Of Mere Being Choir of the Church of the Advent, Chengcheng Ma & Mark Dwyer

• Rodney Lister (b. 1951): Toward a Supreme Fiction:
• 1 Lister: Toward a Supreme Fiction 01:34
• A Clear Day and No Memories:
• 2 Lister: A Clear Day and No Memories 01:32
• The Snowman:
• 3 Lister: The Snowman 02:00
• Another Weeping Woman:
• 4 Lister: Another Weeping Woman 01:27
• Of Mere Being:
• 5 Lister: Of Mere Being 01:30
• Never Give All the Heart:
• 6 Lister: Never Give All the Heart 01:47
• Vanishing Point:
• 7 Lister: Vanishing Point 04:40
• To the Harbormaster:
• 8 Lister: To the Harbormaster 03:26
• A Downward Look:
• 9 Lister: A Downward Look 02:30
• The Lost Feed:
• 10 Lister: The Lost Feed 03:46
• Stanza XV:
• 11 Lister: Stanza XV 02:48
• Stanza XVI:
• 12 Lister: Stanza XVI 00:49
• Stanza XXXVIII:
• 13 Lister: Stanza XXXVIII 01:25
• On the Road Home:
• 14 Lister: On the Road Home 02:37
• To the Republic:
• 15 Lister: To the Republic 04:35
• Pasture Poem:
• 16 Lister: Pasture Poem 01:32
• Measuring Worm:
• 17 Lister: Measuring Worm 03:53
• Green trimmed:
• 18 Lister: Green trimmed 01:27
• To a Waterfowl:
• 19 Lister: To a Waterfowl 07:48
• The Bees:
• 20 Lister: The Bees 04:12
• Our Revels Now Are Ended:
• 21 Lister: Our Revels Now Are Ended 01:47
• Total Runtime 57:05

Info for Of Mere Being

Rodney Lister’s choral compositions represent a remarkable synthesis of literary sensitivity, harmonic sophistication, and an abiding commitment to vocal expressivity. This recording offers a collection of Lister’s works composed over several decades for the chorus of Greenwood Music Camp, a summer program with which he has been deeply involved as a composer, pianist, and mentor.

The repertoire featured here provides a rare and illuminating perspective on the evolution of his choral writing, spanning from early diatonic and modal explorations to later works of greater harmonic intricacy. Lister’s deep engagement with text is evident throughout this collection. Drawing upon poets such as Wallace Stevens, Gertrude Stein, and others, his settings bring out the rhythm, colour, and nuance of the language in ways that feel both natural and revelatory.

Early works embrace clarity and directness, allowing the shape and syntax of the poetry to guide musical decisions, while later pieces exhibit a denser harmonic language that reflects his affinity for figures like Virgil Thomson and even the chromatic daring of composers such as Gesualdo. Throughout, his choral textures remain vibrant and varied, capable of both luminous transparency and rich complexity. A defining characteristic of Lister’s music is his ability to balance tradition and innovation. He employs familiar harmonic structures yet subtly subverts expectations, allowing triadic formations to shift and realign in ways that create an ever-changing sense of musical space. The result is music that feels both grounded and pleasingly unpredictable, continually engaging the listener in an unfolding dialogue between stability and transformation. His approach to choral writing is informed by his experience as both a composer and pianist, ensuring that every line is singable, every phrase thoughtfully shaped, and every harmonic progression imbued with a keen sense of dramatic pacing.

This recording not only highlights Lister’s distinctive compositional voice but also captures his deep personal investment in the choral medium. His long-standing association with Greenwood Music Camp and other ensembles has allowed him to refine his craft in a setting that fosters both artistic rigor and communal engagement. The performances here reflect that intimate understanding between composer and ensemble, bringing his works to life with clarity, warmth, and expressive depth. For those interested in contemporary choral music that bridges past and present, intellect and emotion, structure and spontaneity, Lister’s choral works offer a rewarding experience.

Chengcheng Ma, piano
The Choir of the Church of the Advent, Boston
Mark Dwyer, direction

Chengcheng Ma
is a distinguished artist celebrated for his achievements in numerous international piano competitions. His concerto performances with orchestras such as Sinfonia da Camera, the Hebei Province Symphony Orchestra, the Brookline Symphony Orchestra, and the Boston University Symphony Orchestra showcase his ability to bring both technical precision and emotional depth to his interpretations. Under the direction of accomplished conductors including Ian Hobson, James Burton, Peng Tuo, and Andrew Altenbach, Chengcheng has demonstrated remarkable versatility, performing major works by composers ranging from Mozart to John Corigliano with equal conviction and artistry. A passionate collaborator with contemporary composers, he also specializes in the music of iconic jazz pianists.

The Choir of The Church of the Advent, Boston
is a professional choir with the prime responsibility of providing appropriate music for the liturgy in this Anglo-Catholic parish. In a year’s time they will have sung about 50 Mass settings, and over 100 anthems, motets, canticles, carols, etc., in addition to a body of chants. While specializing in Renaissance polyphony, the choir’s repertoire is truly catholic, spanning all historical periods from Gregorian chant to world premieres. The Advent Choir’s performance has achieved both national and international recognition, including critically-acclaimed compact disc recordings on the Arsis and AFKA labels. The choir’s performances have been broadcast on National Public Radio, BBC Radio 3, as well as Boston’s WGBH. They have presented many concerts here and abroad and were a featured ensemble in the 1990 and 2014 American Guild of Organists National Conventions, the 1994 and 2003 Boston Early Music Festival concert series, the 1999 American Guild of Organists Region I Convention in Worcester, Massachusetts, and the 1999 and 2019 Boston Conferences of the Association of Anglican Musicians.

Mark Dwyer
has held the position of Organist and Choirmaster of The Church of the Advent, Boston since 2007. He has held similar positions at St. Paul’s Church, K Street in Washington, DC and The Cathedral of All Saints in Albany, New York. Dr Dwyer is active as an organ recitalist, having presented programs throughout the United States and in England. He conducts The Advent Choir, an all-professional ensemble of 18 singers which presents over 100 anthems and motets in addition to fifty choral settings of the mass each year for the liturgies of The Church of the Advent. During his tenure, The Advent Choir has become known not only for their stylish performances of Renaissance polyphony, but also for their impassioned readings of 20th and 21st-century works. His work as conductor, accompanist and recitalist may be heard on the JAV, Arsis, and AFKA recording labels. Mark Dwyer is a graduate of the New England Conservatory; in 2012, Nashotah House Seminary awarded him the degree, Doctor of Music, honoris causa, in recognition of his contributions to the field of sacred music.

Booklet for Of Mere Being