This Sunday we highlight several African-American composers and styles. Local composer Judy A. Rose composed our 9am choir anthem, A Jubilant Day. She worked for Portland Public Schools as a music teacher for 20 years and currently teaches at Catlin Gabel. You’ll also hear Moses Hogan’s (1957-2003) Hear My Prayer during communion. At 11am, the Saints & Singers Choir will offer the Traditional Spiritual Oh! what a beautiful city. Not to be left out, Sunday’s prelude and postlude are also by black composers in non-idiomatic styles, which in this case means works not based on spirituals, gospel tunes, or other styles traditionally associated with black musicians.

To further highlight other historically underrepresented composers, Ensemble Boulanger, led by Co-Artistic Directors Hannah Brewer and Emma Riggle (a fellow Episcopalian musician) will present a voice/piano lecture recital at St. Michael’s on Friday, May 12 at 7pm. The Circle of Pauline Viardot will explore the life and work of composer and mezzo-soprano Pauline Viardot-Garcìa (1821-1910) and her artistic circle, including music, art, and writings by Frédéric Chopin, Maria Malibran, Gabriel Fauré, George Sand, Ivan Turgenev, and Viardot herself. Donation-based admission, with light refreshments following the program.