"So what kind of music do ya'll sing?"

When people learn that I sing in the Corpus Christi Cathedral Pontifical Choral - otherwise known as "the adult choir", that question is often asked. My reply is usually, "Come join us this Sunday at 9:30 and you can hear for yourselves. Or tune in as we are on Channel 13."   Here are a few clips from a performance last summer....Beethoven's Hallelujah chorus. I love this piece. It's so majestic and grand!  Of course we do much liturgical music in English and in Latin, such as Mawby's sacred Ave Verum. We do contemporary and traditional music and this one is a favorite as it moves my very soul...the youth choir joined us on this one. And finally, this requiem  - written after the 2004 Asian Tsunami's...the words are so beautiful, the hymn so simple. My good friend and assistant choir director Dr. Lupe Rivera explained the story. I have pasted the lyrics below - I love them as each line contains an eloquent prayer. We all, literally, fight tears as we sing this piece. Did I say I love our choir???? It is truly an honor and a blessing to be a member.

                       Written after the 2004 Asian Tsunami’s: Requiem by Eliza Gilkyson  

Mother Mary full of grace awaken,

All our homes are gone, our loved ones taken,

Taken by the sea.

Mother Mary calm our fears, have mercy.

Drowning in a sea of tears, have mercy.

Hear our mournful plea.

Our love has been shaken, we wander our homelands, forsaken.

In the dark night of the soul, bring some comfort to us all,

Oh Mother Mary, come and carry us in your embrace,

Let our sorrows  be erased.

Mary fill the glass to overflowing.

Illuminate a path where we are going.

Have mercy on us all.

In funeral pyres burning, each prayer to your mystery returning.

In the dark night of our soul, our shattered dreams, please make them whole,

Oh mother Mary find us as we look for embrace,

Lead us to a higher place.

In the dark night of our soul our broken hearts you can make whole.

Oh mother Mary come and carry us in your embrace

Let us see your gentle face – Mary.