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 Requiems and Alleluias
Dear Friends,
Robert Shaw often used the above salutation in letters to his singers, and it seems fitting that it be used to
greet you, our friends of The Michael O'Neal Singers, as we begin our Tenth Anniversary Season with a Tribute to Robert Shaw.  I am only one of countless conductors across the world who has been strongly influenced by this great musical icon of the twentieth
century. The performance of choral music, especially in the United States, has achieved a level of acceptance and respect more through the efforts of Robert Shaw than any other single
individual. I count it a personal privilege to have had the opportunity to sing under his direction, both as a chorus member and as a soloist, during two decades of my life. I owe Robert Shaw a profound
debt of gratitude and am pleased that we will be able to honor his memory at our opening concert of the 1999-2000 Season on Friday, October 22.
Following his death in January of this year, Alice Parker, his long time friend and collaborator, joined with all of us who revered him in mourning
and rejoicing at the same time. She encouraged us to "Sing Requiems – Sing Alleluias!" This is exactly what we intend to do in our tribute; for
while we are saddened at his departure, we rejoice in a life well lived, which gave so much to so many.
 The concert will consist of selections often performed by Mr. Shaw, and with which he had deep and personal
connections. The evening will begin with members of Georgia Sinfonia, the excellent professional orchestra that accompanied our performance of Haydn's The Creation this past season, in a performance of the poignant "Air on G String" by J.S. Bach. The MOS will
continue with the introspective and extremely moving unaccompanied setting of "Alleluia" by American composer Randall Thompson. The centerpiece of the concert will by Requiem by Maurice Duruflé, written in
1947 and performed often through the years by Robert Shaw. One of the most spiritual and restrained settings of the text ever composed, this work in many
ways typifies the equal depth of spirituality and contemplative thought which was a trademark of Shaw's performances. The concert will close most fittingly with "Hallelujah" from Handel's Messiah, the piece used to
close Mr. Shaw's memorial service at Symphony Hall on January 29, 1999.
Please join us on Friday, October 22 at 8:00 PM in the Sanctuary of Roswell United Methodist Church for this beautiful and important inaugural
event of our season. May we all celebrate together the life of Robert Shaw, our greatest American choral conductor. Sing Requiems – Sing Alleluias!
In anticipation,
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