Our Wildest Imagining
Choral Music
chorus with organ, chorus with chamber ensemble
work detail
instrumentation: SATB chorus, organ, and brass quintet (Version 1)
completion date: january 2025
duration: 7 minutes
texts: Libretto compiled by the composer out of words from sermons, stories, and sayings by the Right Reverend V. Gene Robinson, as well as quotations from the 27th Psalm.
events
OUR WILDEST IMAGINING @ WASHINGTON NATIONAL CATHEDRAL
Cathedral Choir & Dr. Thomas Sheehan, Organist and Interim Director of Music
Washington National Cathedral - Washington, D.C.
4:00 pm
The Washington National Cathedral (The Very Rev. Randolph Marshall Hollerith, Dean) and the Cathedral Choir under the direction of Dr. Thomas Sheehan, Cathedral Organist & Interim Director of Music present the consortium world premiere of Our Wildest Imagining, a new work to honor the Right Reverend V. Gene Robinson, as part of the afternoon service.
OUR WILDEST IMAGINING WITH GAY MEN'S CHORUS OF WASHINGTON
Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington & GenOUT Youth Chorus; Dr. Thea Kano, Artistic Director & C. Paul Heins, Director
St. Thomas' Parish - Washington, D.C.
6:00 pm
Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington & GenOUT Youth Chorus (Washington, DC); Dr. Thea Kano, Artistic Director & C. Paul Heins, Director; present the consortium world premiere of Our Wildest Imagining, a new work to honor the Right Reverend V. Gene Robinson, as part of the International Choral Festival for World Pride. Learn more here.
OUR WILDEST IMAGINING @ ALL SAINTS PASADENA
The Choir of All Saints Church - Weicheng Zhao, organist & director
All Saints Church - Pasadena, CA
10:00 am
The Choir of All Saints Church Pasadena (The Rev. Tim Rich, Priest-in-Charge & The Rev. Canon Susan Russell, Associate Priest) with Dr. Weicheng Zhao, Director of Music, Organist-Choirmaster, present the consortium world premiere of Our Wildest Imagining, a new work to honor the Right Reverend V. Gene Robinson, as part of the morning service.
OUR WILDEST IMAGINING @ CHAUTAUQUA INSTITUTION
Chautauqua Institution Choir & Joshua Stafford
Chautauqua Institution - Chautauqua, New York
12:00 pm
The Chautauqua Institution Choir with Joshua Stafford, Director of Sacred Music and Organist, present the consortium world premiere of Our Wildest Imagining, a new work to honor the Right Reverend V. Gene Robinson, as part of their Sunday service.
OUR WILDEST IMAGINING @ ST. LUKE'S ATLANTA
The Choir of St. Luke's & Matthew Michael Brown
St. Luke's Episcopal Church - Atlanta, GA
10:00 am
The Choir of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church (The Rev. Winnie Varghese, Rector) and Matthew Michael Brown, HonRSCM, Director of Music, present the consortium world premiere of Our Wildest Imagining, a new work to honor the Right Reverend V. Gene Robinson, as part of their morning service.
OUR WILDEST IMAGINING @ ST. PAUL'S CHESTNUT HILL
The Choir of St. Paul's & Dr. Andrew Kotylo
St. Paul's Episcopal Church - Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, PA
10:00 am
The Choir of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia (The Rev. Eric P. Hungerford, Rector) and Dr. Andrew Kotylo, Director of Music and Organist, present the consortium world premiere of Our Wildest Imagining, a new work to honor the Right Reverend V. Gene Robinson, as part of their morning service.
OUR WILDEST IMAGINING @ ST. JOHN THE DIVINE NYC
The Choir at St. John the Divine & Kent Tritle
The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine - New York, NY
4:00 pm
The Choir of The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine (The Very Reverend Patrick Malloy, Dean) and Kent Tritle, Director of Cathedral Music, present the consortium world premiere of Our Wildest Imagining, a new work to honor the Right Reverend V. Gene Robinson, as part of the afternoon service.
