With the lingering evidence of Thanksgiving both in our refrigerators and around our waistlines, it’s hardly surprising that our thoughts and memories would be full of home. Perhaps you still are “home,” with family and a full day of travel ahead of you, or you can’t wait to get home (your own).
Whatever the case may be, this Sunday night on “The Lost Chord,” we’ll have music by American composers inspired by the idea of home.
We’ll have a work by the “Dean of American composers,” Aaron Copland – his “Letter from Home,” from 1943-44; then a recent piece by John Fitz Rogers, “Magna Mysteria,” from 2010.
Rogers, who studied with Steven Stucky, Roberto Sierra, Martin Bresnick, and Jacob Druckman, is an associate professor at the University of South Carolina School of Music and the founder of the Southern Exposure New Music Series, which received the 2005-2006 Chamber Music America/ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming.
“Magna Mysteria” was commissioned in 2009 to celebrate the restoration of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral (Columbia, South Carolina). From its very title, which translates as “Great Mysteries,” it is clear that this is a work about questions. Its intent is nicely encapsulated in the promotional material accompanying this brand new release from Innova Recordings:
“Weaving together Latin biblical texts and poetic verse from the sixth-century philosopher Boethius, the composition explores ideas of home and the seeking of home, the elevation of home to a metaphorical or spiritual realm, and the nature of time.”
What is clear is that the work is gorgeous. If you have a fondness for the choral music of Morten Lauridsen or Stephen Paulus, you will enjoy this, though Rogers is very much his own man. His music is tonal, melodic, and quite lovely. Thank you, Marvin Rosen, for introducing me to this beautiful piece, which I first heard on your radio show, Classical Discoveries.
We’re home for the holidays this week, on “The Lost Chord.” I hope you’ll join me for “Homebodies,” tonight at 10 ET, with a repeat Wednesday evening at 6; or that you’ll listen to it later as a webcast at wwfm.org.
