Selections from the contemporary classic, “Celtic Mass for the Sea” will be sung on Saturday, June 1.
By Kathi Ciskowski
A reunion of singers is taking place on Sat., June 1 at 11 a.m. to enjoy and reprise a short portion of “The Celtic Mass for the Sea” in honor or World Oceans Day. The complete piece of music was performed twice in the past by the Orcas Choral Society under the direction of Catherine Pederson. Some of the singers were also part of groups that traveled to Carnegie Hall and Europe to perform the piece.
This will be the second “Celtic Mass for the Sea” reunion as the group also gathered last year. The impetus for the celebration last year was inspired by Scott Macmillan and Jennyfer Brickenden, composer and librettist of the Mass, who organized a “Flash Mob” event at the Maritime Museum in their home city of Halifax (Canada). They encouraged singers to join them there, or to join in spirit and song in their home communities. The singers on Orcas enjoyed the event so much that it was decided to reprise the reprisal again this year.
Plans for the June 1 observance of “The Celtic Mass for the Sea” propose that singers who have previously sung the work in its entirety with the Choral Society meet for two rehearsals, and then gather on June 1 to sing excerpts from the Mass. Mrs. Pederson says, “This event is perceived as a time of sharing rather than as a performance.” The celebration includes Catherine Pederson, Choral Director; Louellen McCoy, pianist and Rachel Bishop, fiddler.
“World Oceans Day” was first proposed 21 years ago by the Government of Canada at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. The UN now officially recognizes a resolution passed in 2008 by the United Nations General Assembly declaring “World Oceans Day” on June 8 each year. This gathering will be taking place a week early on Orcas due to other participant commitments scheduled for June 1.
Although this is not considered a performance, listeners for this brief 15 minutes or so of music written in homage to the sea and its creatures, are most welcome to share in the reunion event at Emmanuel Episcopal Parish Hall at 11:00a.m. on Saturday, June 1.
A reception will follow.
For further information, contact Catherine Pederson at catherine@rockisland.com
