Lewiston-Auburn performers to take on epic piece of music
Posted by: T0SHEA
N 44° 05.890 W 070° 12.739
19T E 402963 N 4883490
A massive granite faced building, this church was granted Basilica status in 2006. With substantial embellishment both inside and out, 31 years passed from the start of construction until completion on July 18th, 1936.
Waymark Code: WMRB2E
Location: Maine, United States
Date Posted: 06/02/2016
Views: 1
A large and beautiful church with superb acoustics, Saints Peter and Paul Basilica, of Lewiston, Maine, was chosen as the venue for a concert to be sung by 200 vocalists and played by 54 musicians. WGME TV ran an internet article on the upcoming concert in April of 2016, which can be read further below.
At 316 feet in length, 110 feet in width, with two 167 foot towers at its east end (the façade), and seating*over 2,200, this is the largest church in the state of Maine and the second largest in New England. The largest is Grace Chapel, in Lexington Massachusetts. Sts. Peter and Paul is the only church in Maine to be faithfully modeled after a Gothic cathedral.
Built by French-Canadian immigrants, the parish was organized, however loosely, in the late 1850s and the first church, St. Peter's, was constructed in 1872. That church was demolished in 1905 to make way for this one, the basement of which was completed in 1906. It would be another thirty years before it was completed in 1936, with dedication taking place on October 23, 1938.
The building was actually designed by two different architects at two different times. Belgian architect Noel Coumont was the original designer, but only the lower part of the church, which was completed in 1906, followed his plans. When construction began anew in 1928, it was Boston architect T. G. O'Connell's plans for the upper section of the church, in an early English-Norman type of Gothic style, which were accepted. His design was much less elaborate than the original design submitted by Coumont.
Lewiston-Auburn performers
to take on epic piece of music
LEWISTON (WGME) -- It's a performance three years in the making that is expected to sell out the beautiful Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Lewiston.
Nearly 200 singers and 54 orchestra members will perform what is considered Ludwig van Beethoven's most challenging piece of choral music, "Missa Solemnis."
"It's absolutely glorious music," said Susan Trask, member of the Maine Music Society of the Board of Directors and president of the Chorale. "it's just an extraordinary work and to be in the middle of all that sound is indescribable."
When the performers take the stage in front of 1,400 people on Sunday, it will be the result of three years of planning. Trask says because of the number of performers and the difficulty of the piece, they've been doing intense rehearsals and planning for the past year. The performers come from several different choruses, including Lewiston and Edward Little High Schools. The students will perform a piece with the Maine Music Society Chorale and Bates College Choir.
"Missa Solemnis" will be led by Artistic Director John Corrie who is celebrating his 10th year with theMaine Music Society.
From WGME TV