Back By Popular Demand!
As a highlight of our 2024 Make Music Winter celebrations last winter solstice, Make Music New York was proud to commission and present the world premiere of “Street Motet No. 1” for New York City by the award-winning British composer Pete M. Wyer. Excerpts from the December 21, 2024, performance can be found on this YouTube link.
Now we are equally thrilled to announce an encore, summer solstice presentation of “Street Motet No. 1” and we invite you and your choir to be a part of this extraordinary experience!
Call times: Volunteers at 1:30pm, Singers at 1:45pm
Outdoor Mobile Performances: 2:15-3:00pm
Finale at the Cathedral: 3:00-3:20pm
The finale is free to the public with the purchase of a general admission ticket to the Cathedral
Singers and Choirs should use this link to register their interest: Motet Singers.
Confirmations and additional information will be provided after you have submitted your registration form.
We are also looking for dozens of Volunteers to help shepherd and film the choralists! For more information,
interested Volunteers should please register using this link: Motet Volunteers.
“Street Motet No. 1” is a highly original piece of choir music using sophisticated polyphonic techniques in which small ensembles will sing while processing along designated routes throughout Morningside Heights, creating a dynamic soundscape of contrapuntal vocal lines as the ensembles unite, diverge and reunite with one another.
All of the ensembles will join together to perform as one from the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, under the direction of conductor James John, and the ten minute finale is free to the public with admission to the Cathedral.
The composition’s meditative text, inspired by the Metta prayer, is a ‘motet’ in the broadest sense — not a religious piece per se, but a meditation and a blessing of good wishes to NYC residents:
"May you be filled with loving-kindness
May you be well
May you be peaceful and at ease
May you be happy"
“This promises to be a uniquely inspiring artistic and community building experience for both performers and audience members. Creating community connections through music and the human voice can serve as a meaningful way to navigate challenging times. Shared experiences of light and connection can provide us with strength, belonging and the will to not only endure hardship but transform it.” – Composer Pete M. Wyer.
More About Pete M. Wyer
Pete M. Wyer is an award winning composer from England committed to experimentation and innovation. He has been recognized for visionary work, receiving numerous commissions from organizations across the UK and USA. Through his creation of Time Structured Mapping and innovations in spatial audio, he is widely regarded as one of the most pioneering composers of his generation.
More About James Conductor
James John is in his 12th season as Artistic Director of Cerddorion Vocal Ensemble. He is also Professor of Conducting and Director of Choral Activities at the Aaron Copland School of Music (ACSM), Queens College-CUNY, where he directs the Queens College Vocal Ensemble and Queens College Choral Society and heads the graduate program in choral conducting.
