New Congregational Mass

Back To Events

Christ Church, Hudson, has commissioned a new congregational mass by composer Sarah MacDonald. The mass includes nine musical settings, allowing for use across a variety of liturgical seasons. It will be premiered at Christ Church, Hudson at 10:30 a.m. on January 18. At Christ Church, the mass will continue to be sung through Lent.

MacDonald is a Canadian-born conductor, organist, pianist, and composer based in the United Kingdom. She serves as Fellow and Director of Music at Selwyn College, Cambridge, and as Director of the Girl Choristers at Ely Cathedral. MacDonald is also the composer of Solemn Notes of Tribute Sounded, the commissioned hymn written for the consecration of Bishop Anne B. Jolly, twelfth Bishop of the Diocese of Ohio.

The new work, The Aurora and Gloucester Street Mass, is co-commissioned by Christ Church, Hudson, and Bruton Parish, Williamsburg. According to Mario Buchanan, Director of Music at Christ Church, "I am super excited Sarah agreed to this commission and for Bruton Parish in Colonial Williamsburg to agree to co-commission this mass. With needing more congregational masses by under-represented composers, my hope is this mass,The Aurora and Gloucester Street Mass, can be used by parishes of any size, with many or little musical resources. The mass was written with accessibility in mind, allowing it be played either on organ or piano. With future publication plans, The Aurora and Gloucester Street Mass is a gift to the church, allowing churches of any size to feel they are offering diverse musical voices to their congregations.”