The youngest readers may not recognize the voice of Perry Como here but some of us feel like we grew up with him and his variety show. (Let me know if you remember this: Letters, we get letters, we get stacks and stacks of letters! Dear Perry, would you be so kind, to fill a request and sing the song I like best...)
Perry's rendition of Schubert's Ave Maria comes with many images of the Madonna and some readers here will recognize them as holy cards we placed in our Sunday missals. (As you might guess, I'm partial to the icons.)
This post is a reminder of the concert, Chosen From All Women, which will be presented by our cantor, Lauren Sprague (soprano) and accompanist, Carol Messina (piano) on Sunday night, September 9 at 7:30 p.m., following Evening Prayer at 7:00 p.m. Please join us and plan to bring at least one friend with you!
For more information and another setting of the Ave, check this earlier post.
Kathleen Battle and Christopher Parkening Performing Live at the 1987 Grammy Awards: Bach-Gounod Ave Maria
Do you know the date of Mary's birthday?
Take a minute or two to figure that out before reading on...
Not sure? Well, you can figure it out from the church calendar. You know the day when we celebrate Mary's Immaculate Conception - December 8. Now, just count 9 months across the calendar and you’ll land on Mary's birthday - September 8 which this year falls on a Saturday.
Just the next day, September 9, two of our music ministers, Lauren Sprague (soprano) and Carol Messina (piano) will present a concert in honor of the Blessed Mother's birthday. Lauren is one of our cantors and Carol one of our accompanists. The program they have prepared presents a variety of pieces written for and inspired by Mary including: a 9th century chant setting of the Annunciation; a piece entitled “Mary Alone,” written from the perspective of a mother whose son has been killed in war; a contemporary song, “Breath of Heaven” in which Mary sings of her concerns about becoming a mother; as well as a number of musical settings of the Ave Maria prayer by lesser known composers and, of course, the two most familiar settings (Schubert and Bach/Gounod). The repertoire is quite diverse and offers something for everyone.
We will sing Evening Prayer at 7:00 p.m. and the will follow, around 7:30 p.m. There is no admission fee, but all free will offerings will benefit Rosie’s Place, a sanctuary for poor and homeless women in Boston.
Each day between now and the concert, I will post a different rendition of the Ave Maria, with a reminder about the upcoming concert date.
Ave Maria Numbered Series
Click on the bible above for a link to the coming Sunday's readings and some brief, helpful commentary on them.
Homily: July 26
A prayer for when you're worried, anxious, afraid...
Help for Haiti
Reach out to the people of Haiti with health care, education and community development through Health Equity International (formerly known as the St. Boniface Haiti Foundation).
