Alexander Peloquin

Dr. C. Alexander Peloquin, 1918-1997

C. Alexander Peloquin (June 16, 1918, Northbridge, Massachusetts – February 27, 1997, Providence, Rhode Island) was an American composer of liturgical music, pianist, teacher, cathedral organist and director of music ministries. Inspired by the Second Vatican Council reforms, he is known for composing the first Roman Catholic Mass sung in English.[1]

Biography

“Alex”, as Peloquin was most often called, was born in Northbridge, Massachusetts the son of Noe G. and Marie Louise (Bernard) Peloquin. Peloquin began his musical training at the age of eight, studying studied piano and organ. At the age of eleven, he performed classical piano on his own radio program for WTAG in Worcester, Massachusetts.[2] Peloquin went on to study at the New England Conservatory where he earned a Boston Symphony Orchestra Scholarship to the Berkshire Music Center at Tanglewood. At Tanglewood, Peloquin served as piano soloist for Leonard Bernstein and his orchestra. Also at that time, Peloquin had the privilege of knowing Aaron Copland.[3][4] Peloquin was awarded honorary degrees by institutions including Brown University. [5]

During World War II, Peloquin served in the Army where he achieved the rank of Lieutenant. He served as bandmaster for the 314th Army Band and performed the music of George Gershwin for servicemen serving throughout Europe and North Africa. He also conducted music for Jewish, Catholic and Protestant services.[6]

After the war Peloquin began a 13-year relationship with The Catholic Hour, which was syndicated first on NBC radio and then on CBS television. In 1950, Peloquin became the organist and Director of Music Ministries of the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Providence, Rhode Island and remained until his retirement in 1991. As director he formed the Peloquin Chorale, an organization of singers who of performed and premiered Peloquin’s compositions over the years in concerts, liturgies and recordings. In 1955, Peloquin became a faculty member and composer-in-residence at Boston College, a career that spanned 38 years. He was also the conductor of the college’s Glee Club and immediately set out to broaden the repertoire of the choir by including women when the college became co-ed in 1970. The choir went on to become the University Chorale of Boston College. Both the Peloquin Chorale and the University Chorale of Boston College were instrumental in introducing his most innovative compositions to the world and often performed together during most of the premier performances of Peloquin’s works.[7][8][9]

Some prominent events in Peloquin’s career include:

1964- During National Liturgical Week in St. Louis, Missouri, Peloquin unveiled the first English High Mass ever sung in the United States. This event elevated Peloquin to national prominence as one of the few classically trained composers inspired by the reforms set out in the Second Vatican Council.[10]

1968- Peloquin collaborated with poet Thomas Merton on his composition Four Freedom Songs in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King and was first performed at Ebenezer Baptist Church, as a tribute to King just months after his death.[11]

1979- Peloquin conducted a choir of 300 for a Mass celebrated by Pope John Paul II in Chicago’s Grant Park (Chicago). This Mass was attended by 1.5 million people. During the Pope’s visit in America at this time, Peloquin’s music was performed at every Mass on the Pope's itinerary.[12]

1980- Dave Brubeck selected Peloquin and the Peloquin Chorale to premier his Mass To Hope! A Celebration, (formally known as To Hope! A Mass for a New Decade) in celebration of his conversion to Catholicism.[13]

Peloquin died February 27, 1997 at the Bethany Home in Providence, Rhode Island from the effects of a stroke he suffered on February 12 of the same year.[14]

Music

Peloquin wrote more than 150 scores. Most of his music is written for SATB choir and soloists as well as for women's voices (SSA), men's voices (3 parts) and involves a combination of piano, organ and orchestra. Peloquin also made a point of composing melodies with simple refrains to encourage participation of the congregation. "A lot of religious music today is boring," he once said, "and I don't think worship calls us to boredom." [15] His music combines traditional music written for the church with elements of Gregorian chant, jazz-like rhythms and harmonies reminiscent of George Gershwin, Aaron Copland and Leonard Bernstein.[16] Alex was also interested in incorporating syncopated rhythms into several of his compositions. An example of this can be found in his Lord of Life Mass commissioned by Terence Cardinal Cooke Archbishop of New York in 1980. Titled "People Matter" the composition is an arrangement based on a hymn by Dutch composer Fred Kaan (1929–2009). It is intended to be performed during Offertory and it begins with the syncopated rhythms of percussion and double bass where after two measures the altos are joined by trumpet "con sordino".[17]

Many of his compositions were in response to commissions from churches, universities and religious orders throughout the United States and Canada. The texts used in these compositions were based upon the writings of a wide range of religious thinkers of all faiths, including Pope John Paul II.[18]

Works

Key:

