A Choir Tour to Spain Day One, Everyone gathers!
This evening Saturday 16 June at 19:00 local time, the Choir gathered in a wonderful restaurant in Madrid for an opening meal and to start the 2018 Choir Tour, this year in Spain.
26 Choristers, 7 Adult Singers and some 40 parents and siblings will travel together this week making musical offerings and singing in the celebration of the Eucharist in Cathedrals, Monasteries and Churches between Madrid and Barcelona.
Each day photos and recordings of excerpts of this amazing adventure will be posted in order to share the experience with all of you. Thank you for all your prayers, support and love that led us to this day.
Please keep the group in your prayers for a safe, mystical and fun adventure.
As they become available musical highlights will be posted on the Media page. Look for that development in the coming days.
The Choir of Grace Church in New York
A SUMMER TOUR TO SPAIN 2018
Each Program will be drawn from the following compositions to the nature of each site
and the duration of program requested.
PSALM 24. Domini est terra…….Anglican Chant (Barnby)
REJOICE IN THE LORD…….Anonymous (16th Century)
UBI CARITAS…….Maurice Duruflé (1902-1986)
IF YE LOVE ME…….Thomas Tallis (c.1505-1585)
THE HEAVENS ARE TELLING, OPUS 48/4…….Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
JUSTORUM ANIMÆ…….C. Villiers Stanford (1852-1924)
AVE VERUM…….Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD…….John Stainer (1840-1901)
LOVE'S ENDEAVOUR, LOVE'S EXPENSE…….Barry Rose (b.1934)
HAEC DIES…….William Byrd (c.1543-1623)
STEAL AWAY…….African-American Spiritual, Harmonized and Arranged by H.T. Burleigh (1866-1949)
EGO SUM PANIS VIVUS…….Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c.1525-1594)
SICUT CERVUS
SUPER FLUMINA
THE VIRGIN MARY HAD A BABY BOY…….arr. Robert De Cormier (1922-2017)
I SAT DOWN UNDER HIS SHADOW…….Edward C. Bairstow (1874 – 1946)
JESU, THE VERY THOUGHT OF THEE'
BEATI QUORUM VIA…….C. Villiers Stanford
PSALM 150. Laudate Dominum…….Anglican Chant (Talbot
2018 SUMMER TOUR PROGRAMS BY DATE AND LOCATION
El Escorial Monastery at 13:00
During Mass:
Opening: JUSTORUM ANIMÆ…….C. Villiers Stanford (1852-1924)
Offertory: HAEC DIES…….William Byrd (c.1543-1623)
Communion: EGO SUM PANIS VIVUS…….Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c.1525-1594)
Final: BEATI QUORUM VIA…….C. Villiers Stanford
Following the Mass, a short musical offering
PSALM 24. Domini est terra……Anglican Chant (Barnby)
SICUT CERVUS…….Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c.1525-1594)
THE VIRGIN MARY HAD A BABY BOY…….arr. Robert De Cormier (1922-2017), West Indian Spiritual
PSALM 150. Laudate Dominum…….Anglican Chant (Talbot)
MONDAY 18 JUNE 2018 at 12 :30
The Church of El Salvador, Toledo, A Full Concert Program
REJOICE IN THE LORD……Anonymous (16th Century)
Cathedral Toledo, Mass, followed by a musical offering.
During Mass
ENTRADA, UBI CARITAS…….Maurice Duruflé (1902-1986)
OFERTORIO, HAEC DIES…….William Byrd (c.1543-1623)
COMUNIÓN, EGO SUM PANIS VIVUS…….Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c.1525-1594)
……….SUPER FLUMINA
FINAL, JUSTORUM ANIMÆ…….C. Villiers Stanford (1852-1924)
BEATI QUORUM VIA…….C. Villiers Stanford (1852-1924)
TUESDAY 19 JUNE 2018 at 20:30
The Basilica of San Manuel y San Benito, Madrid, A Full Concert Program
WEDNESDAY 20 JUNE 2018 in the afternoon
Basilica del Pilar Zaragoza
AVE MARIA…….Tomas Luis de Victoria (c.1548-1611)
THURSDAY 21 JUNE 2018 at 1:15 p.m.
Abbey of Montserrat
SUPER FLUMINA…….Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c.1525-1594)
Friday 22 JUNE 2018 at 20 :00
Cathedral of Barcelona , A Full Concert Program
HAEC DIES……. William Byrd(c.1543-1623)
SATURDAY 23 JUNE 2018 at 13 :00
Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, A Musical Offering
STEAL AWAY……African-American Spiritual, Harmonized and Arranged by H.T. Burleigh (1866-1949)
THE VIRGIN MARY HAD A BABY BOY…….arr. Robert De Cormier (1922-2017)……. West Indian Spiritual
Spain Choir Tour Program Book 2018
From The Choir of Men and Boys
Theo Cannon, George Cheung, Marcus Dawkins, Optimus, Alabama Embry, Ian Godfrey, Kadin Hussein, Duncan Longley
From The Girls' Choir
Taber Cannon, Maeve Cannon,Catherine Cheung, Lucia DiDomenico, Adelaide "Addie" Ettedgui, Beatrix Flynn, Julia Geniesse, Kiera Hackett, Lila Hussein, Sydney Kim, Eleanor Livings, Milly McAskin, Vivienne Skrypek, Anna Sorensen, Optima , Katharine Sorensen, Esmé Towles, Daveonna Vincent, Sarah Weber, Charlotte Wells
Adults, Alto, Tenor & Bass
Amy Bartram, soprano, Eileen Clark, alto, Bob Lukomski, tenor, Steven Moore,, bass, Nathan Riehl, tenor, Suzanne Schwing, alto, A. J. Stetson, bass
The Choir of Men and Boys is made up of some 30 boys and a professional ensemble of 6 to 12 adult altos, tenors and basses. The foundation is based on the Anglican Cathedral model of Choir where the boys do the work of professional soprano vocalists. The Grace Church Choir of Men and Boys was established in 1894, and in the fall of that same year the Church established a Choir School for the academic and musical training of the boys.
