Upon This Rock: November 6, 2016 at 3:30pm

Presented by Rhodes College in the series Fractured: Music & Spirituality in a Time of Upheaval

Program:

Chichester Psalms (Leonard Bernstein) premiere 1965

Sunrise Mass (Ola Gjeilo) premiere 2008

Upon This Rock (Dave Brubeck) premiere 1987

Location/Cost:

725 Central Avenue, Memphis, TN 38107/$15 at the door

Performers:

Rhodes Mastersingers, Memphis Symphony Orchestra

Mikah Meyer, countertenor

William Skoog, conductor

For Information:

Call 901-843-3775 or click here

 

This concert features three works reflecting aspects of modern spirituality: a traditional Christian setting, a work in Hebrew reflecting the Jewish tradition, and a modern Mass setting, in which the traditional forms take on new shapes and substance.

Leonard Bernstein, Chichester Psalms

This well- known work by Leonard Bernstein represents the Judeo heritage in spirituality reflected in music. Bernstein was commissioned to write this three-movement work for the Cathedral of Chichester, in Sussex, England, for their annual music festival in 1965. He selected texts from Psalms 108, 100, 23, 2, 131, and 133, setting them in Hebrew, making a rather unique statement to be performed in the cathedral for their annual concert series. Bernstein requires the second movement, Psalm 23, be sung by a male soloist- either a boy or countertenor- reflecting that this is a Psalm of David. Mikah Meyer, professional countertenor, returns to Memphis to sing this important solo.

Ola Gjeilo, (Norwegian composer) Sunrise Mass

This work is set in four short movements, a Missa Brevis of sorts. Each movement is entitled reflecting the transformational, suggestive nature of the work. It is intended to bring qualities of the heavenly, or spiritual to earthly grounding, throughout the course of the work. The four movements are entitled: The Spheres (Kyrie), Sunrise (Gloria), The City (Credo), and The Ground (Sanctus-Benedictus-Agnus Dei). The work is somewhat a choral/orchestral representation of modern day spirituality, walking through the traditional steps of a Mass.

Dave Brubeck, Upon This Rock

While Dave is renowned for his work as an American Jazz Pianist, even designated a “Living Legend” by the United States Library of Congress during his lifetime, he also studied composition with Darius Mihaud, and was a prolific composer of choral-orchestral works. Milhaud required Brubeck to write a number of chorales and fugues, using modern harmonies and rhythms, in developing his compositional technique. Upon this Rock is just such a piece.  In the 1980s, Brubeck wrote and performed Upon This Rock for Pope John Paul II during his visit to San Francisco in 1987. Fitting our theme of Fractured Spirituality in the 21st century, Upon This Rock is set with traditional text of Christian bedrock; Jesus’s words for Peter- (Petrus is Greek for the word “Rock.”). Jesus states that upon Peter (his rock) he will build his church; the foundation of Christianity. This work features a beautiful, lyric chorale for the first portion, followed by a dramatic, extensive, evolving fugue. An 8 minute work, it is a profound, dramatic setting of this text for full chorus and orchestra.