Concerts
MASS
A Theatre Piece for Singers, Players, and Dancers by Leonard Berstein
Saturday, May 5th, 2012 7:30pm
Sunday, May 6th, 2012 7:30pm
St. Philip Presbyterian Church, 4807 San Felipe Houston, TX 77056 - Map.
Featuring:
Brian Shircliffe as "The Celebrant" VOX - The Rob Seible Singers as "Street Singers" Houston Cecilia as "the Formal Choir" HSPVA Treble Choir as the "the Children's Choir" Tara Faircloth Dancers as "the Acolytes" Dr. Justin Smith, Conducting
MASS is a musical theatre work composed by Leonard Bernstein with text by Bernstein and additional text and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. Commissioned by Jacqueline Kennedy, it premiered on September 8, 1971, conducted by Maurice Peress. The performance was part of the opening of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
Originally, Bernstein had intended to compose a traditional Mass, but instead decided on a more innovative form. The work is based on the Tridentine Mass of the Roman Catholic Church. Although the liturgical passages are sung in Latin, Mass also includes additional texts in English written by Bernstein, Broadway composer Stephen Schwartz, and Paul Simon (who wrote the first quatrain of the trope "Half of the People").
Originally, Bernstein had intended to compose a traditional Mass, but instead decided on a more innovative form. The work is based on the Tridentine Mass of the Roman Catholic Church. Although the liturgical passages are sung in Latin, Mass also includes additional texts in English written by Bernstein, Broadway composer Stephen Schwartz, and Paul Simon (who wrote the first quatrain of the trope "Half of the People").
Cast of Characters
The Celebrant – a Catholic priest who conducts the celebration of the Mass. Formal Choir – A mixed choir who sing the Latin portions of the Mass. Children's Choir – A treble choir that performs alone, in antiphon, or in concert with the Formal Choir and the Street Singers. Street Singers – Downstage and often performing around the Celebrant and the stage instrumentalists, a broad group of female and male singers representing the congregation (and occasionally the musicians), who variously participate in the prayers of the Mass, or alternately counter those prayers in a modern context. Acolytes – Assistants to the Celebrant, who perform dances and altar assistance throughout the Mass. Accompanied by a full professional orchestra and rock band