By Beth Treffeisen
This Friday, Saint Cecilia choir and orchestra will be featuring Requiem by British composer John Rutter from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. The free concert is free and open to all who wish to attend and will be located at in the church at 18 Belvidere Street.
Richard J. Clark the director of music and organist for Saint Cecilia Parish will conduct this annual event. It will feature Allesandra Cionco-Dahlberg as soprano on Requiem and Richard Kelly on trumpet for works by Handel, Telemann and Hovhaness.
Requiem was written in 1985 and has a musical setting of seven parts including both the Latin Requiem and added psalms in English.
“It has modern, avant-garde and at the same time it is accessible,” said Clark. “It’s a resounding piece of music – it’s a glorious piece.”
The orchestra and choir are made up of local musicians ranging from amateurs to professionals. This concert will feature close to 65 musicians.
Even though the bulk of the musicians are amateurs Clark said, “We get mistaken to be a professional choir all the time.”
Clark said the architecture acoustics of the church also really compliments the music and text. He stated that Boston has some other great venues such as the Boston Symphony Hall but the way the sound resonates in the church really adds to the uniqueness of this concert.
Also, Clark added, “Saint Cecilia is the patron of music.”
Clark himself will be playing alongside trumpeter Kelley from the New England Conservatory on the organ during the first part of the concert.
The church staff, Clark said, really wanted the concert to be free and open to the community. Although admission is free, due to some generous contributions, donations will be accepted at the event.
Clark said, “It’s contemporary, avant-garde but has its times that everyone can relate to.”
The full program can be found below:
Prayer of Saint Gregory, Op. 62b (1946)
Alan Hovhaness (1911-2000)
Requiem pour une américaine à Paris (2012) Richard J. Clark (b. 1969)
III. Sequence | Deis Irae
Bist du bei mir, BWV 508
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
(“When you are near, I go gladly”)
Air de trompette
Georg Philipp Telemann (1681–1767)
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St. Cecilia Choir & Chamber Orchestra | Richard J. Clark, Director
Allesandra Cionco, soprano
Requiem John Rutter (b. 1945)
- Requiem aeternam
- Out of the Deep
III. Pie Jesu
- Sanctus
- Agnus Dei
- The Lord Is My Shepherd
VII. Lux aeterna
You can learn more at www.stceciliaboston.org