Commissioned by Mike and Kay McCarthy and brilliantly executed by composer Carol Barnett and librettist Marisha Chamberlain, The World Beloved: A Bluegrass Mass blends the classical mass, modern choral sophistication, touching poetry and traditional bluegrass instrumentation into an exhilarating musical experience.
Originally premiered by Monroe Crossing with VocalEssence, a Minnesota-based professional choral group led by Philip Brunelle, choirs from Texas, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Iowa, California, Indiana and Washington DC have since brought Monroe Crossing in to perform The World Beloved.
“It’s a classical piece of choral music that’s a stunningly beautiful work of art. It's given us the opportunity to work with some of the great choirs and conductors and bring bluegrass music to a classical audience for the very first time,” says bass player Mark Anderson.
The World Beloved was recorded by Monroe Crossing and VocalEssence for the Clarion label. Learn more about the album on our CD page.
Enjoy a segement of the recent Monroe Crossing/ISU Singers and Ames Chamber Artists performance of The World Beloved. Visit our YouTube Channel to watch all four segments of performance.
Upcoming Performances
Friday, October, 2010 - Time(s) TBA
Bluegrass Mass with the Susquehanna Valley Chorale
Weis Center for the Performing Arts, Bucknell University
Lewisburg, PA
570-523-1041
Sunday, November 7, 2010 at 10:30 a.m.
Bluegrass Mass with the Westminster Choir
Westminster Presbyterian Church
1200 Marquette Avenue, Minneapolis, MN
612-332-3421
Review of the World Premiere Concert
William Randall Beard, Minneapolis Star Tribune
January 22, 2007
Carol Barnett’s amazing “The World Beloved: A Bluegrass Mass” was given its world premiere by the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers in collaboration with the bluegrass band Monroe Crossing at Trinity Lutheran Church in Stillwater on Friday night. This was not an easy partnership…but her music was idiomatic enough and the musicians flexible enough that it sounded perfectly natural…Barnett traversed the two idioms quite ingeniously, bringing out the best in both ensembles. The contrasts between the
sophisticated classical choral sound and the jubilant bluegrass harmonies were effectively used to make the text come alive…the triumphant Gloria…was an exuberant success. Likewise, the Credo…became a powerful Gospel number. This mass was a compelling statement of faith that ended on a note of sublime grace and peace.
Composer Website: www.carolbarnett.net
Composer's Program Note
To bring the solemnity of the classical choir-based mass together with the down home sparkle of bluegrass—now there’s an assignment. My highest hope is that listeners coming from one tradition—classical or bluegrass—and perhaps dubious about the other, might discover something new and wonderful in the combination, as I have. Composing the music for The World Beloved has given me the chance to write cheery sacred music— all too rare in a medium rife with staid and even lugubrious settings. And it’s brought me back to memories of music heard while visiting my grandparents, country music with a church flavor that told stories and came out of a scratchy old record player. Grandma would not have allowed dancing, but under the table I tapped my toes.
