Missa Gaia / Earth Mass
The wolf, the whale and the loon return! Join us for this wonderful celebration of Creator and Creation with expanded choir, vocalists Denise Pelley and Paul Grambo, the KSS Missa Gaia Jazz Ensemble led by pianist Stephen Holowitz, the Wesley-Knox pipe organ, and a host of animal voices…
Missa Gaia / Earth Mass was originally created by Paul Winter and Paul Halley for the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, New York City. Dedicated to St. Francis, it was first performed on Mother’s Day, 1981.
It is an unusual work. Essentially a suite with sections supplied by various composers, Missa Gaia / Earth Mass is both ecumenical and ecological. The Alaskan tundra wolf supplies the theme for the Kyrie, and the humpback whale for the Sanctus. The sound of the harp seal can be heard in the Agnus Dei. Some sections are informed by Gregorian chant, others by gospel or jazz, and still others by music from Africa or Brazil.
Despite this diversity, there is a common theme: the Earth, our home, is a gift quite undeserved – a miracle of grace. This being so, it has become our responsibility to take care of it and all that is in it. The video below explains a bit about Paul Winter’s Missa Gaia performances in New York.
The Karen Schuessler Singers has been performing Missa Gaia / Earth Mass since 1994. This performance will be presented in partnership with Salthaven Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Centre.
Tickets $20, $17 for seniors, $10 for students ($23 / $20 / $10 at the door) can be ordered online at the Karen Schuessler Singers website, www.kssingers.com.
Share the event on Facebook!
Categories Concerts, Missa Gaia Earth Mass, Paul Halley, Paul Winter, Subscription Season | Tags: choral concert, London Ontario, London Ontario choir, Missa Gaia, Paul Halley, Paul Winter
Social Networks: Facebook, Twitter, Google Bookmarks, del.icio.us, StumbleUpon, Digg, Reddit, Posterous.
You can follow any follow up comments to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.