Sacred Splendour: Louis Vierne's Mass for Choir and Organ

Academy Singers invites you to their 30th anniversary concert, directed by Dr Paul Terrancini at St Finbar's Catholic Church, Glenbrook, on Sunday 25 October at 3pm.

Selected to showcase both the Church’s magnificent pipe organ and the building’s acoustics, the program will deliver a beautiful mass by French composer Louis Vierne; together with the haunting drama of Arvo Pärt's Magnificat; Pierre de la Rue's exquisite O Salutaris Hostia and Poulenc's Timor et Tremor.

We also welcome back our founding director, Gavin Tipping, who will accompany us on the organ as part of our milestone celebrations as well as accompany Sue Capper on flute for Pachelbel’s Canon in D and Schubert’s Ave Maria. St Finbar’s Catholic Church was chosen as the venue for both its strong acoustic quality and its 1881 Hele pipe organ – renowned for its full mechanical action, two manuals and 22 speaking stops.

All are welcome! This concert is supporting Be Slavery Free - $5 from every ticket sold will be donated and they will be fundraising by serving afternoon tea after the concert.

About Messe Solemnelle:

The Messe Solemnelle (Solemn Mass) was written by French composer, Louis Vierne in 1899. Originally scored for a choir and two organs, it was first performed publicly at Saint - Sulpice in Paris two years later. It was later adapted for a single organ as most churches could not provide two!

Structured into five movements, this composition uses "imaginative expression" by developing themes throughout the piece such as repeated rhythmic figures - short, distinct musical patterns - throughout the accompaniment.