Hello, dears,
I have a happy question to ask you.
I would like to have a stole commissioned for a Minister of Music in an Episcopal Church.
Do you have photos of and recommendations for designs and artists? I have someone in mind from whom I bought a gorgeous Advent stole this past summer but it never hurts to get glowing testimonials of liturgical artists. It’s been awhile since we shared those resources.
Since this person will be wearing a choir robe and playing the organ, we are thinking about lengths and designs that will allow for lots of arm movement. I appeal to ‘Piskies for input. You all have such a rich tradition of vestments with lots of fun names like “tippet.”
Thanks for weighing in!
Need more info on why you want a stole. A) is person ordained in TEC?; b) you only wear a stole when celebrating/officiating/in leadership role at altar for a sacrament. For instance if a funeral doesn’t include Eucharist many do not wear stole. That’s when you see us in cassock surplice and black tippet/scarf. So s/he wouldn’t wear it when functioning as musician, not celebrant.
See above. If they are not ordained, no stole. In TEC, musicians do not wear stoles, ordained or not.
What vestments do they and the choir wear? if traditional dark cassock under white cottas/surplices, there really is no appropriate addition for the Minister of Music. Only option would be to buy them an academic hood for their highest degree, especially if it’s a music degree. That would be the only thing an O/CM would conceivably add to that vestment, though rarely/never? are hoods worn on Sunday morning Eucharists–usually only at Morning or Evening Prayer. If the choir wears a more Protestant-style full one-piece polyester robe in some primary color that coordinates w/ their carpet , you could maybe get someone to design a sort of scapular that would mark the O/CM as special. But not a stole. Nope. Not under any circumstances.
The comments above have got the tradition named spot on. But depending on the congregation and the priest, there may be room for creativity. Either a scapular/tabard might work, or something that is rather similar to an academic hood, hanging from the shoulders, down the back might be a really lovely canvas for some fiber art. Working with the priest would be important. I think it’s a lovely gesture.
And since you’re looking for ideas:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/210184365/walking-with-the-light-clergy-stole?ref=hp_rv
I bet this artist could come up with something lovely. Soundwaves?
These are all very helpful, thank you all!