Winner of the 2013 American Choral Directors Association Brock Memorial Student Composition Competition, Redemption Mass is a tuneful, rhythmic, and inspiring setting of traditional and non-traditional texts. The simple, yet haunting Kyrie evokes ancient chants, while the rhythmically driving Gloria uses overlapping ostinato paints a picture of the Heavenly throne room described in Isaiah 6 and Revelation 4. Credo is an exuberant statement of faith filled with text painting, while the most accessible movement, Sanctus, is an uplifting song of praise again referencing the scene in Isaiah 6. Finally, Agnus Dei recalls themes from previous movements of the Mass against a stunning wall of sound, erupting into a passionate plea for peace. Scored for wind quintet or strings with piano and percussion.
Reviewing for the Choral Journal, Timothy Powell describes “a movie-score quality” that “weaves mantras of melodic patterns together like a hypnotic blanket over driving frenetic orchestra. … The Sanctus is particularly infectious.”
Premiered by the Blue Valley Northwest High School Choirs and Symphonic Orchestra on January 25, 2018, Beth Richey-Sullivan and Michael Arbucci, directors.
“Every year I give a reflection as part of the final. In many of the responses, the students listed Redemption Mass as the most impactful performance of the year. Thanks for giving us such a wonderful experience!” —Beth Richey-Sullivan