Lydia McCauley, Composer
A Contemporary Mass Setting
Commissioned by St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
Bellingham, Washington
Frederick Frahm, Director of Music
Commissioned by St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
Bellingham, Washington
Frederick Frahm, Director of Music
Missa Azzurro Verde, a contemporary Mass setting, commissioned by St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Bellingham, Washington in 2006, is used in the less formal Eucharist service, supported by an ensemble of vocalists and musicians with flute, guitar and piano. The students of St. Paul’s Academy also sing the Sanctus from the Mass during weekly chapel services.
Composed by Lydia McCauley, professional musician and owner of the independent music label Brimstone Music, “Missa Azzurro Verde” (mass of blue and green) is a tribute to the heavens and the earth meeting as one in unity. The Mass includes settings of the Kyrie eleison, Gloria in excelsis, Sanctus and Agnus Dei. There are also optional settings of the fraction anthem (Pascha nostrum) and the Trisagion.
Frederick Frahm, prolific composer of organ works, chamber music and choral scores, asked Lydia to compose the Mass for a contemporary Eucharist in her unique songwriting style. Frahm engraved the music, and arranged the keyboard setting of the Sanctus.
Missa Azzurro Verde is set for Congregation, Choir, Keyboard and Guitar. It includes a pew score.The Kyrie and Christ our Passover are set in a minor key and may be performed unaccompanied as plainchant, with or without a faux bourdon. The contemplative settings of the Trisagion and Agnus Dei incorporate Lydia’s love of Celtic and Appalachian music, which grows full with joy in the Gloria in excelsis and Sanctus.
Performance licences for the Mass are available from the composer.