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Composer

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Vocal

 

Cyprian Consiglio, also known as John Pennington, is a renowned composer of classical music. He was born on August 13, 1951, in San Francisco, California. Consiglio grew up in a musical family, with his father being a jazz pianist and his mother a singer. He began playing the piano at a young age and later learned to play the guitar and the flute. Consiglio's interest in music led him to study at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in composition. He then went on to study at the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned a Master of Arts degree in musicology. Consiglio's early compositions were heavily influenced by his Catholic faith. He became a Benedictine monk in 1980 and spent several years living in monasteries in Italy and the United States. During this time, he continued to compose music, often incorporating Gregorian chant and other liturgical music into his works. One of Consiglio's most notable works is his Mass of the Quiet Hour, which was commissioned by the Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica in Atchison, Kansas. The piece is a setting of the Catholic Mass, with each movement representing a different part of the liturgy. The Mass of the Quiet Hour has been performed by choirs and orchestras around the world and has received critical acclaim for its beauty and spiritual depth. Consiglio's other works include numerous choral pieces, instrumental works, and operas. His opera, The Martyrdom of Saint Polycarp, tells the story of the early Christian martyr and was premiered in 2015 by the San Francisco Opera. The opera features a libretto by Consiglio and music that blends traditional Western classical music with Middle Eastern and Byzantine influences. In addition to his work as a composer, Consiglio is also a respected scholar of music and spirituality. He has written several books on the subject, including Prayer in the Cave of the Heart: The Universal Call to Contemplation and The Art of Accompaniment: Practical Steps for Improvising and Hosting. Consiglio's music has been praised for its spiritual depth and its ability to connect with audiences on a deep level. His works often incorporate elements of different musical traditions, reflecting his belief in the universality of music as a means of connecting people across cultures and religions. Overall, Cyprian Consiglio is a talented composer and musician whose work has had a profound impact on the world of classical music. His compositions are a testament to his deep faith and his belief in the power of music to bring people together.

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