Missa Latina
Encyclopedia
Missa Latina is a classical music composition written by the Puerto Rican
composer Roberto Sierra
. The work was written for SATB chorus with two soloists (one baritone
and one soprano
), and a symphonic orchestra. It was co-commissioned by the National Symphony Orchestra and The Choral Arts Society of Washington and was written through 2003–2005. It premiered in 2006 at Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., and was also performed in the 51st Casals Festival
in Puerto Rico. The Washington Times judged it "the most significant symphonic premiere in the District since the late Benjamin Britten
's stunning War Requiem
was first performed in the still-unfinished Washington National Cathedral in the late 1960s."http://www.robertosierra.com/Reviews.pdf
The Missa Latina, "Pro Pace" (English: "For Peace"), has seven movements:
The work was recorded for commercial CD release on the Naxos label by the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in October 2008.
In 2009 Missa Latina was nominated for a GRAMMY for best contemporary composition.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
composer Roberto Sierra
Roberto Sierra
Roberto Sierra is a composer of contemporary classical music.Sierra studied composition in Europe, notably with György Ligeti in Hamburg, Germany...
. The work was written for SATB chorus with two soloists (one baritone
Baritone
Baritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
and one soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
), and a symphonic orchestra. It was co-commissioned by the National Symphony Orchestra and The Choral Arts Society of Washington and was written through 2003–2005. It premiered in 2006 at Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., and was also performed in the 51st Casals Festival
Casals Festival
The Casals Festival is a classical music event celebrated every year in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in honor of world renowned musician Pablo Casals.-Background:...
in Puerto Rico. The Washington Times judged it "the most significant symphonic premiere in the District since the late Benjamin Britten
Benjamin Britten
Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten, OM CH was an English composer, conductor, and pianist. He showed talent from an early age, and first came to public attention with the a cappella choral work A Boy Was Born in 1934. With the premiere of his opera Peter Grimes in 1945, he leapt to...
's stunning War Requiem
War Requiem
The War Requiem, Op. 66 is a large-scale, non-liturgical setting of the Requiem Mass composed by Benjamin Britten mostly in 1961 and completed January 1962. Interspersed with the traditional Latin texts, in telling juxtaposition, are settings of Wilfred Owen poems...
was first performed in the still-unfinished Washington National Cathedral in the late 1960s."http://www.robertosierra.com/Reviews.pdf
The Missa Latina, "Pro Pace" (English: "For Peace"), has seven movements:
- 1. Introitus (The Entrance, Introduction; Sirach 36:18, Psalm 121:1)
- 2. Kyrie (Lord, have mercy)
- 3. Gloria (Glory)
- 4. Credo (Credo)
- 5. Offertorium (Offertory, Psalm 121:6–9)
- 6. Santus (Holy)
- 7. Agnus Dei (Lamb of God)
Performances
- February 2–4, 2006, Washington, DC: National Symphony Orchestra, Choral Arts Society; Leonard SlatkinLeonard SlatkinLeonard Edward Slatkin is an American conductor and composer.-Early life and education:Slatkin was born in Los Angeles to a musical family that came from areas of the Russian Empire now in Ukraine. His father Felix Slatkin was the violinist, conductor and founder of the Hollywood String Quartet,...
, conductor; Heidi Grant Murphy, soprano; Nathaniel Webster, baritone. - March 3, 2007, Casals FestivalCasals FestivalThe Casals Festival is a classical music event celebrated every year in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in honor of world renowned musician Pablo Casals.-Background:...
, San Juan, Puerto Rico: Puerto Rico Symphony OrchestraPuerto Rico Symphony OrchestraThe Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra is Puerto Rico’s foremost musical ensemble, and one of the most renowned orchestras of the Americas...
, San Juan Philharmonic ChoraleSan Juan Philharmonic ChoraleThe San Juan Philharmonic Chorale , is one of Puerto Rico’s top choral groups. It performs regularly with the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra and at the Casals Festival....
; Andreas DelfsAndreas DelfsAndreas Delfs is a German conductor. He is the conductor laureate of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and principal conductor of the Honolulu Symphony.-Biography:...
, conductor; Heidi Grant Murphy, soprano; Nathaniel Webster, baritone. - December 29–30, 2007, Honolulu, HI: Honolulu SymphonyHonolulu SymphonyThe Honolulu Symphony, also known as the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra, was founded in 1900. The Honolulu Symphony is the oldest symphony orchestra in the USA west of the Rocky Mountains. Originally housed in a clubhouse on the slopes of Punchbowl, the Honolulu Symphony now plays from the Neal S...
, Honolulu Symphony Chorus; Andreas DelfsAndreas DelfsAndreas Delfs is a German conductor. He is the conductor laureate of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and principal conductor of the Honolulu Symphony.-Biography:...
, conductor; Olivia Gorra, soprano; Eric OwensEric Owens (bass-baritone)Eric Owens is an American operatic bass-baritone born July 11, 1970 in Philadelphia. He attended Central High School "247", Temple University's Boyer College of Music, and the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia...
, baritone. - October 3–4, 2008, Milwaukee, WI: Milwaukee Symphony OrchestraMilwaukee Symphony OrchestraThe Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra is an orchestra based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Its primary performing venue is the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts...
, Milwaukee Symphony ChorusMilwaukee Symphony ChorusThe Milwaukee Symphony Chorus is the choral ensemble of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. Founded in 1976 by Margaret Hawkins at the request of then-MSO music director Kenneth Schermerhorn, it was originally called the Wisconsin Conservatory Symphony Chorus and filled a need for the MSO to have a...
; Andreas DelfsAndreas DelfsAndreas Delfs is a German conductor. He is the conductor laureate of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and principal conductor of the Honolulu Symphony.-Biography:...
, conductor; Heidi Grant Murphy, soprano; Nathaniel Webster, baritone. - April 29, May 1 & 3, 2009, Houston Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Leonard Slatkin, conductor; Heidi Grant Murphy, soprano; Thomas Meglioranza, baritone.
- May 31, 2009, Los Angeles Master Chorale, Grant Gershon, conductor; Heidi Grant Murphy, soprano; Daniel Teadt, baritone.
- June 12, 2011, Conspirare, Craig Hella Johnson, conductor; Heidi Grant Murphy, soprano; Daniel Teadt, baritone.
The work was recorded for commercial CD release on the Naxos label by the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in October 2008.
In 2009 Missa Latina was nominated for a GRAMMY for best contemporary composition.