150 Years in Chicago

This morning, I joined some of my musician friends to sing for a mass celebrating the 150th anniversary of St. Thomas the Apostle in Hyde Park, Chicago. In true music-lover fashion, the mass was also part concert, featuring some gorgeous choral works, including:

• Kyrie eleison from Vierne's Messe Solennelle: my choir is performing this work in our upcoming season, and I give 4 to 1 odds that this movement, the Kyrie, ends up in our Fall Preview concert (which I unfortunately won't be singing, due to a work commitment)
• Locus iste by Bruckner
• Thou knowest, Lord by Purcell
• Ave Verum Corpus by Mozart
• Amen from Handel's Messiah (which my choir performs every December)

The choir was small but mighty - 3 sopranos, 4 altos, 4 tenors, and 5 basses - and in addition to voices, we had violin, trumpet, cello, and organ. The music was gorgeous. Afterward, I ate way too much food at the church picnic.

I'm tempted to take an afternoon nap. Instead, I'll be packing up my apartment.