Examines the interconnetions between MacMillan’s congregational masses and other works by the composer. The compositional and philosophical commonalities between paired compositions deepens the philosophical and aesthetic meaning of both works. An understanding of these parallels and the manner in which they are worked out in practice provides an important insight into the composer’s intentions, making the performance of the masses within the context of the worship service more relevant to the spiritual experience of the congregant and provides insight into the interconnectivity of MacMillan’s compositional output.
Author Biography
Dr. Stephen Kingsbury is Associate Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Southwest Minnesota State University where his duties include conducting the Men’s Glee Club, Bella Voce, and the SMSU Chorale and teaching classes in music theory, choral conducting and literature and music education. Additionally, Dr. Kingsbury serves as conductor of the Chancel Choir at the First Lutheran Church in Marshall, MN.
Dr. Kingsbury holds both a BA in Music Pre-Teaching (Summa Cum Laude with University Honors in Music Education) and a Master of Arts in Teaching Degree from the University of New Hampshire. He also holds a Master of Music Performance Degree in Conducting from Boston University and a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Choral Conducting and Literature from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Choirs under his direction have garnered many awards and distinctions. Dr. Kingsbury himself has been recognized as a semi-finalist in the 2010 American Price in Conducting, Choral Division.
Dr. Kingsbury’s research interests focus on finding meaning in music. His work has been published in Choral Journal (the official publication of the American Choral Directors Association), ChorTeach (ACDA's online journal for ideas and techniques), The Luminary (an open-access journal housed in Lancaster University's Department of English and Creative Writing), and the Yale Journal of Music and Religion.
Dr. Kingsbury is in high demand as a guest conductor and clinician. His professional memberships include The American Choral Directors Association, NAfME: the National Association for Music Education, Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi, The Golden Key National Honor Society and the American Homebrewer Association.
Dr. Kingsbury resides in Marshall, MN with his wife, Maria, and their daughter, June.
Kingsbury, Stephen
(2016)
"Aesthetic Meaning in the Congregational Masses of James MacMillan,"
Yale Journal of Music & Religion:
Vol. 2:
No.
1, Article 4.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17132/2377-231X.1014
