Abstract
Visions and Ecstasies, A Mass was commissioned by the Saint Martha Concerts® for the Saint Martha-Yamaha Concert Series in Miami, Florida made possible by a grant from Alfred Allan Lewis and Ralph Lutrin. The composition is a setting of the Latin Ordinary Mass with additional text by early Catholic women mystic writers, and is scored for SATB choir, mezzo-soprano soloist and two pianos. The composition is 50 minutes in duration. Dr. Karen Kennedy and the Frost Chorale will premiere the work on April 22, 2016 at Barry University’s Broad Performing Arts Center, with mezzo-soprano soloist Robynne Redmon. This essay gives background to the early mystic writers, discusses the non-liturgical text, places the work in historical context of other modern Mass settings, provides an analysis of the composition as a whole and an in-depth analysis of movement II and movements X -XI. The complete score and libretto of the composition are included in the appendices.