
Tucson Masterworks Chorale
Category: 501(c) 3 Organization
Discipline: Music

The Tucson Masterworks Chorale (TMC) is the oldest independent choral arts organization in Southern Arizona. We continue a proud tradition that began in 1949 with a group of 18 singers; Samuel Goddard (later governor of Arizona) was our first president. As we approach our 75th anniversary in 2024, TMC is carrying on our tradition of performing the great masterworks of choral literature, from pre-Baroque to contemporary. We are proud to welcome singers of all ages and abilities.
With Artistic Director, Luke Diamond and Accompanist, Russell Ronnebaum, we continue to grow musically and to encourage cultural participation in our community.
TMC is proud to present Music, She Wrote, a celebration of women composers for our Spring 2022 concert. The works of master composers Ethel Smyth, Fanny Hensel, Clara Schumann and Amy Beach receive some of the recognition they deserve. Ethel Smyth’s Mass in D in particular is an impressive piece that is not well known. Enjoy!
Notes from the composer: In 2020 the world was shut down
and we were all sheltering in place. To the best of our collective
abilities, we as a chorus made the monumental shift to the
new frontier of the virtual choir. The program for that Spring
was themed Sing Darkness to Light, and I was very eager to
contribute an original work that would be both satisfying and
accessible to sing in the virtual choir format.
Considering the theme of Light, I came upon the text of the
Lux Aeterna from the Catholic Requiem Mass, which is a
Mass for the repose of the souls of the dead. I was particularly
inspired by the concept of perpetual light. I captured this
by always having a ‘beam’ or line of sound present. Overall,
the piece carries a mood of quiet contemplation with soaring
melodies that weave from one part to another. The ending
section of Amen(s) serves as a soothing resolution that our
prayer has been heard.