OUR WILDEST IMAGINING @ CHRIST CHURCH INDY
The Choir of Christ Church Cathedral & Stephen White
Christ Church Cathedral - Indianapolis, IN
10:00 am
The Choir of Christ Church Cathedral (The Very Rev. Gray Lesesne, Dean & Rector) and Dr. Stephen White, Interim Director of Music and Bruno Sandes, Director of Coro Latinoamericano, present the consortium world premiere of Our Wildest Imagining, a new work to honor the Right Reverend V. Gene Robinson, as part of the Sunday service.
text
Be held, my friends! A new day is dawning! We are called to face the humble truth, if we are to rise to the challenges of the future. Be still, my friends! A first fire is lighting! We are called to speak a calming word, if we are to quell the storms which rage in our midst. Be loved, my friends! A spring seed is sprouting! We are called to joy against impossible odds, if we but hold in our hearts the certainty of God’s love.
My friends, the psalmist proclaims: The Lord is my light and my salvation: whom then shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Behold, my friends, a new day is dawning, and we will rise to the challenges of the future, because fighting for justice is always dangerous business. Behold, my friends, a first fire is lighting, and we will quell the storms which rage in our midst, because we were not made to simply vanish in the night. Behold, my friends, a spring seed is sprouting, and we will hold the certainty of God’s love in our hearts, because they tried to bury us without knowing that we were seeds.
My friends, the psalmist affirms: Now my head is lifted up above my enemies all around me, And I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord.
My dear, beloved friends, let us sing this miraculous promise: When one is certain of God’s love, there’s no end to what one can bear. I am love, and you are love, and God is love… and we are all loved beyond our wildest imagining.
lead commissioners
Our Wildest Imagining was commissioned by a consortium of organizations, partners, and friends across the United States to honor the Right Reverend V. Gene Robinson. The Lead commissioners are:
All Saints Church (Pasadena) Tim Rich, Priest in Charge
Chautauqua Institution Joshua Stafford, Director of Sacred Music and Organist
Christ Church Cathedral (Indianapolis) The Very Rev. Gray Lesesne, Dean & Rector
Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC Dr. Thea Kano, Artistic Director
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church (Atlanta) The Rev. Winnie Varghese, Rector Dr. Matthew Michael Brown, Director of Music
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (Chestnut Hill) The Rev. Eric P. Hungerford, Rector Dr. Andrew Kotylo, Director of Music and Organist
St. Thomas’ Parish (Washington, D.C.) The Rev. Lisa Ahuja, Rector
The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine The Very Reverend Patrick Malloy, Ph.D., Dean The Reverend Canon Steven Lee, M.Div.
Washington National Cathedral The Very Rev. Randolph Marshall Hollerith, Dean Dr. Thomas Sheehan, Cathedral Organist & Interim Director of Music
Friends of Bishop Gene Robinson
note from the composer
Note from the composer
As a young gay man growing up in the Catholic Church, I often felt that there was no place for me. I went off to college in 2002 not sure about what my life would be, not sure about how I would navigate the many paths ahead of me, and not sure if I should continue to spend my life as a pale reflection of my inner self, a “black and white” version of the me who could exist in true color.
I remember fondly the news in 2003 of Gene’s election as the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal church. Suddenly, I felt like there was hope. If one of the major Christian denominations in the world could welcome him as a faith leader, surely there were paths for my own life that I had not yet imagined.
When Michael Pettry approached me in the Summer of 2024 with the seed of an idea to honor Gene with a work, I jumped at the opportunity. While Gene didn’t know it at the time, he provided a strong model for me about how to live openly a life of truth and pride. Indeed, he has made the point countless times that we are loved beyond our wildest imagining. What a joy it was to spend time in his many texts and turns of phrase, as I drew upon them to create this libretto, this distilled version of Gene’s essence for this work! Our Wildest Imagining is ebullient and extroverted, propulsive and proud, full of fire for the energy, majesty, and mystery of God’s love.
My fervent hope for this work is that it celebrates the man who has left a legacy of hope and possibility for so many in this strange, beautiful, fractured world.
