Requiem of Gabriel Faure

(Dateline: October 14, 2015; San Gabriel, CA) Our Saviour Choir, led by Canon Philip Smith, will present a free concert of the Requiem of Gabriel Fauré on November 1, 2015 at 7:30pm. The Choir will be joined by Bass Soloist Paul Sobosky and Soprano Soloist Rebecca Rasmussen along with an ensemble of strings, harp, and organ.

The Requiem was written between 1887 and 1890, and Fauré’s reasons for composing the work are unclear, but do not appear to have had anything to do with the death of his parents in the mid-1880’s. He composed the work in the late 1880s and revised it in the 1890s, finishing it in 1900. A short requiem lasting 35 minutes, it is written for orchestra, organ, mixed chorus and two soloists, soprano and baritone, and performed in Latin. It consists of seven movements; most famous is the central soprano aria Pie Jesu. The piece premiered in its first version in 1888 in La Madeleine, Paris.

Canon Philip Smith holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Organ from Spring Arbor College in Michigan and a Master of Music Degree in Organ and Church Music from the University of Michigan. He was appointed Organ Conservator of the Walt Disney Concert Hall organ in July of 2004. In addition, he is Minister of Music and Organist at The Church of our Saviour, Episcopal, in San Gabriel.

Rebecca Rasmussen is the current Soprano Soloist/Section Leader for Church of Our Saviour, San Gabriel, and sings for the High Holidays and special events at Valley Beth Shalom, Encino. She is also a founding member of Red Car Trolley Vocal Quartet.

Paul Sobosky is a current member of the Los Angeles Master Chorale and the Pacific Master Chorale in Orange County as well as being the Bass Soloist/Section Leader for Church of Our Saviour.

What: Requiem of Gabriel Fauré

Where: Church of Our Saviour, 535 West Roses Road, San Gabriel, CA 91775

When: Sunday, November 1, 2015 – 7:30pm

Tickets: Freewill Offering will be taken.

Information: 626.282.5147

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