Missa Tariro: Mass of Hope Fuses Latin Mass with African Music Traditions

Kutandara & The Longmont Chorale perform the Missa Tariro: Mass of Hope today, October 17, at 7:30pm, Calvary Church, 21st & Gay Streets in Longmont.

An electrifying and energetic concert fusing the ancient African music traditions of the Shona peoples with Latin, jazz, gospel, classical, and world folk influences, both ensembles will perform their separate repertoire for the first part of the concert. It will then conclude with both groups combining to perform two selections from Missa Tariro - Mass of Hope, written by R. Seaton McIntosh, founder and director of Kutandara.

"My friends and colleagues in Zimbabwe live a much different life than I do. Today, everyone in Zimbabwe is suffering. Life expectancy is 37. Inflation is horrendous. One out of every four people is infected with HIV/AIDS. There is no gas. There is no food. Make-shift orphanages house thousands of children. Every year I receive news from friends that not one or two, but several, members of the family have passed away. Yet somehow the living press onward.

"Our Shona friends exemplify the joy of life as they continue to live and love, give thanks, make music, dance and persevere. That is why I have named this work Misa Tariro: Mass of Hope." ~ R. S. McIntosh

Work began on this massive undertaking in 2001, shortly after composer Randy McIntosh returned from Zimbabwe. While there, Randy attended ceremonies and witnessed how villages use music to create and sustain community. The music Randy now writes is inspired by what he experienced in Zimbabwe. In composing his Misa Tariro, he used Shona poetry and proverbs combined with Latin and Greek texts from the ancient form of the mass. The marimba ensemble provides the energetic pulse in this amazing composition. Randy has truly captured the responsive flow of spirit in the music and worship he witnessed in Zimbabwe.

Beyond this beautiful musical form and the dynamic power inherent in a large chorus and the marimbas themselves, Randy stresses that the ultimate inspiration for this work lies in the resiliency of the Zimbabwean people in the face of their unbelievable hardships.

Tickets are available locally at the Twin Peaks Mall Information Booth, at the King Soopers tickets sales counter, at the Daily Times-Call main office (350 Terry St., Longmont)and at the door.

Ticket prices

Single concert price - available at the door:
Adult: $15
Senior: $12
Student: $10
Family Package: $40 (2 adults + up to 4 children)

Season tickets to the Longmont Chorale are also available.

Tariro: Hope and Health for Zimbabwe's Orphans

Come down to the Boulder Farmers' Market on Wednesday, July 29 from 4-7pm to enjoy music from Zimbabwe performed by local musicians in this benefit concert for Tariro.

Founded in 2003, Tariro works in Zimbabwe to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS by educating young women. Located in the high-density neighborhood of Glen Norah in Harare, Tariro enables young women who have been orphaned by AIDS to complete a secondary school education, thereby dramatically reducing their risk of contracting HIV/AIDS.

The concert will be held near the corner of 13th and Canyon, and will feature the Kutandara marimba ensemble, VaHera mbira ensemble, the Kutandara Youth Marimba Ensembles and the Kamp Kutandara marimba classes.

Learn more about Tariro and what you can do to help the orphans of Zimbabwe at tariro.org.

Benefit Concert for Tariro
Boulder Farmers' Market
13th/Canyon
4-7pm
Rain or shine!
http://www.tariro.org

Misa Tariro: Mass of Hope bridges cultures

March 22, 3pm
Bethany Lutheran Church, 4500 E. Hampden Ave., Englewood
Tickets: 303-987-7845 or 303-987-7876 or www.coloradochorale.org

A compelling new work of power and beauty, commissioned by the Boulder Chorale, Randall McIntosh’s Misa Tariro (Mass of Hope) combines texts of the traditional Latin mass with sacred Shona poetry. In a performancs dedicated to the plight of those living with AIDS in Africa, Kutandara Marimba will combine with voices of the Colorado Chorale to present Misa Tariro this Sunday, March 22. A variety of selections from the Chorale and Kutandara Marimba are also on the program.

Background

Work on the Misa Tariro began in 2001, shortly after contemporary Colorado composer and Kutandara music director Randall (“Randy”) Seaton McIntosh returned from Zimbabwe. While there Randy attended ceremonies and witnessed how villages use music to create community.

After experiencing an all-night ceremony, Randy wanted to capture the flow of energy and responsive spirit of this type of music and worship in a major composition of appropriate depth and scope. He saw parallels between the Shona ceremonies and the spiritual journey of a Mass.

But beyond the wonderful musical form, beyond the energetic zeal of the instruments and his hopes to widen the horizons of musical capabilities for musicians, singers, and audiences alike, Randy stresses that the ultimate inspiration for this work lies in the impressive resiliency of the Zimbabwean peoples in the face of their unbelievable hardships:

"My friends and colleagues in Zimbabwe live a much different life than I do: today, everyone in Zimbabwe is suffering. Life expectancy for is 37. Inflation is horrendous. AIDS has taken over 40 percent of the population. There is no gas. There is no food. Towns the size of Boulder have orphanages with thousands of children in residence. Every year I receive news from friends that not one or two, but several members of the family have passed away. Yet they go on. The joy of my composition is the artistic expression of the joy of the Zimbabwean—and human---spirit. This continues to live and love, give thanks, make music and dance and somehow persevere. That is why I have named it Misa Tariro: Mass of Hope."

--Randy McIntosh

Other music performances this weekend include Boulder Philharmonic, "Awakening the Imagination" Macky Auditorium on March 21 at 7:30pm; and Boulder Philharmonic String Quartet family concert, at Boulder Public Library on March 22 at 4pm.

For a complete list of Boulder Events, visit our website: www.getboulder.com