Posted on 08/21/2011 5:58:00 AM PDT by MDJohnPaul
Putting Ray Herrmann on stage is like uncorking a bottle of champagne.
During an Aug. 14 Baltimore performance by the rock group, Chicago, the kinetic musician bubbled over with enthusiasm – clapping his hands above his head, bounding across the Pier Six stage and offering saxophone and flute solos that inspired cheers and ovations.
Herrmann is well accustomed to performing some of the most recognizable music of his time. With Chicago, he regularly plays classics like "Saturday in the Park," and "25 or 6 to 4." He had the famous tenor saxophone solo in Brian Setzer's Grammy-winning "Jump, Jive 'n Wail." Herrmann has also performed with Santana, Bob Dylan, Whitney Houston and others.
As much as he loves performing well-known rock music, Herrmann's favorite project involves compositions that have been unheard and virtually unknown for centuries: the works of St. Alphonsus Maria Liguori.
Many Catholics know St. Alphonsus as a great moral theologian and doctor of the church who founded the Redemptorist order of priests and brothers. Lesser known is that the former lawyer was also an accomplished artist – a painter, architect, poet, sculptor, harpsichordist and composer.
Wanting to make St. Alphonsus's musical works more known, the Redemptorists of the Denver Province approached Herrmann about arranging, producing, orchestrating and performing the saint's music. Three CDs resulted from that collaboration – "Praying the Rosary with St. Alphonsus Maria Liguori," "Praying the Seven Sorrows of Mary with St. Alphonsus Maria Liguori" and "Praying the Way of the Cross."
Herrmann's wife, Theresa, worked with the Redemptorists to translate the lyrics from Italian to English. On the latest CD, Liam Neeson reads prayers composed by St. Alphonsus, with the saint's music serving as an underscore.
(Excerpt) Read more at catholicreview.org ...
This was wonderful! Especially his comments about the Holy Eucharist and the Magisterium. Thank you. I can foresee a trip to his website in my future. Thank you, MDJohnPaul.
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