Los Angeles to premiere Mayo composer's The Mass

THE Los Angeles First Congregational Church will premiere Patrick Cassidy's The Mass, a new, modern day setting of the Latin Mass for choir and organ, at a special concert ceremony.

The performance, which will take place at First Church on March 19 at 7.30 p.m., also celebrates the recent album of The Mass, released last year by the Claremorris-born, Los Angeles-based composer. This concert, in partnership with Ireland Week and The Resonance Collective, will also be presented virtually via live stream.

Also over the weekend, Cassidy will be bestowed with the Irishman of the Year 2022 title at a separate civic ceremony.

According to newswire.com, ‘Patrick Cassidy's The Mass, the first-ever symphonic Latin Mass setting from an Irish composer, draws equally on the composer's Irish roots as on his vast experience in both classical and film music. By reimagining the traditional Catholic Mass text through the lens of its universality, Cassidy and his collaborators put forward a human response to one of the most trying periods in our collective memory’.

Patrick spent many years composing and fine tuning the composition and is delighted it is being performed in his adopted homeland Los Angeles and especially during the St. Patrick’s Day weekend celebrations.

“While writing The Mass I was aware that this would be the first setting of the Catholic Latin Mass by an Irish composer - it was a labour of love with no expectations,” he said. “I am elated that The Mass has found a home at First Church with its inclusive philosophy.”

The Mass live premiere concert will serve as a way for people across Los Angeles to gather and commemorate the past two years in a healing celebration.

Guest host, movie and TV star Martin Sheen will present spoken word during the performance. Laude, First Church's professional chamber ensemble who recorded the album, will serve as soloists and sing with FCCLA's Cathedral Choir. First Church music and arts director David Harris will conduct, and organist-in-Residence Christoph Bull will accompany on The Great Organs of First Church.

"Ever since I was a teenage altar boy, I developed a deep love for the Latin Mass. I had a visceral response when I listened to the premier recording of Patrick Cassidy's magnificent composition of the Latin Mass, and accepted without hesitation his offer to serve as host and narrator for this first public presentation with the original Organ and Choir at First Congregational Church of Los Angeles.

“It is my hope that this historic work will become a fixture, to be newly remembered and performed by future generations to inspire and challenge, and to serve as a powerful source of spiritual nourishment,” said Martin Sheen.

Meanwhile, having established a high profile career in the United States composing traditional Irish works, movie and television scores, concerts and operas, Patrick Cassidy is to be honoured at 147th St. Patrick’s Day Irish Day civic ceremonies by the City of Los Angeles. The Claremorris native will be bestowed with the Irishman of the Year 2022 title at a special event at the Auld Dubliner, Long Beach, on March 18.

This accolade follows the decoration of Cavaliere (Knight) in the Order Stella d'Italia by the Italian government, presented to Patrick for his opera Dante, celebrating the life of the great Italian philosopher and poet.

Patrick is planning a return to Claremorris in a few months to headline the Patrick Cassidy Summer School. Details of this unique and inaugural event will be announced soon.