San Antonio, Texas is home to five restored 18th century Spanish missions along the San Antonio river. This music, commissioned by the San Antonio Choral Society for the 2018 Tricentennial of San Antonio, amplifies a dramatic aspect of each mission as you encounter each along what was known as “The Mission Road” (El camino de las misiones). It is meditative and reflective music.
I. Yanaguana – The Alamo: Coahuiltecan Indian language phrases to reflect the Native American presence and need for water.
II. Lux Sit – Mission Concepcion: A dramatic solar illumination occurs every August 15 at this mission. Features a Latin text on light.
III. The Mission Bell – Mission San Jose: The unique single bell tower featured in a fantastical dream text.
IV. Before the Still Sky – Mission San Juan Capistrano: Remembering the dead. Many Native Americans bones were returned to this mission and reburied in a painful reminder of the past.
V. Let Us Know Peace – Mission Espada: A call for us to seek peace through a text written by the Cheyenne that musically brings back the opening theme with this prayerful ending.
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