The Bernstein Mass Project

I've always been fascinated by Leonard Bernstein--fascinated to base my entire dissertation on his music. I was excited to see this project taking place in Baltimore and New York where students are uniting with composers in producing a reinvigorated Mass.

Some details:

Marin Alsop will lead the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in 2 performances of Mass in October. The Bernstein Mass Project: A Choral Exploration- a program that has united New York City middle school and high school students with composers Tom Cabaniss, James Blachly, and Jim Papoulis - will be performed in Zankel Hall on October 19.

From the PlaybillArts website:

To Bernstein, the journey toward personal religious belief was anything but easy-going. Although it could lead to solace and unity, the spiritual path was also rife with detours that could misdirect a person toward doubt and intolerance. It was through Mass--with its clash of contrasting genres, instrumental forces, and ironic, often angry lyrics--that Bernstein sought to capture the conflicts, contradictions, and rewards that humankind faced in its search for faith.

The quest for faith in the face of doubt and instability is as relevant today as it was in 1971 when the piece was first performed. "It's about the hope for something better, but also anxiety about the way things are," said Sarah Johnson, Director of The Weill Music Institute at Carnegie Hall. "These themes resonate with students. They have said 'we never get to talk about this stuff, and it really matters to us.'"

Read more here.