A jazz vespers: for chorus, soloists, orchestra and jazz quintet

Abstract

An Analysis of Liturgical Jazz, Classical and Jazz Collaborations and Analytical Commentary on a Jazz Vespers for Chorus, Soloists, Orchestra and Jazz Quintet

This paper presents a background on the use of jazz in the church, a historical timeline of integration of jazz and classical music, and lastly, a summary and analysis of my Jazz Vespers for Chorus, Soloists, Orchestra and Jazz Quintet. This piece reflects my desire to reconcile the various cultural aspects of my work and the components of the church’s history into a single act of worship. These components include the harmonies and rhythms of jazz and gospel music, Twentieth Century Classical music, including Stravinsky and more extensively Monteverdi’s Vespers, Musical Theater and Opera.

The modern use of the term “Jazz Vespers” means primarily a jazz performance or service without any application of text, and/or use of the formal structure of the actual Vespers service of the Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, or Protestant liturgies. None the less, there are many instances of jazz music being used successfully as service music, and performances being observed within the structure of a liturgical service, such as the Vespers, with the use of either traditional Psalms or Old Testament readings and poems, literary prose, and other writings which reflect a spiritual, humanistic nature.