Divine Muse

Handel wrote an overture. Scarlatti wrote a mass. Bach wrote a bourrée, a concerto, and a mass of his own. Join us at Trinity Church for three concerts celebrating the patron saint of music – St. Cecilia.

October 30, 1pm – 2pm

Divine Muse: Bach at One

St. Paul’s Chapel

In the first installment of the series, Trinity’s director of music, Melissa Attebury, leads the Trinity Choir and Trinity Baroque Orchestra in a tribute that includes Bach’s Komm, Jesu, komm; Gott der Herr ist Sonn und Schild; and Benjamin Britten’s Hymn to St. Cecilia — one of the best-known musical tributes to the saint. Composed in 1941 in the United States, the piece was confiscated by Customs before Britten embarked on a return to the United Kingdom; he rewrote the work while crossing the Atlantic. Attebury sees all the pieces of this program as “pointing to the indelible link between music and worship that is at the heart of our Trinity community.”

November 14, 6:30pm – 7:30pm

Divine Muse: St. Cecilia Mass

Trinity Church

In this second installment of the series, you’ll experience Charles Gounod’s deeply moving but rarely heard St. Cecilia Mass. Highlighting the work’s lush orchestration, soaring melodies, and sheer emotional power, Trinity’s adaptation replaces the rare string octobass (there’s only one performing instrument in the world!) in the original with the lowest pipes of the magnificent new organ in the church’s nave. The piece will be paired with Jessica French’s Strengthen for Service and John Gardner’s A Song for St. Cecilia’s Day, works that similarly spotlight themes of devotion, community, and the healing potential of music in times of need. Performed by Brianna J. Robinson, soprano; Steven Caldicott Wilson, tenor; Enrico Lagasca, bass; Downtown Voices; and NOVUS; with Stephen Sands, conducting.

November 21, 6:30pm – 7:30pm

Divine Muse: Honoring St. Cecilia

St. Paul’s Chapel

Trinity’s Divine Muse series culminates on the eve of St. Cecilia’s Feast Day, with two master works inspired by the saint: On November 21, rejoice with George Frideric Handel’s Ode for St. Cecilia’s Day Overture, which director Melissa Attebury will present along with Allesandro Scarlatti’s St. Cecilia Mass. Now rarely heard, the latter piece during its time was considered an equal to Bach’s Magnificat. With choir and soloists interwoven throughout the mass, Trinity’s adaptation by music librarian Harrison E. Joyce adds wind instruments to the original orchestration. Performed by Trinity Choir; Trinity Baroque Orchestra; Melissa Attebury, Director of Music.

Doors open 30 minutes before the event start time. Please be advised that seating is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration is highly recommended.

Host or Publisher Trinity Church Wall Street