- Dominick DiOrio, January 2025
available versions
- Version 1: SATB chorus, organ, and brass quintet
- Version 2: TTBB chorus, organ, and brass quintet
- Version 3: solo voice and organ
- Version 4: TTBB chorus, organ, and wind quintet
- Version 5: SATB chorus, organ, and wind quintet
The SATB and TTBB chorus versions can also be performed with organ alone, if desired.
information
events
OUR WILDEST IMAGINING @ WASHINGTON NATIONAL CATHEDRAL
Cathedral Choir & Dr. Thomas Sheehan, Organist and Interim Director of Music
Washington National Cathedral - Washington, D.C.
4:00 pm
The Washington National Cathedral (The Very Rev. Randolph Marshall Hollerith, Dean) and the Cathedral Choir under the direction of Dr. Thomas Sheehan, Cathedral Organist & Interim Director of Music present the consortium world premiere of Our Wildest Imagining, a new work to honor the Right Reverend V. Gene Robinson, as part of the afternoon service.
OUR WILDEST IMAGINING WITH GAY MEN'S CHORUS OF WASHINGTON
Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington & GenOUT Youth Chorus; Dr. Thea Kano, Artistic Director & C. Paul Heins, Director
St. Thomas' Parish - Washington, D.C.
6:00 pm
Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington & GenOUT Youth Chorus (Washington, DC); Dr. Thea Kano, Artistic Director & C. Paul Heins, Director; present the consortium world premiere of Our Wildest Imagining, a new work to honor the Right Reverend V. Gene Robinson, as part of the International Choral Festival for World Pride. Learn more here.
OUR WILDEST IMAGINING @ ALL SAINTS PASADENA
The Choir of All Saints Church - Weicheng Zhao, organist & director
All Saints Church - Pasadena, CA
10:00 am
The Choir of All Saints Church Pasadena (The Rev. Tim Rich, Priest-in-Charge & The Rev. Canon Susan Russell, Associate Priest) with Dr. Weicheng Zhao, Director of Music, Organist-Choirmaster, present the consortium world premiere of Our Wildest Imagining, a new work to honor the Right Reverend V. Gene Robinson, as part of the morning service.
OUR WILDEST IMAGINING @ CHAUTAUQUA INSTITUTION
Chautauqua Institution Choir & Joshua Stafford
Chautauqua Institution - Chautauqua, New York
12:00 pm
The Chautauqua Institution Choir with Joshua Stafford, Director of Sacred Music and Organist, present the consortium world premiere of Our Wildest Imagining, a new work to honor the Right Reverend V. Gene Robinson, as part of their Sunday service.
OUR WILDEST IMAGINING @ ST. LUKE'S ATLANTA
The Choir of St. Luke's & Matthew Michael Brown
St. Luke's Episcopal Church - Atlanta, GA
10:00 am
The Choir of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church (The Rev. Winnie Varghese, Rector) and Matthew Michael Brown, HonRSCM, Director of Music, present the consortium world premiere of Our Wildest Imagining, a new work to honor the Right Reverend V. Gene Robinson, as part of their morning service.
OUR WILDEST IMAGINING @ ST. PAUL'S CHESTNUT HILL
The Choir of St. Paul's & Dr. Andrew Kotylo
St. Paul's Episcopal Church - Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, PA
10:00 am
The Choir of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia (The Rev. Eric P. Hungerford, Rector) and Dr. Andrew Kotylo, Director of Music and Organist, present the consortium world premiere of Our Wildest Imagining, a new work to honor the Right Reverend V. Gene Robinson, as part of their morning service.
OUR WILDEST IMAGINING @ ST. JOHN THE DIVINE NYC
The Choir at St. John the Divine & Kent Tritle
The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine - New York, NY
4:00 pm
The Choir of The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine (The Very Reverend Patrick Malloy, Dean) and Kent Tritle, Director of Cathedral Music, present the consortium world premiere of Our Wildest Imagining, a new work to honor the Right Reverend V. Gene Robinson, as part of the afternoon service.
