Praulins' Message for Missa Rigensis

Uģis Prauliņš’ Missa Rigensis: Here we go again!

On 16 March 2013, The Learners Chorus presented the Asian premiere of Missa Rigensis, an a cappella mass by Latvian composer Uģis Prauliņš, written in 2002 for the Riga Cathedral Boys Choir.  Back then, we performed the piece at the School Hall of Sheng Kung Hui Tang Shiu Kin Secondary School in Wan Chai, in our concert titled “Masters for the Choir“.  Mr. Prauliņš graciously wrote us a little note for that occasion.

Five years has since passed and the choir has grown.  Our numbers has certainly increased.  In the Masters for the Choir concert we sang as a group of 38, including just 6 tenors, barely scraping by considering the mass calls for 3 part divisi for tenors at some point!  Now we will be performing as a group of over 80 singers.  The venue will be more favourable.  Instead of a school hall with thin windows and clunky central air-conditioning, we will be performing at the Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall with better acoustics.  Most importantly, true to the Learners name, we have been learning and improving.

So, on 30 September 2018, we will again be performing Missa Rigensis, hopefully to better bring out the nuances of Mr. Prauliņš’ great work, which combines the traditional polyphonic masses with modern harmonies and rhythmic devices.

Come hear us!

Of course, Missa Rigensis will only be one of the pieces to be performed in our upcoming concert.  Come hear us sing this beautiful mass along with Gounod’s St Cecilia Mass and Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms in our upcoming concert on September 30 at HK City Hall Concert Hall!

Tickets now available at URBTIX outlets or online at  https://ticket.urbtix.hk/internet/zh_TW/eventDetail/35837

Proceeds, after deducting necessary expenses, will be donated to Hong Kong Christian Council’s School Building Project in Myanmar to build the Kyawt Ogh Village School.