PALM SUNDAY CONCERT TO FEATURE “MISSA BREVIS X 2” ON MARCH 28 AT 5PM

Unique Holy Week tradition continues at Reformed Church of the Tarrytowns

            For nearly 30 years, Palm Sunday has meant joyous and meaningful musicmaking at the Reformed Church of the Tarrytowns. 

            A tradition dating to the early 1980’s, the annual Palm Sunday Concert  began as a Sunday afternoon musical service where liturgical music selections were interspersed with scripture readings and narration.  They were always cohesive, thematic presentations, centering on various aspects of the life of Jesus and his influence on his contemporaries and modern followers. 

            The music director at the time and originator of the concerts, Barbara VanderHart, remembers them fondly:  “The one I remember best was the last one we did together before Gerry (VanderHart , husband and pastor) retired.  It was an overview of Jesus' life/death/resurrection with soliloquies of either Biblical characters or present day observers reflecting on how Jesus impacted them.  I think that was my favorite one.  The whole concept allowed us to sing pieces we had done over the years that were favorites of mine that I longed to hear the choir sing just one more time. “

            Under the present music directors, Mi-Won Kim and Jeremy Goldsmith, the concert has taken on a different look and scale.  The Chancel Choir is expanded with members from choirs of surrounding churches as well as community members who are choral music enthusiasts.  In addition, a larger instrumental ensemble participates.  This year features a choir of over 30 members, the 11 member church Handbell Choir and an eight member string section, plus organ and piano. 

            The featured music includes the “Missa Brevis Sancti Joannis de Deo” by Joseph Haydn, and the “Messe Basse” by Gabriel Faure.  Also presented will be two choral anthems appropriate to Palm Sunday, as well as chamber music and readings.

                A missa brevis is, literally, a "short Mass".  It can refer to several different types of musical setting of the mass, from the "telescoped" Viennese masses of Haydn and Mozart to the Low Mass (called messe basse in French and Deutsche Singmesse in German), or in the specifically Lutheran sense of Kyrie and Gloria.  Nowadays it is generally understood as a setting of parts of the ordinary mass and is a popular genre of twentieth century choral composition.  The two masses which will be presented in this concert are two of the most popular in this genre.

            Admission to the concert is free, but there will be a free will offering to help support future musical events at the church.  The Reformed Church of the Tarrytowns is at 42 North Broadway in downtown Tarrytown.  For more information and directions, please call the church office at 914-631-4497, or log onto http://www.rctodc.org.  We’re also on Facebook! 

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