John McLaughlin Williams, the conductor on this album, is a Grammy Award-winner known for his advocacy of contemporary music and African-American and minority composers.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Nicolas Flagello considered all his compositions to be fundamentally spiritual, with Missa Sinfonica being an explicit expression of his devotional feelings.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Both composers, Nicolas Flagello and Arnold Rosner, pursued a 'neo-romantic' aesthetic, despite their different religious backgrounds and musical styles.
Composer Biography
Arnold Rosner, composer of Symphony No. 5, is Jewish but has composed multiple works based on Roman Catholic texts and Protestant hymns.
Album & Artwork
This album features the first recordings of two 'symphonic Masses' – orchestral works without chorus, inspired by the Roman Catholic Mass.
Compositional Technique
Despite their different styles, both Flagello's Missa Sinfonica and Rosner's Symphony No. 5 incorporate the same traditional plainchant in their Gloria movements.
Composer Biography
Nicolas Flagello, composer of Missa Sinfonica, studied at the Manhattan School of Music and later joined its faculty for over 25 years.
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