Archdiocesan Event to Celebrate the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy
(Louisville, KY) As part of its observance of the Jubilee Year of Mercy, the Archdiocese of Louisville is hosting a free concert entitled, Psalms Reborn, which will feature exciting and original music inspired by the Book of Psalms. This concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 27, 2016, at the Cathedral of the Assumption, 433 S. Fifth Street, Louisville, KY 40202.
Psalms Reborn features renowned vocalists Carl Herrgesell, Carol Rogers, and Lesley McFerron, accompanied by composer/pianist, Chuck Marohnic. The concert will explore the depth and beauty of the psalms, using the language of modern music, with an emphasis on psalms describing God’s mercy. Psalms Reborn also will include the participation of the Cathedral Choir and Cathedral Singers under the direction of Dr. Philip Brisson.
Psalms Reborn presents a stellar group of singers for this concert. Carol Rogers has sung throughout the world, singing with performers such as Sergio Mendes. Carl Herrgesell is a well-known songwriter/singer and is the featured pianist on several albums by contemporary Christian singer, Kathy Troccoli. Lesley McFerron is a sought-after vocalist who has recorded for top-shelf Nashville songwriters and is the owner/director of acclaimed vocal academy, Sing USA.
Chuck Marohnic’s career spans more than four decades as a respected pianist, educator, author, director, composer and arranger. Marohnic launched Psalms Reborn (previously called The Jazz Psalms Project) after reflecting on the psalms, which were written as musical compositions to be sung, not merely read. Marohnic has written original compositions for all one hundred-fifty psalms in five years. Each song is being recorded by Music Serving the Word Ministries (MSW), and the series is available to church musicians and worship teams that want to explore a new way of presenting these ancient scriptures. MSW’s mission is to “serve God’s Word and invite people to Christ through music, media, outreach, technology and teaching.”
Biblical scholars agree that the Book of Psalms began to be recorded more than 3,000 years ago, and their creation spanned at least five centuries, with the most recent psalms being written in the postexilic period. They were written as a collection of poems that were sung and accompanied by various musical instruments within the context of Hebrew worship.
The origins of Psalm Reborn can be traced to a moment when Marohnic was meditating on one of the psalms. “A strange thing happened,” Marohnic relates. “I actually began to hear the words of the psalm as music. I proceeded to write down the music I had heard and thus began the project.”
Those attending the Psalms Reborn will hear an entirely fresh interpretation of the psalms, delivered via the language of modern music, influenced by jazz, rock, funk, R&B, and world music. For more information, see www.archlou.org/psalms or www.musicservingtheword.org, (480) 575-1303.
