NEWS RELEASE
ST. PAUL’S CENTRE
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In celebration of Earth Day (April 22), the choir of St. Paul’s United Church, Orillia, under the direction of Blair Bailey, is presenting a mixed-media performance of the extended choral work Missa Gaia this Sunday, April 21, at 3 p.m.
Originally created in 1981 by jazz musician Paul Winter for the ecumenical cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City, Missa Gaia (‘Earth Mass’) is a musical and visual celebration, a fusion of choral and instrumental music in a variety of styles, dance, and hundreds of beautiful photographs of nature and the environment. Gaia is the ancient Greek name for Mother Earth. Paul Winter writes, “I envisioned a celebration that was both ecological and ecumenical, one that would embrace all life on Earth.”
The musical stylings of this Earth Mass range from traditional hymn tunes to African-inspired rhythms, ancient plainchant to Brazilian baião folk rhythms, classical-style choral writing to modern jazz harmonies. Some of the choral movements are interspersed with pre-recorded whale songs, wolf and harp seal pup calls, and the haunting cry of the loon. Accompanying the music will be interpretive dance and stunning visual images of nature and the environment projected on the large screens in the Great Hall of St. Paul’s.
The seven-piece instrumental ensemble accompanying the choir features Peter Voisey playing soprano and sopranino saxophones, Alyssa Wright on cello, Dan McCoy on pipe organ, along with piano, drums, tympani and a variety of percussion instruments all under the direction of conductor Blair Bailey.
Missa Gaia will be performed at 3 p.m., Sunday, April 21, in the Great Hall of St. Paul’s Centre, on the northeast corner of Peter and Coldwater streets in downtown Orillia. Admission is by freewill donation.
For more information go to www.stpaulscentre.ca/events.
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