MADISON — On Friday, Oct. 2, at 7:30 p.m., church musicians from Madison and the surrounding area will showcase their own compositions in a public recital at St. James Catholic Church, 1204 St. James Ct., Madison.
Local homegrown musical craft will include works for organ, choir, and other instruments. The Wadsworth pipe organ at St. James will be featured. All music presented will be available at the event in a volume published by the Association of Church Musicians, sponsor of the program.
Two parish musicians from the Diocese of Madison will present their own compositions.Mark Miller, organist at St. James/Good Shepherd Parish in Madison since 1982, will perform his own Variations on Heinlein.
Heinlein is the name of a hymn tune that often is sung with the words “Forty days and forty nights.”
Ken Sosinski will play selections from his own Mass of Christ Pantocrater. Sosinski has served for the past 20 years as Director of Pastoral Music and Liturgy at St. Bernard Parish in Madison.
“I’m very proud that two musicians from our diocese are represented at this recital,” said Patrick Gorman, director of the Diocese of Madison Office of Worship.
“Mark Miller is sort of the ‘dean’ of Catholic musicians in Madison. He is a talented organist who has served both St. James/Good Shepherd Parish and St. Bernard Parish (Middleton) for many years. His refined talent and humility serve as an example to all of us.”
Gorman also noted that Ken Sosinski has served in the diocese for many years. “Ken and I began our respective jobs right around the same time. He has been a valued colleague and good friend.”
Gorman has heard Sosinski’s Mass of Christ Pantocrater and believes that it is a welcome addition to Catholic Church repertoire. “We’re still trying to adapt to new musical settings of the Mass since the release of our new translation. Ken has been able to set the text in a musical style that is both interesting and easy to sing.”
“The Wadsworth pipe organ at St. James Church in Madison is an important instrument,” Gorman added. “It’s known by organists throughout the country.” The organ was originally built in the 1860s and was restored and rebuilt in 1987.
No admission is charged. Monies raised by freewill donation at the event will go to the Association of Church Musicians’ Ruth Pilger Andrews Scholarship Fund.