top of page

Special Music Sunday on March 6 at 10:00 a.m.

iabodeely

WP_20160225_09_50_17_Pro_Fotor


GOSPEL MASS by Robert Ray (b. 1946)

 St. Mary’s Adult Choir and Jazz Trio

African-American composer Robert Ray wrote the Gospel Mass over 30 years ago as an outgrowth of his work as a committee member of the National Office of Black Catholics. The committee was tasked with searching out and creating liturgical music in the Black Gospel tradition to respond to the reforms in the Catholic Church in the 1960s. With the Second Vatican Council the Church brought the language of the Mass into the vernacular and needed new music to support these liturgical changes.

The premier performance of the Gospel Mass was given by some of Ray’s students at the University of Illinois-Urbana in 1979. The composer was surprised when the work caught on and became an important part of the African-American sacred repertoire. Using an accompaniment of piano, bass guitar and drums, Ray set the traditional Mass text, with some textual insertions, in the musical language of African-American music with a synthesis of jazz, gospel and classical styles.

Sunday, March 6 the St. Mary’s Choir will perform the work liturgically, with the movements of the Mass inserted at the appropriate points in the service. Guest musicians Jonathan Yasuda, piano; Will Prapestis, bass guitar; and Dan Foote, drums will accompany the choir. Please join us for this uplifting music!  All are Welcome.

1 view0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

コメント


St. Mary's Episcopal Church

258 Concord Street

Newton Lower Falls, MA 02462

(617) 527-4769

office@st-marys-episcopal.org

  • White Facebook Icon
  • White YouTube Icon
  • White Instagram Icon
  • Blog
Have a question? 

Thank you. Someone will get back to you shortly.

Contact webmaster

©2021 by St. Mary's Episcopal Church

Legal Disclamer
bottom of page