James M. Helfenstein served both as Organist and Choirmaster and as Headmaster of the School. He was succeeded as Organist and Choirmaster in 1922 by Ernest Mitchell, who was brought to New York from Trinity Church, Copley Square in Boston. Mr. Mitchell served Grace Church with great distinction for thirty-eight years. Upon his retirement in 1960, Frank Cedric Smith, then organist at Grace Church in Newark, New Jersey, and himself a former choirboy at Grace Church, became Organist and Choirmaster. Mr. Smith retired in 1992 and was succeeded by Bruce G. McInnes, Organist and Choirmaster, who came from Christ Church Cathedral in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Mr. McInnes retired in the fall of 1999 and Patrick Allen became Organist and Master of Choristers in March of 2000.
Thus, in its One Hundred Twenty Four year history The Choir of Men and Boys at Grace Church has had only five directors. It is the oldest resident Boy Choir in continuous service in New York City, and its school served as a model for the Choir Schools at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine on Morningside Heights and at Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue. The Choir School which began with sixteen boys has evolved into Grace Church School which today comprises some seven hundred boys and girls spanning grades pre-kindergarten through eleven.
During its distinguished history this Choir was the first to have its Christmas Eve Service of Lessons and Carols televised nationally. The Choir has sung on many occasions at the major concert halls in New York City including participation in performances of Mahler's Eighth Symphony and Massenet's Hérodiade at Carnegie Hall. New anthems are commissioned regularly for the Grace Church Choirs including most recently works by Malcolm Archer, René Clausen, Gerre Hancock, Fenno Heath and Barry Rose.
As part of the celebrations surrounding the Centennial of The Choir of Men and Boys in 1994, and with the support of the Rector, Wardens, Vestry and People of Grace Church, The Girls' Choir for young ladies was established. Five young choristers came forward to become the charter class. The Girls' Choir has taken its place alongside The Choir of Men and Boys, The Adult Choir and Parish Choir in the musical leadership of the worship of Grace Church. The Girls' Choir is made up of some 42 girls and a professional ensemble of 6 to 12 adult altos, tenors and basses. It is based, like the Choir of Men and Boys on the Anglican Cathedral model of Choir where the girls do the work of professional soprano vocalists.
With the establishment of the High School Division of Grace Church School, a new High School Chorister program was begun in the Choir. High School Students study the appropriate vocal part and work alongside the Adult singers to support the soprano part sung by the Girls' Choir.
The Adult Choir of Grace Church is made up of nine professional singers. The lower six members of this choir provide the alto, tenor and bass parts to the treble parts sung by the boy and girl choristers. The sopranos of the choir originally sang on occasions when the choristers were on holiday during the academic season and in the summer months. In recent years they have distinguished themselves by special offerings and take their place as an integral part of the musical fabric of Grace Church. For special liturgies and musical offerings the number in the choir is adjusted to a size appropriate for the occasion.
In the Fall of 2006 the Parish Choir was established. This ensemble is open to any teen or adult with a wish to enjoy the fellowship of the community through the offering of great choral music. This choir sings weekly at the 9 o'clock a.m. Sunday service on the first Sunday of October through Memorial Day weekend. Rehearsal's take place prior to that service at 8:15 a.m. on Sunday mornings and on other occasions as arranged. Members of the Parish, alumni, faculty and parents of Grace Church School, and our neighbors in the community and NYU are all invited to come enjoy one another's company offering great sacred music repertoire!
Patrick Allen, Conductor, Harpsichordist, and Organist is a native of Tallahassee, Florida. Since 2000 he has served as Organist and Master of Choristers at Grace Church in New York. In addition to his work training the choristers, conducting the Choir of Men and Boys, Girls' Choir, Parish and Adult Choirs, and supporting the liturgies of Grace Church, he founded and plays the "Bach at Noon" and "Weekend Organ Meditation" series at the Church. Combined, live organ music is offered to the community as meditation six days a week from September through May. www.gracechurchnyc.org
Allen has received degrees from the University of North Texas and The Florida State University. He was awarded the degree Doctor of Musical Arts and The Performer's Certificate in Organ from the Eastman School of Music as a student of Russell Saunders. In Amsterdam, Allen worked with Gustav Leonhardt, Max van Egmond, and Veronika Hampe. In 1988 he was a finalist in the American Guild of Organists National Open Young Artists Competition. He has been heard as soloist on the organ and harpsichord and in many chamber music programs throughout the United States and Europe. With the Choir of Men and Boys and Girls' Choir of Grace Church he has toured Austria, The Czech Republic, France, Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Allen has recorded with The Saint Thomas Choir on the Koch and Priory labels.
A few photos of todays adventures as we gathered in Madrid.