The Spiritual Music of Duke Ellington

Event Schedules

St. Thomas Episcopal Church

8398 NE 12th Street, Medina WA

Mar 25 2017 - Feb 25 2017

7:30 PM - 9:30 PM on Sat

More schedule information: Free parking. Doors open at 7pm.

Event Description

The concert includes, blues, jazz, gospel and choral works, all drawn from the three "Sacred Music Concerts" composed by Duke Ellington late in his career, and performed around the globe during his lifetime. Deeply spiritual and decidedly nondenominational, these sacred works were intended to be performed in places of sanctuary. This concert is presented in collaboration with the Earshot Jazz Society, which has fostered the annual presentation of Ellington's sacred music at holiday time in the Seattle area since 1993.

The first of Ellington's three sacred concerts was premiered in 1965 at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. It focused on his epic composition, "In the Beginning God" and climaxed with “David Danced Before the Lord with All His Might,” both references to favorite biblical passages. The second was premiered in 1968 at Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City, and the third sacred concert in 1973 at Westminster Abbey in London. From these concerts came the beloved “Praise God and Dance” based on Psalm 150, and Ellington’s stirring settings of “The Lord’s Prayer.”

The March 25th performance at St. Thomas combines favorites drawn from all three of the Sacred Concerts and is a rare opportunity to hear an Eastside performance of this great music, in a concert that is traditionally enjoyed by sell-out crowds in Seattle.

Suggested donation of $25 per person will be collected at the door. For more information please call St. Thomas at 425.454.9541.