Northeast Ohio’s renowned Master Singers, Inc. Chorale will again feature one of Patricia Long’s shorter works, “O magnum mysterium,” in a performance to include premieres of works by composers from around the world. “O magnum mysterium” is a timeless Latin text. Patricia Long’s new setting is for a cappella SATB chorus. MSI’s distinguished founder and artistic director, Dr. J.D. Goddard, will conduct.
This work gets its second performance a week later from the Western Reserve Chorale, again under the baton of Dr. Goddard.
Patricia Long’s “Sanctus” (from her Mass in E-flat “Millennium”) was among the choral works performed at various distinguished venues during this tour, including Salisbury Cathedral in England and Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff, Wales. In addition, Dr. Barry Scott Williamson, conductor of the Texas Choral Consort, presented a score copy of Ms. Long’s song for Wales, “Cymru Am Byth” (“Wales Forever”) as a gift to the Llandaff Cathedral Choral Society, graciously accepted by their conductor Avril Harding.
Under the baton of Dr. Barry Scott Williamson, the TCC gave an exquisite performance of the “Sanctus” from Patricia Long’s Mass in E-flat “Millennium.” The concert included choral works to be performed during TCC’s subsequent tour of Wales and England.
The Master Singers, Inc. Chorale premiered one of Patricia Long’s shorter works, “Quam pulchri super montes,” in two concerts within the Trinity Lutheran Organ series. The MSI Chorale was the first choir to be invited to take part in this prestigious series. Dr. J.D. Goddard conducted. “Quam pulchri super montes” is a moving hymn with Latin text drawn from Isaiah 52. We have posted pictures from this event in our photo album.
The select 40-voice choir Schola Cantorum of Austin (subsequently merged into the Texas Choral Consort), directed by Dr. Barry Scott Williamson, enjoyed a highly successful concert tour of Germany and Austria. Two of Ms. Long’s choral works — the “Sanctus” movement from her Mass in E-Flat “Millennium” and her more recent “How Beautiful Upon the Mountains” — were part of a program of music by American and British composers, including Aaron Copland, John Rutter, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Randall Thompson. Both formal and informal concerts were held in some of Europe’s great music capitals, from Leipzig (the Thomaskirche) to Munich (the Wieskirche in Füssen) and from Salzburg (Salzburg Dom) to Vienna (Stift Klosterneuburg). For photographs from the tour, please visit our photo album.
Enthusiastic audiences and capacity crowds attended Schola Cantorum’s major concerts in Dachau, Germany (Mariä Himmelfahrt Church) and Stift Klosterneuburg (at the gates of Vienna). Rave reviews subsequently appeared in several newspapers, including the Munich Merkur. To read that review in translation, together with a link to the German original, along with two reviews of the Dachau concert, click here.
On the third Sunday of Advent in the fine acoustical setting of this landmark church, the Sanctuary Choir—directed by Mary Beth Gartner—gave two spirited performances of Ms. Long’s Magnificat. Accompaniment included organ, harpsichord, woodwinds, and brass.
The Oak Hill UMC Choir, accompanied by organ and professional chamber orchestra and conducted by William Peace, gave “Millennium” its first performance, evoking an enthusiastic standing ovation from the capacity audience.