This week, the Choir of the Basilica was pleased to present its 10th annual concert in honor of All Souls’ Day, entitled: A Concert of Remembrance: Music for the Commemoration of All Souls.
Weaving together threads of both our shared history and spiritual heritage, this concert remembers the departed faithful, the saints and martyrs of the Church, and all those whose courage and sacrifices have shaped our common life. In today’s post, we invite you to enter into a musical meditation of remembrance, sacrifice, and the hope of eternal life – watch the performance and read program notes from Dr. Peter Latona, the Basilica’s Director of Music, below.
Funeral Ikos – John Taverner
A setting of an Orthodox Christian funeral text, Funeral Ikos juxtaposes mourning and joy, reflecting how death, despite the sorrow it brings, does not have the final word. The music invites us to contemplate the mystery of death in the light of Christ’s Resurrection, setting the foundation for this “commemoration… with the song: Alleluia!”
A Selection of American Pieces
An American set turns our attention to the spiritual traditions that have sustained generations through hardship, grief, and uncertainty. Aaron Copland’s arrangement of Shall We Gather at the River evokes the hope of reunion beyond this life, while The Lord Is My Shepherd, a setting of Psalm 23 and an African American spiritual, offers assurance of God’s presence and guidance. Moses Hogan’s arrangement of Abide with Me gives renewed voice to the plea for divine companionship in times of trial, and Stephen Caracciolo’s arrangement of The Wayfaring Stranger reflects the longing of the pilgrim soul for its heavenly home. Together, these works draw upon the rich musical inheritance of America, where faith has often found expression in songs of perseverance, deliverance, and the promise of rest.
They That Go Down to the Sea in Ships – Herbert Sumsion
Based on Psalm 107, this piece stands as a dramatic testament of God’s power to save those caught amid the perils of the deep. The psalm recounts the terror of the storm and the helplessness of those whose human strength proves insufficient, culminating in thanksgiving for the Lord’s deliverance. Its expansive musical gestures evoke both the might of the sea and the greater power of the God who brings calm out of turmoil. In the context of this concert, this work speaks to all who have faced danger, distress, and uncertainty, as well as to the enduring hope that divine mercy will sustain us through the storms of life.
Psalm 36 – Peter Latona
My setting of Psalm 36 speaks to the steadfastness of God’s love and faithfulness in our lives. This stands in contrast to the tumultuousness evoked in the Sumsion and presents a style expressing a grounded solidity through repetitive music gestures and clear structure.
They Will Rise – Jonathan Dove
This powerful work was commissioned by the Dean and Chapter of Westminster Abbey to commemorate the centenary of the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force. The text, taken from Isaiah 40:31, promises that those who place their hope in the Lord “will rise… and fly up on wings like eagles.”
Peace Prayer of Saint Francis – Peter Latona
The remembrance of the departed also leads us to the lives of the saints, whose holiness bears witness to the transforming power of God’s grace. This year marked the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi, whose life of humility, peace, and devotion continues to inspire the Church and the world. My Peace Prayer of Saint Francis, composed for the apostolic visit of Pope Francis to the National Shrine, gives musical expression to the enduring Franciscan call to become instruments of peace: to bring love where there is hatred, pardon where there is injury, and hope where there is despair.
The Virgin Martyrs – Samuel Barber
Sung in the Basilica’s Crypt Church, this work was performed in the presence of the mosaics of the virgin martyrs gracing the side altars of this sacred space. This setting establishes a profound connection between music, sacred art, the spiritual life of the Basilica, and the witness of those women who remained faithful unto death.
Everyone Sang – David Bednall
The concert concludes with David Bednall’s Everyone Sang, based on a poetic text by Siegfried Sassoon. Its eschatological vision directs our attention toward the ultimate destiny of all creation and our eternal hope.
At the heart of this concert is the conviction that remembrance is an act of love. Through music and prayer, we honor those who have gone before us and commend the faithful departed to God’s mercy. As we mark the 10th anniversary of the Choir of the Basilica’s annual All Souls Concert, we remember those who gave their lives in defense of liberty, the innocent victims of violence, and the family, friends, and countless faithful departed whose names remain in our hearts. We also honor the saints and martyrs whose witness continues to inspire us in our own journey of faith. Through music, their memory becomes prayer, and our sorrow is held within the promise of resurrection.
May this commemoration in song deepen our gratitude for those who have gone before us, strengthen our resolve to work for peace, and renew our hope in the communion of saints and the life of the world to come.
Peter Latona, D.M.A.
Director of Music
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception