March 28, 2024

Misa De Los Inmigrantes (2009)

Libretto by Kathy Mellicone

LISTEN/LYRICS

Click on titles for individual piano/vocal score purchases

I. KYRIE (choral) 2’25″
The Crossing (narrator) 2’09”
II. GLORIA (choral) 5’05”
One Small Room (narrator) 1’37”
III. CREDO (choral) 6’18
Deported (narrator) 2’05”
IV. SANCTUS (choral) 2’15”
Fear (narrator) 2’04”
V. BENEDICTUS (choral) 2’51”
Finding my way in America (narrator) 2’05”
VI. AGNUS DEI (choral) 2’30″
AMÉN (choral) 1’35”
(Recording: San Jose Symphonic Choir; Leroy Kromm, conductor; Cassandra Cardenas, mezzo soprano)

for mezzo-soprano or soprano solo, female narrator,  SATB chorus, instrumental ensemble
(2 trumpets in C, 2 flutes, 1 percussionist, piano, cello, bass. Optional: acoustic guitar and/or accordion)
Level: advanced, 33’25”
Purchase Full Score
Purchase Instrumental Parts
Purchase Piano Vocal Score

Program Notes:

MISA DE LOS INMIGRANTES may be performed omitting the narration sections between the choral movements, although it is my preference that they be included. The work was written as a tribute to all immigrants in the hope of raising awareness of the injustices in our present immigration system. Its narrative depicts the true story of Guadalupe and her family, and their difficult journey from Mexico to the United States in search of a decent life. My wife Kathy interviewed Lupe several times, as Lupe shared all the details of her odyssey for the purpose of making her story public. Her experiences are not unique; they are, in fact, similar to those of so many others who are forced by poverty and violence to leave their homes and seek a better life in America for themselves and their families.

—Henry Mollicone

Reviews:

The Misa de los Inmigrantes was composed as a consciously social-action work to honor immigrants in general and to help bring attention to the plight of illegal immigrants. The mass has an unusual construct. It interweaves a narrated story of a single immigrant, accompanied by piano, with a setting of a Spanish text of the traditional mass, set for small orchestra, chorus, and solo mezzo-soprano…The music for the mass takes its rhythmic and melodic sources from Latin-American music, but has the flavor of the original voice that is Henry Mollicone.
I can report a spontaneous standing ovation from the approximate 1,000 people that filled the mission for the event.
It was a privilege to be present for this world premiere, and I can recommend it to any music lover.

San Francisco Classical Voice, S. J. Lowens

Audio

(Back to Top)

Lyrics and Translation

Narration

Narrator tells the harrowing story of the journey of a Mexican immigrant.

KYRIE
Señor, ten piedad,
Cristo, ten piedad,
Señor, ten piedad,
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.


(Narration)

GLORIA
Gloria a Dios en el Cielo,
y en la tierra
paz a los hombres
que ama, que ama,
que ama el Señor.
Por tu inmensa
gloria te alabamos,
te bendecimos, te adoramos,
te glorificamos,
por tu inmensa gracias,
Señor Dios, Rey celestial,
Dios Padre todopoderoso.
Señor, Hijo único, Jesucristo.
Señor Dios, Cordero de Dios,
Hijo del Padre;
tú que quitas
el pecado del mundo,
ten piedad de nosotros;
tú que quitas
el pecado del mundo,
atiende nuestra súplica,
tú que_estás sentado a
ten piedad de nosotros.
Porque sólo tú eres Santo,
sólo tú Señor,
sólo tú Altisimo, Jesucristo,
Con el Espirítu Santo
en la gloria de Dios Padre.
Amén.
Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth,
peace to all those of good will.
We praise thee, we bless thee,
we worship thee, we glorify thee.
We give thanks to thee
according to thy great glory.
Lord God, heavenly King,
God, the Father almighty.
Lord Jesus Christ,
the only begotten son.
Lord God, Lamb of God,
son of the Father.
Thou who takest away
the sins of the world,
have mercy upon us.
Thou who takest away
the sins of the world,
Receive our prayer.
Thou who sittest
at the right hand of God,
have mercy upon us.
Thou alone art the most holy,
For thou alone art the Lord,
Thou alone art the most high,
Jesus Christ.
With the holy spirit
in the glory of God the Father.
Amen.


(Narration)

CREDO
Creo en un solo Dios,
Padre todopoderoso,
Creador del cielo y de la tierra,
Creador de todo
lo visible y lo invisible,
Creo, en un solo Señor,
Jesucristo,
Hijo único de Dios,
nacido del Padre
antes de todos los siglos:
Dios de Dios, Luz de Luz,
Dios verdadero de
Dios verdadero
engendrado, no creado,
de la misma naturaleza del Padre,
por quien todo fue hecho;
que por nosotros, los hombres,
y por nuestra salvación,
bajó del cielo,
Y por obra del Espíritu Santo
se encarnó de Maria,la Virgen,
y se hizo hombre,
por nuestra causa fue crucificado,
en tiempos de Poncio Pilato;
padeció y fue sepultado,
y resucitó al tercer día,
según las Escrituras,
y subió al cielo,
y está sentado a la derecha
del Padre;
y de nuevo vendrá
con gloria para juzgar
a vivos y muertos,
y su reino no tendrá fin.
Creo en el Espíritu Santo,
Señor y dador de vida,
que procéde del
Padre y del Hijo,
que con el Padre y el Hijo,
recibe una misma
adoración y gloria,
y que habló por los profetas.
Creo en la Iglesia,
que_es una, santa,
católica y apostólica.
Confieso que hay
un solo bautismo
para el perdón
de los pecados.
Espéro la resurrección
de los muertos
y la vida, la vida del mundo futuro.
Amén.
I believe in one God,
the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth,
Maker of all things
visible and invisible.
I believe in one
Lord Jesus Christ,
the only-begotten Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father;
God from God,
Light from Light,
true God from true God;
begotten, not made,
of one being with the Father,
Through him all
things were made.
For all men
and for our salvation,
He came down from heaven,
by the power of the Holy Spirit
He was born of the Virgin Mary,
and was made man;
for our sake he was crucified
under Pontius Pilate;
He suffered and was buried;
on the third day
He rose again,
according to the Scriptures;
and ascended into heaven,
and sits on the right hand
of the Father;
He shall come again, with glory,
to judge the quick and the dead;
whose kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord and Giver of Life;
who proceeds from
the Father and the Son;
who with
the Father and the Son,
he is worshipped and glorified;
He has spoken
through the prophets.
I believe in one
holy catholic
and apostolic Church.
I acknowledge
one baptism for
the forgiveness of sins;
and I hope for the resurrection
of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.


(Narration)

SANCTUS
Santo, Santo, Santo es el Señor,
Dios del Universo.
Llenos están el cielo
y la tierra de tu gloria.
Hosanna en el cielo!
Holy, holy, holy, Lord
God of the Universe.
Heaven and earth
are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest!


(Narration)

BENEDICTUS
Bendito el que viene
en nombre del Señor.
Hosanna en el cielo!
Blessed is He who comes
in the name of the Lord
Hosanna in the highest!


(Narration)

AGNUS DEI
Cordero de Dios, que quitas
el pecado del mundo,
ten piedad de nosotros.
Cordero de Dios, que quitas
el pecado del mundo,
danos la paz.
Lamb of God, who takes away
the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, who takes away
the sins of the world,
Grant us peace.
AMEN