Marcelo Adonay - KYRIE fr. Pequeña Misa Solemne (1/5) - Chris Reyes Recital Choir 2003

Excerpted from the 2nd conducting recital (One at Heart) of Christopher M. Reyes for his BMus degree from the University of the Philippines, held on April 3, 2003 at the Church of the Risen Lord, U.P. Diliman, Quezon City. — ‘Kyrie’ was performed jointly by the U.P. Staff Choral Society, the Dilaab Music Ministry, the Motet Fellowship Choir, and Friends in Music, with Aileen Espinosa-Cura, Raymond Leslie Diaz, Eudenice Palaruan (bass soloist), Augusto Espino (pianist), and Christopher Reyes (conductor). Performed and recorded on April 3, 2003. — PEQUEÑA MISA SOLEMNE sobre Motivos de la Missa Regia de Canto Gregoriano -by MARCELO ADONAY (1848-1928) (SHORT SOLEMN MASS based on the Motives of the Royal Mass of Gregorian Chant) The Pequeña Misa Solemne is a major work of Adonay, first performed on August 28, 1904. Based on Henri Dumont’s Missa Regia in B-flat minor, the Adonay Mass is in five movements: Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus (musically identical to the Kyrie), and Agnus Dei. The recurring motive from the Gregorian chant is introduced by the bass soloist in four of the five movements. In order to emphasize clarity of text, the compositional language is largely homophonic. Adonay was a 19th century composer and conductor from Pakil, Laguna (Philippines) who had no formal musical training; yet his music represents the pinnacle of Filipino musical ingenuity at the close of the Spanish colonial period, adhering faithfully to the harmonic principles of sacred liturgy. He was drawn to religious music, owing to his early exposure as a choirboy at San Agustin Church. Largely self-taught, Adonay mastered the organ, the violin, the contrabass, and the trumpet. He taught music at several schools and as a conductor, he is best remembered for the Philippine premiere of Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis (Solemn Mass) in D major in 1887. As a composer, Adonay’s musical output includes: “Benedictus, El Canto de Zacarias” (Blessed, The Song of Zechariah) for voices and string quartet; “Libera Me Domine” (Deliver Me, O Lord), for solo voices with contrabass accompaniment; “O Vita Jesus” (O Jesus, Life), 1891, for voices and orchestra; “Benedictus” (Blessed), 1895, scored for tenor solo with English horn and harp obligato, which shows Adonay’s penchant for unusual instrumental combinations; Grand Mass and Te Deum for orchestra, 1903. His secular works include “Rizal Glorified,” 1911, the last of a seven-part work on Rizal’s life by seven composers for symphony orchestra; and “Tocata en Do Mayor” (Toccata in C Major), 1921, written at the request of Colonel Walter Loving. Pequeña Misa Solemne was originally scored for the orchestra, yet its manuscript has not been found to this day. While research is underway in rediscovering Adonay, this 2003 performance/recording is based on Alejandro Macabasco’s 1949 copies of the Adonay Mass, as edited by the recitalist. — I. KYRIE (transliterated Greek text) Kyrie eleison. Christe eleison. Kyrie eleison. — (English translation) Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.