By a Wondrous Mystery
Our latest recording, By A Wondrous Mystery, features beautiful music written by Monte Mason. It was released in March 2023
Much of Monte Mason’s compositional career has centered around the
creation of works for the choirs he has directed. The compositions for The Gregorian Singers have been the most expansive and challenging of these pieces, ranging from motets, madrigals, to anthems, and more. He has not been content to maintain a single compositional voice from work to work but rather craft works specifically for each compositional opportunity. The underlying meanings of words form the basis of most choral compositions, and these meanings must then be transformed into different medium of musical sound, as understood through pitch, timbre, harmony, and rhythm. The composer has always considered this process to be a creative challenge, and a motivator to artistic output. Monte Mason has been a recipient of a McKnight Composer Fellowship, and his compositions have been recorded on the RCA, MPR, Sonus Luxque, and TG Singers labels. He has served as an organist/choirmaster at area Episcopal churches, most notably St. Martin’s by the Lake, and has directed The Gregorian Singers since 1973. He also teaches piano privately and through the St. Paul Conservatory of Music.
-The Dances of Our Lady-
Christopher Stroh
The organist in this recording of The Dances of Our Lady, Christopher Stroh was appointed the Assistant Director of Music and Organist at St. James Cathedral in Seattle in 2021 after having served The Basilica of St Mary as Organist and Liturgical Music Associate since September of 2006, and following his service as Organ Scholar at the Cathedral of Saint Paul from 2005–2006. He studied choral conducting, liturgy, theology, and organ at St. John’s University and Graduate School of Theology, and earned his B.A. and M.A. degrees in organ performance, with emphases in sacred music and theology. He also teaches private lessons and remains active as a solo recitalist and accompanist.
David Davis
The soprano saxophone soloist in The Dances of Our Lady, David Davis, received a B.A. in saxophone performance from Lawrence University in Wisconsin, and a Master’s degree in music education from St. Thomas University. He has been teaching music in Twin Cities public schools since 2015, and is a semifinalist for the 2023 Grammy Music Educator Award. He also teaches weekly instrumental music lessons to students of all ages, specializing in saxophone.
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