By Florida Catholic staff - Florida Catholic
MIAMI | Not content to bring “world-class music at movie-ticket prices” to people of all faiths, the St. Martha-Yamaha Concert Series at Barry University will premiere two original pieces at its Friday, April 22, 8 p.m. concert. One of them, Shawn Crouch’s “Visions and Ecstasies: a Mass,” is the third in the series of Martha/Mary Meditations commissioned especially by St. Martha Concerts.
“This is a choral Mass with solos voicing the mystical experiences of Hildegard of Bingen, Julian of Norwich, Marguerite Porete, Clare of Assisi, and Teresa of Avila,” said Julie Williamson, chair of the concert series.Crouch is, in the words of Gramophone Magazine, “a gifted young composer,” based in Miami Beach, who also authored the acclaimed “Hiroshima: A Requiem.”
For “Visions and Ecstasies,” he relied on his mother’s Catholicism as well as input from Father Pedro Corces, pastor of St. Rose of Lima Church in Miami Shores. His composition focuses on five women, all from different European countries, whose commonality is “their finding this melding with God,” in Williamson’s words.
St. Martha’s previously commissioned works have been composed by a Jew � jazz pianist Shelly Berg’s “Martha and Mary Meditation”; and a Hispanic Buddhist � flautist Nestor Torres’ “Marta y Maria.”
Berg will be on hand at the April 22 concert to perform the other premiere, “The Dignity of Difference,” his tribute to Thomas Cahill, author of “How the Irish Saved Civilization.”
Both works will be performed by the University of Miami’s Frost Chorale, directed by Karen Kennedy, with mezzo-soprano Robynne Redmon featured in “Visions and Ecstasies.”
“Our goal is to have all ages, all beliefs and non-beliefs, mingling and speaking the universal language of music,” said Williamson, who started the concert series 11 years ago along with St. Martha’s former pastor, Father Federico Capdepon, and pianist Paul Posnak, who still serves as artistic director.
The concerts are now held at the Broad Performing Arts Center on the campus of Barry University, 11300 N.E. Second Ave., Miami Shores. Tickets are $10 for general admission, $20 for Blue Circle reserved seats. A reception and opportunity to mingle with all the artists follows each concert.
For information and tickets, go to www.saintmarthaconcerts.com.
