Sidney Outlaw to Sing at Riverside Church, 10/27; All Saints Service Set for 11/3

Kicking off the start of its acclaimed Christ Chapel Chamber Series for the 2013-2014 music calendar, The Riverside Church will showcase the talents of Sidney Outlaw (baritone) for a concert of music on Sunday, October 27, at 3:00 p.m. in the Church's Christ Chapel, 490 Riverside Drive (bet. 120 & 122nd Sts.), Morningside Heights.

A native of North Carolina and regular soloist with The Riverside Choir, during the concert Sidney Outlaw will perform selections by Wagner, Brahms, Strauss, Rossini and more.

The concert is free to attend, however, an offering for the artist will be taken at the door. For more information contact the music department at 212-870-6722 or email music@theriversidechurchny.org.

CHRIST CHAPEL CHAMBER SERIES CONCERT: Sidney Outlaw
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 3:00 P.M.
THE RIVERSIDE CHURCH, CHRIST CHAPEL
490 RIVERSIDE DRIVE (BET. 120TH & 122ND STS.)
MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS
COST: FREE, OFFERING FOR THE ARTIST TAKEN AT THE DOOR.

Sacred music and text will fill the soaring halls of The Riverside Church as it celebrates and honors all Saints, known and unknown, during its All Saints' service on Sunday, November 3 at 5:00 p.m. in the Church's Nave, 91 Claremont Ave. (bet. 120th & 122nd Sts.), Morningside Heights.

This seasonal service of communion will include a candle lighting ceremony and reading of names to remember those in the faith community who have departed in the last year. The evening will be filled with hymns, canticles and spirituals sung by the Riverside Choir and soloists, featuring Messe Solennelle by Jean Langlais and Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis (Collegium Regale) by HerBert Howells.

The service is free to attend and an offering in benefit of the Food Pantry will be taken at the door. For more information contact the Ribverisde Music Department at 212-870-6722 or music@theriversidechurchny.org.

Choral Evensong for All Saints? Sunday
Messe Solennelle by Jean Langlais
Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis (Collegium Regale) by HerBert Howells
The Riverside Choir
Christopher Johnson, Conductor
Christopher Creaghan, Organ

Sunday, November 3, 2013, 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
The Riverside Church, Nave
91 Claremont Ave. (bet. 120th & 122nd Sts.)
Morningside Heights
COST: Free. An offering in benefit of the Food Pantry will be taken at the event.

Directions: To get to The Riverside Church by subway take the 1 to 116th St. and walk to 91 Claremont Ave. (bet. 120TH & 122ND Sts.) one block west of Broadway.

The Messe Solennelle [Solemn Mass] by Jean Langlais belongs to a long French (perhaps even Parisian) tradition of writing masses which involve choir, orgue de choeur [Choir Organ], and grande orgue [Grand Organ]. This style of mass with two organs arose from the rather distinctive nature of musical organization at major French churches. This is characterized by a grande orgue at the west end of the church played by the titulaire [principal organist], forming an essentially separate entity from the choir, orgue de choeur, and choir director based at the east end of the church. The resulting masses can often be very thrilling as they pit the full majesty of the grande orgue against the choir, and also have a fascinating spatial quality owing to the placement of the grande orgue at the opposite end of the church to the choir. There is also a provision for a single organ part, and it is in this form that the work is usually encountered. -notes by Robert Hugill. Used by permission.

Composer - Jean Langlais (1907-1991): Blind from the age of two, Langlais? musical talents were recognized early in his life. In 1927 he won a place to study organ, composition, and improvisation at the Paris Conservatoire where he studied with Paul Dukas and met fellow student Olivier Messiaen. Upon graduating he began a career as an international concert artist, and was appointed Organist of St. Clotilde in Paris in 1945, a successor to César Frank, where he remained until 1987. His music is almost exclusively sacred and combines elements of Poulenc?s polytonality, the modes and dissonances of Messiaen?s music, and Duruflé?s use of plainsong melodies.

The Riverside Choir is a semi-professional ensemble of fifty singers, a number of whom volunteer their talent and time. Like the church, The Riverside Choir is inter-denominational, interracial, and international. Many choristers are church members and active in other programs. As the Church?s principal choral group, The Riverside Choir is in session from September through June and participates in all Sunday morning and special worship events, as well as in concert appearances throughout the season.