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Apr 28, 2014

Trinity, The Woodlands, Plans Gospel Mass

Trinity Episcopal Church, 3901 S. Panther Creek Dr., The Woodlands, TX will present the high-spirited “Gospel Mass” during the 5 p.m. Eucharist service on Sunday, May 18, accompanied by a jazz trio of piano, string bass and drums.

 

Composer Robert Ray set the traditional mass text in a synthesis of jazz, gospel and classic styles, which the Trinity adult choir and guest singers, Barbara Johnson Tucker and Tracy Jacob Shirk will offer during the service.

 

Barbara Johnson Tucker made her debut recital at Carnegie Hall, has performed on Broadway and is now pursuing her ministry and singing career full-time.  Her music ministry has taken her to seven foreign countries and all across America. She has eleven self-produced recordings and is the original artist of the popular Glenn Burleigh favorite, Order My Steps. Her newest recorded endeavor, A Glimpse of History, is a 35-Minute chronology of African-American music contributions.  

 

Tracy Jacob Shirk has a Bachelor’s of Music Education and a Master’s of Music in vocal performance. He has directed the Houston Tidelanders and performed with Da Camera of Houston, Amarillo Opera, Houston Masterworks Chorus, Victoria Bach Festival, Conspirare and Cantare Houston.

 

Robert Ray’s Gospel Mass was composed in 1978. The Gospel Mass has become a standard part of the choral repertoire and is performed by churches, colleges, universities, orchestras and civic choral groups nationally and internationally.

 

Gospel Mass is Ray’s interpretation of 2,000 years of liturgical tradition with the more contemporary music of the African-American Church. For centuries, composers have taken the text of the Ordinary of the Mass and given it musical settings. Each setting creates within the listener a different feeling about the worship experience.