Some long-standing Cafe habitues know of my undeniable affection for the city across the “City by the Bay,” my beloved Oakland, California. It was at its former, exquisite cathedral that its founding bishop, Excellency Floyd Begin (RIP) slapped my face into full communion with the OHRA Catholic Church on an Easter Vigil night at St. Francis de Sales when I was in college and a musician/chorister on staff.
And having left the diocese in ’87, I still thirst to know of its well-being and progress. Of course, wondering if the joyeous appointment of Abp. Cordileone to San Francisco would again result in Oakland’s weak sister situo status being again prolonged, it came as even better news that “The Lion” would, for now, continue over-seeing both SFO! (Just like the airport.)
My mentor, Frank LaRocca, Prof. Emeritus of Composition at CSUEB, let us all in at MSF on the completion of a commissioned work for the very upcoming 50th anniversary of the founding of the Oakland Diocese, Diffusa est gratia. Frank forwarded this rehearsal video of one of the bright stars of the present and future, Rudy de Vos (who wowed at his SLC organ concert, and IMO is “so Wilko!” ) and the schola cantorum (of Christ our Light?) in their final rehearsal of Dr. LaRocca’s opus. And may I say that those who have questioned the new cathedral’s acoustic ambience, please take note of the obvious heard here.
Without further adieu,
To access the score-
http://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/7288/video-of-new-work-for-oakland-diocese-50th-anniversary-jubilee-mass-aug.-22.#Item_2