8 Robinson Ave
Danbury
CT 06810
DANBURY – Parishioners of Saint Joseph Church and members of the greater Danbury community are welcome to participate in a musically healing remembrance concert for loved ones who have passed.
The concert, “Remembrance: A Concert of Sacred Vocal Masterpieces,” to be held at the Robinson Avenue church on Sunday June 11 at 3 p.m., will feature the musical masterpieces of composer Gabriel Fauré.
“There have been a significant number of funerals here due to the pandemic, in part, but also our central city location has brought many from all over the country to request a Funeral Mass here for their loved ones,” said Pastor Fr. Samuel Scott.
Fr. Scott said he and Music Director and organist Robert Fertitta were meeting regularly to address the needs of people grieving for loved ones and decided to host a concert of remembrance and healing.
“We both sensed the need for our Parish family to be united in our grief and sacred choral music could bring us that unity and peace in healthy and holy ways,” Fr. Scott said.
Registered, active parishioners received invitation letters in the mail to submit the name of loved ones to be remembered at the concert. Additional envelopes for name submissions were available at the side entrance of the church. More than 300 names have been submitted and will be included in the program.
Fertitta has curated the afternoon program that will include 12 vocalists and selections of Fauré’s work including Cantique de Jean Racine (1865), Ave Verum Corpus (1894), Ave Maria (1871) among others and most notably his Requiem (1890), which was composed between 1887 and 1890.
Requiem, often heard at a Catholic Funeral Mass, has seven movements which are said to illustrate the sadness of death of a loved one while also offering hope that after death the deceased had gone on to eternal life with God.
“Heavenly harmony, gorgeous melody, soothing textures are the perfect mood for the words that are being set by this master composer,” Fertitta said, noting how it moves from somber to triumphant.
There is a special connection to Fauré’s music for Fertitta. During his musical studies, as a young 20-something, Fertitta was a student of then 84-year-old Nadia Boulanger, an accomplished French composer and conductor who studied with Fauré.
“She taught the philosophy of life through music,” he said, adding one of her most notable quotes include, “Do not take up music unless you would rather die than not do so.”
Among her many students were important composers, soloists, arrangers, and conductors, including Lennox Berkeley, Aaron Copland and Quincy Jones.
“This memorial concert will include prayer and recognition of all of our deceased relatives and friends through Faure’s soulful modal melodies and colorful harmonic language,” Fr. Scott said.
Fertitta agreed.
“The beauty of all of this music is exquisite,” Fertitta said. “We hope people will walk away with peace, fulfillment, optimism and joy.”
The concert is free. Donations are welcome.