Earth Mass at Trinity Episcopal Church

Chorus Angelicus children's choir will lend their voices to the Earth Mass.

The eerie cry of wolves and the lament of whales intermingle with the sax, congas, keyboard and the pristine sound of a children’s choir. A troupe of dancers in swirling earth-colored dresses move in unison surrounded by singers and musicians, leading long lines of children through the aisles of the golden sanctuary.

The magic is all a part of the Trinity Arts Series’ upcoming Earth Mass, or Missa Gaia, the ecological musical production created by the Paul Winter Consort in 1981 as a commission for the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City, the largest gothic cathedral in the world. Collaborating composer Paul Halley, also Music Director at the Cathedral at the time, drew on diverse sources for inspiration—medieval chant, jazz, new age, African and gospel—and the result is an intriguing and unusual blend of instrumental and vocal music. At the heart of Earth Mass is the mass—the ancient Christian five-part liturgy that has inspired more musical masterpieces than any other source.

The production has been performed in churches and theaters around the world and is still presented yearly at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine on St. Francis Day, with a menagerie of creatures that parade through the huge sanctuary in the midst of all the music. Trinity’s Earth Mass, staged in the sanctuary of the historic Trinity Episcopal Church at 220 Prospect St. in Torrington, leaves out the animals (except the anticipated appearance of a huge condor from South America), but features an exceptional band that includes George Sovak on sax and Paul Halley on keyboards, the adult and children’s choirs, Gaudeamus and Chorus Angelicus, and a troupe of eight dancers from Hartford. The internationally-acclaimed gospel singer, Theresa Thomason, is lead vocalist, and her charismatic performance always elicits an enthusiastic response from her audience.

Earth Mass was created at the beginning of the environmental movement, and is thus in part a call to consider the beauty and fragility of the earth and its creatures in the context of worship. More than twenty years later, the need for ecological awareness is still crucial, perhaps even more so, and the artistry of Earth Mass brings us this message in a refreshing and original way. Several environmental groups will have displays after the performances, which take place on Saturday, May 11 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, May 12 at 4 p.m. Tickets are $20 for priority seating, $10 for general admission, and can be reserved by calling the Trinity Arts Series at 860-482-4411.

Members of Modpodge Dance Theatre run through their performance at the church.

Mimi Harden, managing director of Trinity Arts Series, gives instruction during one of the rehearsals.