Sunday, November 22, 2026 @ 4 PM
Second Church in West Newton, Massachusetts

Commemorate and Remember

A radiant afternoon of powerful recollection, evocative reflection, and contemporary choral expression

Maurice Duruflé:  Requiem, Op 9
Tarik O'Regan:  Triptych
Charlotte Koonce:  New work

Maria Whitcomb, soprano Laura Beth Couch, mezzo-soprano Andrew Sheranian, organist With chamber orchestra

A Commonwealth Composer concert

Whether you're a lifelong lover of classical music or attending your first choral concert, Commemorate and Remember offers an indelible musical journey.

Maurice Duruflé’s Requiem is music of extraordinary beauty and consolation.  Rooted in ancient Gregorian chant and enriched by luminous French harmonies, it moves from quiet prayer through moments of intensity to the radiant serenity of In Paradisum. Rather than dwelling on fear and judgment, Duruflé invites us into a deeply human world of memory, loss, peace, and eternal light.

Tarik O’Regan’s Triptych offers a vibrant contemporary counterpart. Drawing from varied faith traditions using texts from William Penn, Muhammad Rajab Al-Bayoumi, William Blake, and Psalm 133, O'Regan explores death, connection, nature, and community through music that ranges from rhythmic energy to contemplative stillness.

The concert also features the world premiere of a new work by emerging composer and chorus member Charlotte Koonce, giving audiences the rare opportunity to experience a piece being heard publicly for the very first time.

Commemorate and Remember yields a program that is both moving and uplifting—a journey through loss and remembrance toward connection, transcendence, and peace.