Sunday at 9:15am
As we begin Lent this week, we continue our observance of Women's History Month. At the 9:15 Cathedral for Kids Mass the choristers will sing a setting of Psalm 2 by the early Baroque composer Heinrich Schütz “Why do the nations rage” This work, edited by the late Alice Parker, a titan in the world of choral music, is a metrical translation and adaptation of the second Psalm. The psalm in question is very jarring, poetically asking why all seem to rebel against God, yet showing how God is faithful to those who trust in him despite those who do evil. Schütz’s music portrays this dichotomy of emotion by its minor, harsh affect in the first half of each verse, while the second half becomes calmer and ends in a major key. The new translation was done by Gracia Grindel, a scholar who has done much work in translating Germanic texts into contemporary English.
Next week we will feature organ music by women composers.