The Summer Festival Of Sacred Music At St. Bartholomew's Launches 6/27

The Summer Festival of Sacred Music at St. Bartholomew's will launch its 16th season on Sunday, June 27 at 11 am. In recognition of New York City's observance of Gay Pride Sunday, this service of sacred music will feature works written by gay composers.

St. Bartholomew's Choir will sing works of Benjamin Britten, Virgil Thomson, Samuel Barber and Francis Poulenc. Works will include Britten's Festival Te Deum, Thomson's Mass for Two Voices and Percussion, Barber's "Sure on this shining night" and Poulenc's "Salut, Dame Sainte" from Quatre Petites Prières de Saint François D' Assise (Four Little Prayers of St. Francis of Assisi). William K. Trafka will conduct the choir. Organist, Paolo Bordignon, will accompany.

The Summer Festival of Sacred Music takes place each Sunday morning at 11 am at St. Bartholomew's Church during the summer months. At a time when most churches reduce their musical offerings, St. Bartholomew's Church provides outstanding sacred music sung by St. Bartholomew's Choir and Boy and Girl Choristers, two of New York City's most renowned choirs. Works include an array of mass settings from the 15th century to the present, embracing a diversity of cultures from around the world. The music is sung as part of the 11 am service, the liturgical context for which it was composed. All Summer Festival events are free and open to the public.

The Summer Festival of Sacred Music takes place at St. Bartholomew's Church at the corner of Park Avenue and 51st Street. Subway: 6 to 51st Street. For more information, call (212) 378-0222 or visit www.stbarts.org/sacredmusic.asp for the complete schedule.