Gloriæ Dei Cantores Explained

Latin: Gloriæ Dei Cantores (Latin for "Singers to the Glory of God") is a 40-voice choir based in Orleans, Massachusetts under the direction of artistic director and principal conductor Richard K. Pugsley.

History

"Gloriæ Dei Cantores" was founded in 1988 by Elizabeth C. Patterson[1] who served as its Director/Conductor until 2012. It is based at the Church of the Transfiguration in Orleans, Massachusetts. The "Gloriæ Dei Cantores Schola" specializes in Gregorian chant.

The choir sings in 18 languages and has appeared on the concert stage and in recordings with such artists as Gerre Hancock, Keith Lockhart,[2] John Williams, Samuel Adler, Mark O'Connor, Stephen Cleobury, George Guest, Daniel Pinkham, and Margaret Hillis.[3] It has toured in 23 countries in Europe, Asia, and North America.

Highlights of the choir's career under Elizabeth Patterson and current artistic director and principal conductor Richard K. Pugsley include three invitational tours of Russia, the opening of the 900th anniversary of St. Mark's Basilica in Venice, Italy, live radio and television broadcasts with the BBC, film soundtracks, and the tree-lighting ceremony at Rockefeller Plaza.

The choir's collaborative ventures have included ten Holiday Tours with Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops Orchestra, a sixteen-city US tour of Mozart's Requiem with Philippe Entremont, and the Munich Symphony Orchestra, and performances of Mozart's Requiem with the St. Petersburg Philharmonic in Russia.

In October 2017, the choir and its associated Elements Theatre Company presented at the Church of the Transfiguration Vaughn Williams' opera, The Pilgrim's Progress, to celebrate 500 years of the Protestant Reformation.[4]

Recent concerts have featured Walton's The Twelve, Poulenc's Gloria Duruflé's Requiem, Mozart's Mass in C minor, and Vaughan Williams' Dona Nobis Pacem, in collaboration with soloists Andrew Nolen and Jossie Pérez.

Discography

The choir has released several recordings on its Paraclete Recordings label.

Gordon Myers was Chairman of the Music Department, Columbia College, Columbia, South Carolina, from 1965 to 1968. He wrote a 90-minute choral work, "God's Trombones by James Weldon Johnson" as his doctoral thesis, subsequently published by Eastlane Music Corporation. In 1996, Paraclete Press, the publishing house of the Community of Jesus, acquired the copyright. It was recorded by "Gloriæ Dei Cantores" in the mid-1990s.[5] Using the masters, Paraclete Records prepared them for re-release in 2018. The Gloriæ Dei Cantores choir serves as a chorus to Myers' baritone. C. Michael Bailey, writing for "All That Jazz" recommended the recording calling it, "...a very listenable collection of Bible tales..."[6]

"Alan Hovhaness: From the Ends of the Earth" received a favorable review from Music Web International's Dan Morgan, who noted the acoustics of the Church of the Transfiguration.[7] In reviewing Mozart Rare Choral Works, Michael Cookson said, "...although there are episodes of unsteadiness and one or two uncomfortable vibratos it is hard to find too much fault with their performances."[8] Gregorian chant

Medieval –

Renaissance –

Baroque –

Romantic –

20th – 21st centuries – today

Spanish

Russian

Anglican psalmody

American psalm settings

Compilations and sets

Christmas

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Director Emeritus . Gloriæ Dei Cantores . 19 July 2022.
  2. Book: Boston Symphony Orchestra . Boston Pops Holiday programs, 2000, Season 115 . Boston, Mass. : Boston Symphony Orchestra . Boston Symphony Orchestra Archives . English.
  3. Web site: Performance History Search . April 6, 2022 . archives.bso.org . March 9, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220309003100/https://archives.bso.org/Search.aspx#tabs-artist . live.
  4. Web site: Gloriae Dei Cantores offers an enterprising revival of Vaughan Williams' "Pilgrim's Progress" . Keebaugh . Aaron . Boston Classical Review . October 28, 2017 . January 8, 2020 . August 14, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200814164331/https://bostonclassicalreview.com/2017/10/gloriae-dei-cantores-offers-an-enterprising-revival-of-vaughan-williams-pilgrims-progress/ . live.
  5. Web site: "The Gordon Myers music and personal papers", American Music Research Center, University of Colorado at Boulder . January 8, 2020 . September 5, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160905224619/http://www.colorado.edu/amrc/sites/default/files/attached-files/AMRC-Myers.pdf . live.
  6. Web site: Gloriæ Dei Cantores: James Weldon Johnson: God's Trombones album review . Bailey . C. Michael . June 1, 2018 . allaboutjazz.com . All About Jazz . April 12, 2022 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220413035904/https://www.allaboutjazz.com/james-weldon-johnson-gods-trombones-gordon-myers-and-gloriash-dei-cantores-paraclete-records-review-by-c-michael-bailey . April 13, 2022.
  7. Web site: Alan Hovhaness Sacred Music - Gloriae Dei Cantores [DM] Classical Music Review ]. Morgan . Dan . April 2018 . musicweb-international.com . MusicWeb International . Essex, UK . April 12, 2022 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20201126072608/http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2018/Apr/Hovhaness_sacred_GDCD052.htm . November 26, 2020.
  8. Web site: Mozart Rare Choral Works . Cookson . Michael . July 6, 2006 . musicweb-international.com . MusicWeb International . Essex, UK . January 8, 2020 . December 28, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191228191125/http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2006/July06/Mozart_rare_choral_gdcd039.htm . live.

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