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Dustin Luca
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SALEM, MASS. – A musical journey that started at Salem State University two decades ago will come full circle this month, with all the city invited to Salem High School to witness the premiere.
The University Chamber Orchestra and University Chorus will join forces on Thursday, April 24 at Salem High School to present Requiem in E Minor by music alumni Javier Márquez ’08. The event also serves as one of the final celebrations of the 20th anniversary of the music major planned for the year – bringing the entire experience full circle for the program and others involved in the production.
Márquez’ composition was at first inspired by Mozart’s famous Requiem, and returned to more recently as a manner for processing personal losses and the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s because requiems often serve as an act or token of remembrance, Márquez explained.
“A requiem is a liturgy. It takes on the text of a mass but has a unique flavor to it,” Márquez said. “The text itself can be very beautiful… descending light, descending wishes and salvation on the part of souls is what really drew me.”
Márquez started his composition around 2007 while a junior at Salem State. His first attempt to build a large-scale composition for chorus and orchestra, he slowly wrote it over a couple years, and then returned to it with a round of revisions in 2023 and 2024.
The event premiering Márquez’ Requiem also serves as one of the final celebrations tied to the launch of Salem State’s music major 20 years ago. Events throughout the year have celebrated the 20th anniversary of the program, making Márquez’ premiere all the more poignant.
“It’s one of our biggest performances of the year, one that’s bringing together alumni and students in a performance context,” said Karen Gahagan, director of Salem State’s Center for Creative and Performing Arts. “This is a great opportunity to see one of the largest combinations of forces assemble to perform this piece from one of our own.”
The concert will be conducted by professor Mary-Jo Grenfell. For Grenfell, the conducting opportunity “brings us somewhat full circle,” she said, after first meeting and working with Márquez close to two decades ago, as the music program itself was just starting.
“I had only been teaching at SSU for a few years and met this wonderful, young musician who had aspirations of composing,” Grenfell said. “I premiered a small chamber work of his in 2007 titled Concerto for Piano and Chamber Ensemble. It was a crazy piece that included sections in 7/8 meter and hand clapping.
“Now nearly 20 years later, I’m conducting another work of his!” Grenfell exclaimed. “The Requiem is big and massive, and it allows me to work with the University Chorus again, which I always enjoy.”
Preparing the chorus and soloists was professor Holly Zagaria, who said it’s “such a pleasure being part of this performance.”
“The university Chorus and I are so happy to premiere Javier’s work,” Zagaria said. “For myself, it is pure gift to have our alumni back and to celebrate their many accomplishments!”
The event is free and open to the public. It will take place in the Salem High School Auditorium, 77 Willson St., beginning at 7:30 pm.
