The Palestrina Choir has launched a new recording of sacred music and reflections to celebrate Ireland’s last hosting of the International Eucharistic Congress in 1932 and in preparation for next year’s 50th Congress in Ireland.
The new CD, O Sacrament Most Holy, is a selection of music written over the centuries up to the present time to celebrate the Eucharist, “from the Renaissance polyphony of Byrd and Victoria to the Baroque vivacity of Charpentier to the contemporary charm of Colin Mawby.”
At the launch last Wednesday at Dublin’s Pro Cathedral, the choir performed a wide variety of music with a Eucharistic theme as part of a special service devised by Fr Pat O’Donoghue, which broadcast live through a new webcam system in the Cathedral.
The CD is part of the ongoing preparations in the Archdiocese of Dublin in advance of next year’s Congress.
Bishop Ray Field, Chairperson of the Dublin IEC Preparatory Committee, described the recording as a very valuable resource to all those planning to participate in the Congress.
He said it would also serve as an historical musical link between the celebrations of 1932 and the contemporary events that are planned for 2012.
The recording includes a specially commissioned piece, God has been Glorified, to mark the International Congress of 2012.
Bishop Field paid tribute to all those who had contributed to the recording, and their skill in preserving the sacred and traditional compositions of centuries past, while including reflections and arrangements of our times.
The CD is also a special tribute to former Palestrina chorister Count John MacCormack who sang Panis Angelicus in the Phoenix Park when the Eucharistic Congress was held in Dublin in 1932.
His performance was backed by a choir of 500, led by members of the Palestrina Choir.
The CD incorporates Count McCormack’s rendition of Panis Angelicus as well as a new recording of the famous hymn by the current Palestrina tenor, Jacek Wislocki.
Count MacCormack began his singing career in 1902, when he became a member of the Palestrina Choir.
The then choir director, Dr Vincent O’Brien, coached him privately, leading to his winning the prestigious tenor award at Dublin’s Feis Ceoil in 1903.
Eighty years after Count McCormack’s memorable singing of Panis Angelicus the current members of the Palestrina Choir are preparing to perform this signature hymn at the International Eucharistic Congress from 10-17 June 2012.
The new CD is also available to download from iTunes.
For further information log on to www.palestrinachoir.com