)

Performed by

Australian Chamber Orchestra/Mackerras

Label

Omega

Catalog Number

1005

Today's Playlist

12:35pm Alborada del gracioso (Morning song of the jester)

Composed by

Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)

Performed by

Philadelphia Orchestra/Ormandy

12:43pm Mandolin Concerto in C, RV 425

Composed by

Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)

Performed by

Saint Clivier/Chamber Orchestra of Toulouse/Auriacombe

12:51pm Music selected by the announcer

1:01pm Clarinet Quartet in E flat

Composed by

Johann Nepomuk Hummel (1778-1837)

Performed by

Neidich/L'Archibudelli

1:27pm Sinfonia Concertante in E flat, K. 297b

Composed by

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Performed by

Philadelphia Orchestra/Ormandy

2:01pm Salut d’amour, Op. 12

Composed by

Edward Elgar (1857-1934)

Performed by

Shaham/Orpheus Chamber Orch.

2:05pm Music for the Royal Fireworks

Composed by

George Frideric Handel (1685–1759)

Performed by

King's Chamber Orchestra/Malgoire

2:28pm Piano Quartet No. 1 in C minor, Op. 15

Composed by

Gabriel Faure (1845-1924)

Performed by

Kissin/Emerson String Quartet members

3:01pm Symphony No. 087 in A

Composed by

Josef Haydn (1732-1809)

Performed by

Berlin Philharmonic/Karajan

3:29pm Danza Paraguaya

Composed by

Agustin Barrios (1885-1944)

Performed by

Xuefei Yang

3:32pm Violin Concerto No. 3 in B minor, Op. 61

Composed by

Camille Saint-Saens (1835-1921)

Performed by

Chee-Yun/London Phil./Lopez-Cobos

4:02pm Suite No. 1 from Ancient Airs & Dances

Composed by

Ottorino Respighi (1879-1936)

Performed by

L.A. Chamber Orch/Marriner

4:18pm Recorder Concerto in C, RV 443

Composed by

Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)

Performed by

Copley/Camerata Bern/Copley

4:29pm Deep River

Composed by

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, arr. by Maud Powell

Performed by

Pine/Hagle

4:34pm Danzon No. 2

Composed by

Arturo Marquez (b.1950)

Performed by

Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra/Dudamel

4:45pm Overture from Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D, BWV 1068

Composed by

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Performed by

Stuttgart Chamber Orch/Munchinger

4:53pm Dance of the Blessed Spirits from Orpheus and Eurydice

Composed by

Christoph Willibald von Gluck (1714-1787)

Performed by

Zoeller/Berlin Philharmonic/Karajan

5:01pm Finale (Allegro molto) from Symphony No. 5 in E flat, Op. 82

Composed by

Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)

Performed by

Philharmonia/Ashkenazy

5:11pm Selection of solo piano works: Lilacs, Elegie, Liebeslied, Melodie,

Composed by

Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943)

Performed by

Sergei Rachmaninoff

5:27pm Country Gardens

Composed by

Percy Grainger (1882-1961)

Performed by

Eastman-Rochester Pops/Fennell

5:31pm Kettenbrucke Waltz

Composed by

Johann Strauss Sr. (1804-1849)

Performed by

Boskovsky Ensemble

5:36pm Elegy for Strings, Op. 58

Composed by

Edward Elgar (1857-1934)

Performed by

New Philharmonia/Barbirolli

5:41pm Guitar Quintet No. 4 in D, "Fandango"

Composed by

Luigi Boccherini (1743-1805)

Performed by

Romero/Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Chamber Ensemble

6:00pm Light Cavalry Overture

Composed by

Franz von Suppe (1819-1895)

Performed by

NY Philharmonic/Bernstein

6:08pm Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54

Composed by

Robert Schumann (1810-1856)

Performed by

Brendel/London Symphony/Abbado

6:41pm Prelude from Suite Bergamasque

Composed by

Claude Debussy (1862-1918)

Performed by

Empire Brass

6:46pm Music selected by the announcer

7:01pm Symphony No. 094 in G, "Surprise"

Composed by

Josef Haydn (1732-1809)

Performed by

Vienna Philharmonic/Bernstein

7:27pm String Quintet in C, K. 515

Composed by

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Performed by

Berthaud/Quatuor Voce

8:00pm Symphony No. 5 in E flat, Op. 82

Composed by

Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)

Performed by

Berlin Philharmonic/Karajan

8:32pm Symphony No. 8 in F, Op. 93

Composed by

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Performed by

Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/Haitink

9:00pm Overture to The Italian Girl in Algiers

Composed by

Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868)

Performed by

National Academy of St. Cecilia/Chung

9:09pm Concerto in A flat for Two Pianos

Composed by

Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)

Performed by

A. & J. Paratore/R.I.A.S. Symphony/Lajovic

9:45pm Ballet des Plaisirs

Composed by

Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687)

Performed by

Aradia Baroque Ensemble/Mallon

10:00pm Reverie

Composed by

Claude Debussy, trans. Allen

Performed by

Nancy Allen

10:06pm Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30

Composed by

Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943)

Performed by

Argerich/Berlin RSO/Chailly

10:47pm In Bohemia

Composed by

Mily Balakirev (1837-1910)

Performed by

USSR Symphony/Svetlanov

11:00pm Piano Sonata No. 10 in C, K. 330

Composed by

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Performed by

Yundi Li

11:20pm Serenade in D minor for Winds, Op. 44

Composed by

Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904)

Performed by

Orchestra of Beethoven Hall, Bonn/Davies

11:47pm Music selected by the announcer