My setting of the Gloria is a resplendent, celebratory, setting intended for use in the Mass (with congregational singing) during the season of Easter or Christmas.  The piece, written for English-speaking parishes, intentionally starts with the Latin text "Gloria in excelsis Deo, et in terra pax hominibus bone voluntatis" ("Glory to God in the highest and on Earth peace to people of good will").  For congregants who may be unfamiliar with Latin, my setting offers a little bit of the beautiful, ancient language initiating with the familiar phrase: "Gloria in excelsis Deo" which is featured in the popular Christmas hymn, Angels We Have Heard on High.  I believe the familiarity of this phrase (“Gloria in excelsis Deo”) acts as the perfect gateway to reacquaint many Catholics with Latin.  I believe to worship in Latin gives glory to God in a very special and valuable kind of way.

The process of writing the music, assembling the musicians, recording the performance, and editing the footage for this piece amounted to be the biggest project to complete for this recital by far.  In the future, I intend to write an arrangement for organ and choir since that would be more accessible for most parishes. I would also like to create a version of this piece reinterpreted to fit a concert-setting for trained musicians on a stage.

Special thanks to, and all the singers who volunteered to be a part of the ensemble.  Also thanks to St. Thomas’ Campus Ministry department for permitting us to record in the gorgeous Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas for not one, but two of the sacred works on this program.

Thank you!

... to the University of St. Thomas for permitting us to rehearse in the Iverson Center for Faith and record in the Chapel of St. Thomas and in Baumgaertner Auditorium. 

... to the faculty of the Basilica of Saint Mary for permitting us to record in the Basilica.

... to Paul Schulz for permitting us to record at his home during a pandemic.

... to Irene Domingo for teaching pronunciation for Y Dice el Pastorcico.

... to Dr. Sherstan Johnson and Jaclyn Schwartz for answering countless emails and fulfilling endless requests.

... to Joseph Ortiz for being an incredible and gracious director and editor for my 2021 Composition Recital.  Your contribution has been crucial to the completion of this project.  God bless you all your days and then some!