St. Colman Catholic Church, Washington High School choirs to perform in latest 'Concerts in a Country Church' installment
The Choir of St. Colman Church will be joined by the Washington High School Symphonic Choir for a "Concerts in a Country Church" performance Nov. 12. (Submitted photo)
St. Colman Catholic Church will celebrate 250 years of youthful choral magic in a “Concerts in a Country Church” series performance Sunday, Nov. 12 at 3 p.m., featuring Wolfgang Mozart’s “Missa Brevis” in D major, K. 194 (1774) and Ola Gjeilo’s “Sunrise” Mass (2016).
The church is located at 219 South North Street, Washington Court House 43160.
The program is to be the 20th such presentation since the series “Concerts in a Country Church” was begun in 2013. The Choir of St. Colman Church will be joined by the Washington High School Symphonic Choir for this occasion.
The St. Colman Choir will perform Mozart's “Missa Brevis” in D major, and the combined choirs will sing Gjeilo's “Sunrise’ Mass, with both works to be accompanied by string ensemble. Craig Jaynes directs the St. Colman Choir, and David Scott is director for Washington High School vocal music program.
Since beginning in 2013, the St. Colman series of “Concerts in a Country Church” has brought programs of serious, interesting and beautiful music to the Fayette County area, and these two works are no exception. What is exceptional is the relative youthfulness of both composers when the pieces were written: Mozart was 18, Gjeilo 32.
The works also share words: the words of the Christian (Catholic) Mass, sung in Latin, but in completely different styles. The two choirs are combining for the piece because sections of it are written for two choirs singing simultaneously, making for some intriguing, haunting harmonic effects.
“The musical range of two completely different treatments of the same words is fascinating,” said Jaynes. “Of nearly equal interest is the range of age and experience we get when combining the two groups, spanning something close to four generations. And the themes being sung about are of universal human experience, and that's an exciting prospect for all of us doing it, and we hope, equally powerful for the listener."
Tickets are $15 per person and may be obtained from St. Colman Choir members or sending payment to the church (“Concert”); tickets may also be reserved by calling (937) 675-7055 or may be purchased at the door if not sold out in advance.
Abundant free parking is available all around the church.