St. Paul’s Music Director Composing a Musical Mass for a New World
By The Rev. Jim Melnyk
The Rev. Jim Melnyk, rector at St. Paul’s, Smithfield, shared a recent interview with John Drymon, St. Paul’s music director. Drymon is in the process of bringing to life a Mass for a New World, an original composition he created not just for Episcopalians, but for all people of faith.
Drymon has been a professional church musician for more than 20 years, though he played music long before turning his talents to answer a call to music ministry.
St. Paul's Music Director John Drymon is getting close to a dream or vision come true. He has been working on a Mass setting scored for a rock band (piano and at least one other keyboard, acoustic and electric guitars, drums and multiple percussion, electric bass, horn section, choir and cantor). Drymon explains this setting "is intended [so] that those present in worship are empowered to sing as they feel led."
I sat down with Drymon to hear from the composer himself what makes this Mass so special.
Jim Melnyk: Tell us what you're talking about when you use the phrase "Mass setting."
John Drymon: Composers since the 1500s have used what is commonly known as "The Ordinary of the Mass" as a vehicle for musical composition. Composers from the Italian Baroque, to Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms and even Bernstein have used this form to hang their musical ideas on. Composers are still writing new music using this form.
JM: Is this setting designed with any one denomination in mind?
JD: As far as practical use goes, Roman Catholics would still call this a “Mass.” Lutherans would probably call it a "Communion Setting." Episcopalians would use either the term “Mass” or “Liturgy.” Methodists would probably call it “Word” and “Table”.
Certainly, the music is singable by anyone. It’s inclusive, and it draws on a wide variety of influences, from Urban Gospel, to Caribbean and South African influences.
One person who heard the entire work commented that “It sounds like Don Henley and Bruce Hornsby met at the corner of 125th Street and Lennox Avenue and went on a trip around the world!”
JM: Tell us a little about the setting itself.
JD: I had occasion to speak with a rabbi, because I work at a temple for the High Holidays, and I presented the music to him (there are four Psalm setting included at this time). He thought they were beautiful and sensitive settings and will include them in their Shabbat services throughout the year.
The Movements of the Mass are: Entrance/Processional; Kyrie; Gloria; Psalms 23, 24,121, and 150; Alleluia/Gospel Acclamation; Offertory; Sanctus, Lamb of God; and Post-communion Canticle (from the Lutheran tradition).
JM: Tell us a little about how this all came about.
JD: God has used me as a conduit. I didn’t decide to do this. God decided to use me, willing or not. When I began to receive these ideas, I was not in the 'receptive and open' state I am in now. Yet, I would feel a 'stirring' in my creative soul and, within a few minutes, the idea would present itself to me as a complete musical thought. I didn't 'compose' these pieces… they just showed up!
Over the course of months and years, little, if any, of the original idea would change. Maybe a subtle shift of a chord voicing, or a slight tweak of a melodic idea, but that’s about it. They lived as music in my head for a long time, and then eventually I came to realize what “this” one was, and what “that” one was, and then the whole thing began to take shape in my head. I realized this was an entire Mass setting, although not the kind I had ever experienced before.
The text and lyrical “nuggets” I received never changed, not one bit. I had what I had, and that was it. I was stuck. So I got in touch with my friend, Peter Myers, a brilliant and gifted lyricist (and a devout Episcopalian with two priests among his brothers) to write contemporary paraphrases of centuries-old sacred texts as well as lyrics and melodies where needed. Eventually, I came to realize I had been given a gift that the world was meant to experience.
JM: This sounds great, but it's not available yet. When will Mass for a New World be in the world?
JD: Even visions have to go through practical realities to come to life, and we’re in that stage now, raising funds and working with professional musicians on the recordings.
It is the kind of music that anyone can sing, yet it has dimension. The beauty of this Mass is that it not for one denomination, but for all Christians, and not just the liturgical denominations. It has implications for anyone who wants to expand their spirituality through music.
To learn more about “Mass for a New World” and to hear a sample of the music, visit the project’s Facebook page.
