On June 9th I will be happy, but conflicted.
On that Sunday my ‘Missa Chicagoensis’ gets its Canadian premiere, conducted by Aaron James at the Oratory of Philip Neri on King street in Toronto. Up the street a ways, at the very same time, Matthew Whitfield conducts the Toronto premiere of my Pentecost motet ‘Dum complerentur’ at St. Thomas’ Anglican church on Huron street.
They say it never rains but it pours.
Both of these pieces were commissioned, recorded for Youtube and published by Fr Scott Haynes and his stellar choir at the church of St John Cantius in Chicago. I am so pleased that, after two years, they are coming home and being sung by two such accomplished choirs here in Toronto, under the direction of two such fine conductors.
I’d like to be in both places at once …
Here’s the video of ‘Dum complerentur’. The words describe how the Apostles are quietly gathered for the feast of Pentecost, when they suddenly hear the sound of a great wind from heaven, and tongues of fire flame up on their heads, and they can miraculously understand foreign languages. They are filled with the Spirit. For the premiere in Chicago our Toronto ensemble ‘Schola Magdalena’ joined with Fr Scott’s choir for this video, so you may see some familiar faces if you’re a Torontonian.
HI Steph – Many thanks for this. It is a beautiful rendering. But so is the church itself. The two together are a perfect fit. I have been pondering a trip to Chicago in the near future to the Art Museum, and will now add a visit to St. John Cantius. All that wood carving draws me like a magnet.
Of course Sheila, you can enjoy some nice music and woodcarving right here in Toronto too –
Many thanks Sheila. Chicago’s Art Institute is certainly one of the world’s great museums. Chicago has many great things going for it (a lot like Toronto – but sadly a lot more gun violence) along with great architecture, great classical music and great jazz! Tell me when you’re going and I’ll tag along ; )
Steph
The perils of prolificacy!
I forgot to mention that this Pentecost motet ‘Dum complerentur’ will be also be sung at Selwyn College, Cambridge UK, on Sunday June 9th at their 6pm mass under the direction of Sarah MacDonald. Here is their music list:
http://www.sel.cam.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/music-list-easter-2019-FINAL.pdf
Let’s go to that one.