Missa Latina

From Wikipedia, the free 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 51^st 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."[1]

The Missa Latina, sometimes subtitled "Pro Pax" or "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) (pronounced in Latin Añus Dei)

[edit] Performances

• February 2-4, 2006, Washington, DC: National Symphony Orchestra, Choral Arts Society; Leonard Slatkin, conductor; Heidy Grant-Murphy, soprano; Nathaniel Webster, baritone.

• March 3, 2007, Casals Festival, San Juan, Puerto Rico: Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra, San Juan Philharmonic Chorale; Andreas Delfs, conductor; Heidy Grant-Murphy, soprano; Nathaniel Webster, baritone.

• December 29-30, 2007, Honolulu, HI: Honolulu Symphony, Honolulu Symphony Chorus; Andreas Delfs, conductor; Olivia Gorra, soprano; Eric Owens, baritone.