Mass for Abraham Lincoln, a huge requiem mass, (published: Seesaw
Music Corp, NY, NY) is for an unusual set of performers intended as concert music, not as a traditional Latin requiem mass. Its eight movements carry the titles of most of the parts of of the Roman Catholic mass, but the content is excerpts from speeches by Abraham Lincoln. The work is for two performers, amplified and prepared piano, and tape (or CD). The recorded accompanying tape (CD) has a narration of Lincoln's words, interspersed with sounds of U.S. Civil War battle cries, et al. The two performers perform simultaneously on the piano which is amplified through loud speakers. They are garbed in black vestments, and sing or intone some
fragments from the sung portions (Breviary) of the Mass service. This work is 45 minutes duration. It is a very serious work, demanding professional musicians. It was commissioned by the New Mexico Music Teachers Association for the U.S. Bicentennial and premiered at the University of New Mexico, May, 1975. It was subsequently performed at the New England Conservatory of Music, Boston, Mass. in 1976, and elsewhere, including San Diego State University for a "Meet the Composers" concert in 1988. For the premiere, technicians constructed a giant 8-ft cross illuminated with flourescant lamps and suspended over the stage.