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for Chorus, Soli, Orchestra and Readers
Alpha Mass is scored for full orchestra in the grand classical tradition using contemporary musical language to pay tribute to one of the oldest classical forms, the mass. The orchestration consists of strings, pairs of winds and horns, harp and percussion. The piano is also a vital part of the orchestration, often being doubled in the other parts. The work can be effectively performed with piano, bass and percussion (and organ , at the conductors discretion). In several of my large choral works, the piano serves the same purpose as the harpsichord in the Baroque continuo, the stabilizing force for the entire ensemble. This is true of "Born To Die" and "Let God Arise" as well.
The work is a concert mass, to be sure. It stands well in the concert hall or in the college/conservatory arena. It works well in Protestant churches and certainly in the Roman and Anglican church traditions, in High Mass and in Ordinary times.
Some parts of the work are in Latin, some in English. There are the very classical "Sanctus", "Alleluia", and "Gloria" which evolves into a rather "Baptist" sounding gospel. There is the jazz of the "Credo" to be thrown into the pot. There is the very chant-like "Memorial Acclamation ", and the "Agnus Dei" (Lamb Of God) which lends itself for solo adlib. "For The Kingdom" reminds the composer , and many others of the spirituals so often sung by the Black College Choir in the Fisk Jubilee Tradition.
"Alpha Mass" seems to divided itself into four major sections:
I. The Gathering
II. The Word
III. The Eucharist
IV. The Dismissal
The pieces in each section, as well as performances suggestions, are discussed in detail in the preface of the vocal score. The soli and choral writing asks a lot of its singers, especially in the top register. While it is a challenge, it is approachable by many church choirs as well as college/conservatory and civic/symphony choruses.
I must thank Mr. Kenneth Kilgore and the Ambassador's Concert Choir of Oklahoma City for its premiere performance in December of 1989. (Mr. Kilgore suggested the name, "Alpha Mass"). Also I am grateful to Maestro James Schatzman and the Racine (WI) Symphonic Chorus and Chamber Orchestra for the World Premiere of the orchestrated version of "Alpha Mass"___January, 1993.
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For as long as I can remember, I have always been fascinated by the music of the Catholic church. Its chants and hymns have always had a mysterious and reverent aura about them. Even when the mass was in Latin and I would play the organ for their services in my home town, I was often overwhelmed by a powerful sense of worship.
As I grew to view the Church as the universal "Body Of Christ", I also grew to appreciate the significant, Christ-centered contributions of all Christian denominations. My beliefs, convictions, and growth in "The Word" are reflected in my music, rather, God's Music.
To approach the mass as a concert work is not a new concept, to be sure. Many of the Great Masters certainly made outstanding contributions to the standard choral repertoire through this genre. As the church attempts to meet the needs of the 20th-21st century Christian, such composers as Leon Roberts and Robert Ray have used the contemporary Gospel Mass idiom to minister to today's Catholic worshipers and those of many denominations.
My ministry-career is universal, interdenominational, interracial, multi-ethnic, and multi-cultural. After prayerfully examining the major components of the Catholic Mass I was led of the Lord to use a variety of musical styles in my approach to this form of worship. While many composers have a musical motif or theme which ties together a multi-movement work, this work is tied together by its central theme, the message of the "Kingdom". Its subtitle, " A Kingdom Celebration", is the glue that holds the work together. Yes, there is unity in the Kingdom!
Although I have written a mass, I am not attempting to glorify the Catholic Church, or any denomination, for that matter. I simply want to honor the "Alpha and Omega" for whom this work is written and to whom it is dedicated. We sing "Hallelujah" to the King of kings and Lord of lords.