“Missa Sancti Nicolai” at concert of sacred music

The Colombo Philharmonic Choir conducted by Asitha Tennekoon will present a programme of sacred music on Sunday, November 26, at 7.30 p.m. at the Ladies College Chapel.

The principal work in the programme is Joseph Haydn’s “Missa Sancti Nicolai” a mass apparently dedicated to St. Nicholas of Myra, the patron saint of Prince Niklaus of the House of Esterhazy, who like other members of that family sponsored his musical career.

Haydn appears to have his interests lodged in another Nick of his time: namely, Nicola Porpora, his singing teacher.

Though the name of St. Nicholas was removed from the directory of saints on an order made by Pope Paul VI in 1969, because his personal history was blurred and essentially linked to the legend of Sinter Klaas alias Santa Claus, he lives on in the hearts of children.

This mass of Haydn is a short work that does not radically depart from the liturgical requirements of the Church in respect of length and style of a mass: duration of around 30 minutes and a limited departure from the austere solemnity of the Gregorian chant (plainsong).

The credo (Nicene Creed) is the longest of the traditional parts of a mass. The others are namely, the Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, Benedictus and Agnus Dei. Since the Church did not permit the deletion of words especially in the recitation of the creed, Haydn used the unusual technique of using the four parts to sing overlapping phrases.

The composition, though traditionally structured and simple in conception, creates the atmosphere of the gently evocative grandeur of the countryside.

This mass is credited with a haunting pastoral flavour that evokes the birth of Jesus Christ in the rural ambience of shepherds and their flocks. It will appeal not only to ‘ars gratia artis’ music lovers but also to those who favour a nostalgic reversion to the Latin mass.

The rest of the programme will include a chorale by J. S. Bach, a Gradual by Anton Bruckner, a sequence hymn for the celebration of Corpus Christi by William Byrd, a motet by G. Palestrina and two anthems by Adrian Batten and William Harris.
The soloists for this programme will be Anagi Perera (soprano), Jovita Arulananthan (alto), Charith Peris (tenor) and Sanjiv Niles (bass). The choir will be accompanied by Kamalini Samarakoon.

Programmes are available at the Lionel Wendt Theatre and at the Siedles showroom Liberty Plaza.