Holy God We Praise Thy Name
The God Whom Earth and Sea
O Mary of All Women
Blessed Be Our God
O Saving Victim
Hail Star of the Sea
Therefore We
Before Him Bending
Give Praise to the Lord
Psalm for Unity
Prayer for Peace
In Christ the Lord
The Bread is One, LP: Missa a la samba, Gregorian Institute records M/S 124, 197-. Peloquin Chorale, C. Alexander Peloquin, conductor. WCRB
March of the Magi
Pastoral
Dance of the Shepherds
Prelude
Dance
Interlude
Contemplation
Joy
Processional
Lord Have Mercy
Psalm
Holy Holy
Acclamation
Lamb of God
I Believe That My Redeemer Lives
May the Angels Lead You
Lord Have Mercy
Gloria of the Bells
Holy, Holy, Holy
Dying you Destroyed
Amen
Lamb of God
Lord Jesus Come
Penitential Rite
Liturgy of the Word
Alleluia
Offertory
Liturgy of the Eucharist
Communion Rite
Faith Hope and Love
Gloria
Sacred Dance
Soul of Christ
Jesus!
Do Whatever He Tells
Sing Along the Road
Maria zu Lieben
Freut euch der Lebens
Grosse Gott (Holy God We Praise Thy Name)
Sanctus
Christ Has Died
Amen
Lamb of God
Medicine Song(Geronimo)
Morning Song
Wedding Song
Eskimo Song (Iglulik)
Her Amazement at Her Only Child
John Beseeches Her
Embraced by New Time

References

  1. ↑ Tribute prepared by National Association of Pastoral Musicians, "Alexander Pleoquin", Liturgical Pioneers Pastoral Musicians and Liturgists, Pastoral Music, April–May, 1997. pg. 10, reprint http://liturgicalleaders.blogspot.com/2008/09/alexander-peloquin.html Retrieved 2011-8-16
  2. ↑ "C. Alexander Peloquin Dies. B.C.'s composer-in-residence helped shape church music", Boston College, The Boston College Chronicle, March 13, 1997, Vol. 5, No. 13 http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/rvp/pubaf/chronicle/v5/Mr13/peloquin.html Retrieved 2011-8-16
  3. ↑ Dykstra, Elaine P. "Dr. C. Alexander Peloquin", The Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, http://www.cathedralprovidence.org/alex.html Retrieved 2011-8-16
  4. ↑ "C. Alexander Peloquin Dies." http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/rvp/pubaf/chronicle/v5/Mr13/peloquin.html, Retrieved 2011-8-16
  5. ↑ Boston Area Music Libraries, Solow, Linda I., editor, "The Boston Composers Project" "A Bibliography of Contemporary Music", Cambridge, Massachusetts, The MIT Press, 1983, p. 365, ISBN 0-262-02198-6
  6. ↑ Tribute prepared by National Association of Pastoral Musicians, http://liturgicalleaders.blogspot.com/2008/09/alexander-peloquin.html, Retrieved 2011-8-16
  7. ↑ Dykstra, Elaine P., http://www.cathedralprovidence.org/alex.html, Retrieved 2011-8-16
  8. ↑ "C. Alexander Peloquin Dies." http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/rvp/pubaf/chronicle/v5/Mr13/peloquin.html, Retrieved 2011-8-16
  9. ↑ Tribute prepared by National Association of Pastoral Musicians, http://liturgicalleaders.blogspot.com/2008/09/alexander-peloquin.html, Retrieved 2011-8-16
  10. ↑ Tribute prepared by National Association of Pastoral Musicians, http://liturgicalleaders.blogspot.com/2008/09/alexander-peloquin.html, Retrieved 2011-8-16
  11. ↑ Dykstra, Elaine P., http://www.cathedralprovidence.org/alex.html, Retrieved 2011-8-16
  12. ↑ "C. Alexander Peloquin Dies." http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/rvp/pubaf/chronicle/v5/Mr13/peloquin.html, Retrieved 2011-8-16
  13. ↑ Dykstra, Elaine P., http://www.cathedralprovidence.org/alex.html, Retrieved 2011-8-16
  14. ↑ Gray, Channing, "In Memoriam, Alexander Peloquin, Composer, Conductor, Friend, 1918-1997", Obituary as it appeared in the Providence Journal, February 28, 2011, http://www.cathedralprovidence.org/alexobituary.html Retrieved 2011-8-16
  15. ↑ "Tribute prepared by National Association of Pastoral Musicians, http://liturgicalleaders.blogspot.com/2008/09/alexander-peloquin.html, Retrieved 2011-8-16
  16. ↑ "Tribute prepared by National Association of Pastoral Musicians, http://liturgicalleaders.blogspot.com/2008/09/alexander-peloquin.html, Retrieved 2011-8-16
  17. ↑ Peloquin, Alexander, “Lord of Life” “A Liturgy Celebrating the Year of the Family”, Chicago, Illinois, G.I.A. Publications, Inc., 1981, p.62, ISBN G-2402FS, full score
  18. ↑ Dykstra, Elaine P., http://www.cathedralprovidence.org/alex.html, Retrieved 2011-8-16

External links

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