Music for Trinity Sunday

This week presents a rare and privileged occasion for myself and for the High Mass Choir: to sing for the first time ever a piece of music written for us by one of our community. Our tenor Srinath Covilakam has a background in composition and, after singing with our group for several years, had some musical ideas for organ and choir that he approached me to discuss. Little did I know (either of us, perhaps!) that a beautiful Mass setting would emerge out of this conversation, framing the texts of the ordinaries we sing every week with a unique voice imparting deep serenity, emotional presence, and invitation to certain “reflections.” The composer invites us into contemplation on these texts with a heading that appears before each moment (cited below the translation in the Mass booklet).

I’m immensely grateful to Sri for this offering in sound, this Missa dedicated to St. James’ choir and community. I invite you to experience the work through his own words in the note below.

— Abraham Ross

 

Missa Brevis: Reflections is a setting of the Mass Ordinary, approached as a meditation on the qualities, which form our essence, that these timeless texts have always evoked. This setting is quite minimal and simple in its form, a call to contemplation.

Kyrie Eleison, reflecting on Mercy and Forgiveness, as we long for a more merciful and forgiving world. Sanctus, reflecting on the Abundance that surrounds us; how Holy! Benedictus, reflecting on the One who comes, drawing us together as a community in Love. Agnus Dei, reflecting on the eternal Sacrifice and on Peace, and on what I must let go of.

May these gifts of Mercy, Abundance, Love and Peace deepen within us.

 — Srinath Covilakam

Solemn Mass takes place at St. James’ Anglican Church, Vancouver at 10:30 am every Sunday.