By Annali Hayward
An evening of uplifting Irish and Italian music will herald the arrival of spring at St Aloysius next week. The program, featuring both adult and youth choirs as well as talented soloists and instrumentalists, will take place in the church on 9 March at 6pm, with a reception afterwards.
In a recent interview Music Director Dr. John Michniewicz said the inspiration behind this year’s concert — which falls during Lent for Catholics — was originally the feast day of Irish patron saint St. Patrick, widely celebrated in March. But it was St Aloysius pastor Monsignor Rob Kinnally — a musical man himself — who suggested tying in another much-loved saint, St. Joseph, whose feast day is two days later, to create a lively program of different but complementary musical offerings.
“I wanted to find music that would fit together well and that was all very meaningful,” said Michniewicz, who gained his doctorate from the Manhattan School of Music and has accompanied or conducted choirs in cathedrals from Bridgeport to New York City, even as far away as Barcelona and Rome. It is this expansive musical experience that underpins Michniewicz’s directorial choices — that, and a whole lot of diligent, thoughtful research.
As he began putting pieces together Michniewicz realized that across the Celtic, Irish, Gaelic and even some Italian selections (such as ‘Nella Fantasia’ by Ennio Morricone), there was a common “sensibility” of connectedness to the earth and to nature — a fitting theme for the start of spring.
“We are including a number of different Irish blessings,” he said, “with traditional lyrics like ‘may the road rise up to greet you, may the wind be at your back, may the sun shine warm on your face.’”
It’s a refrain that will echo across the hour-long program, which will showcase the diverse talents of Michniewicz’s choir, including the large youth group. Violinist Janet Boughton brings a lilting opening to a choral arrangement of ‘The Sky and the Dawn and the Sun’ by Brendan Graham and David Downes, and soprano Allison Savage will delight with a haunting solo part in one of the more contemporary pieces, ‘The Voice,’ also by Brendan Graham. ‘Inspirare Spirito’ by John Fritz brings it all together by alternating Italian and English lyrics.
Michniewicz, who grew up in a musical family in eastern Michigan, has also been sure to include a “big, dramatic piece” in the form of the Easter Hymn from Italian opera Cavallaria Rusticana, featuring a solo from soprano Jennifer Groves, as well as a moving duet between tenor Jeffrey Taveras and youth choir co-director Nancy Leville, soprano.
Dr. John, as Michniewicz is known in the parish, described his “unending” quest to find the right music for the right time and place, whether that be one of the five Masses he prepares for each weekend — all of which have slightly different musical personalities — or a larger concert such as the Christmastime event, which attracts over six hundred attendees.
“I try to find pieces that will be inspiring for the congregation to listen to, and as well, interesting and rewarding for the choir to sing,” he said. “And then there’s also the criteria of is the music — is it accessible? So you’re sort of balancing.”
It’s a balance Michniewicz seems set to strike masterfully this spring. Seven years in to his time at St. Aloysius, Michniewicz appreciates the active congregation, which he says is “supportive and full of energy, engagement and participation.”
For them, and for all audience members, he aims to “provide an opportunity to think — with uplifting and inspiring music.”
For more information, see starcc.com. Opportunities are still available to sponsor the choir’s new robes or new hymnals for the Church.