OUR WILDEST IMAGINING @ CHRIST CHURCH INDY
The Choir of Christ Church Cathedral & Stephen White
Christ Church Cathedral - Indianapolis, IN
10:00 am
The Choir of Christ Church Cathedral (The Very Rev. Gray Lesesne, Dean & Rector) and Dr. Stephen White, Interim Director of Music and Bruno Sandes, Director of Coro Latinoamericano, present the consortium world premiere of Our Wildest Imagining, a new work to honor the Right Reverend V. Gene Robinson, as part of the Sunday service.
text
Be held, my friends! A new day is dawning! We are called to face the humble truth, if we are to rise to the challenges of the future. Be still, my friends! A first fire is lighting! We are called to speak a calming word, if we are to quell the storms which rage in our midst. Be loved, my friends! A spring seed is sprouting! We are called to joy against impossible odds, if we but hold in our hearts the certainty of God’s love.
My friends, the psalmist proclaims: The Lord is my light and my salvation: whom then shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Behold, my friends, a new day is dawning, and we will rise to the challenges of the future, because fighting for justice is always dangerous business. Behold, my friends, a first fire is lighting, and we will quell the storms which rage in our midst, because we were not made to simply vanish in the night. Behold, my friends, a spring seed is sprouting, and we will hold the certainty of God’s love in our hearts, because they tried to bury us without knowing that we were seeds.
My friends, the psalmist affirms: Now my head is lifted up above my enemies all around me, And I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord.
My dear, beloved friends, let us sing this miraculous promise: When one is certain of God’s love, there’s no end to what one can bear. I am love, and you are love, and God is love… and we are all loved beyond our wildest imagining.
lead commissioners
Our Wildest Imagining was commissioned by a consortium of organizations, partners, and friends across the United States to honor the Right Reverend V. Gene Robinson. The Lead commissioners are:
All Saints Church (Pasadena) Tim Rich, Priest in Charge
Chautauqua Institution Joshua Stafford, Director of Sacred Music and Organist
Christ Church Cathedral (Indianapolis) The Very Rev. Gray Lesesne, Dean & Rector
Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC Dr. Thea Kano, Artistic Director
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church (Atlanta) The Rev. Winnie Varghese, Rector Dr. Matthew Michael Brown, Director of Music
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (Chestnut Hill) The Rev. Eric P. Hungerford, Rector Dr. Andrew Kotylo, Director of Music and Organist
St. Thomas’ Parish (Washington, D.C.) The Rev. Lisa Ahuja, Rector
The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine The Very Reverend Patrick Malloy, Ph.D., Dean The Reverend Canon Steven Lee, M.Div.
Washington National Cathedral The Very Rev. Randolph Marshall Hollerith, Dean Dr. Thomas Sheehan, Cathedral Organist & Interim Director of Music
Friends of Bishop Gene Robinson
note from the composer
Note from the composer
As a young gay man growing up in the Catholic Church, I often felt that there was no place for me. I went off to college in 2002 not sure about what my life would be, not sure about how I would navigate the many paths ahead of me, and not sure if I should continue to spend my life as a pale reflection of my inner self, a “black and white” version of the me who could exist in true color.
I remember fondly the news in 2003 of Gene’s election as the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal church. Suddenly, I felt like there was hope. If one of the major Christian denominations in the world could welcome him as a faith leader, surely there were paths for my own life that I had not yet imagined.
When Michael Pettry approached me in the Summer of 2024 with the seed of an idea to honor Gene with a work, I jumped at the opportunity. While Gene didn’t know it at the time, he provided a strong model for me about how to live openly a life of truth and pride. Indeed, he has made the point countless times that we are loved beyond our wildest imagining. What a joy it was to spend time in his many texts and turns of phrase, as I drew upon them to create this libretto, this distilled version of Gene’s essence for this work! Our Wildest Imagining is ebullient and extroverted, propulsive and proud, full of fire for the energy, majesty, and mystery of God’s love.
My fervent hope for this work is that it celebrates the man who has left a legacy of hope and possibility for so many in this strange, beautiful, fractured world.
- Dominick DiOrio, January 2025
available versions
- Version 1: SATB chorus, organ, and brass quintet
- Version 2: TTBB chorus, organ, and brass quintet
- Version 3: solo voice and organ
- Version 4: TTBB chorus, organ, and wind quintet
- Version 5: SATB chorus, organ, and wind quintet
The SATB and TTBB chorus versions can also be performed with organ alone, if desired.
