NEW YORK — Immortal Love: The Sacred Music of Anthony R. Fedell, OFM, was distributed to Holy Name Province friaries May 26. The 74-page collection of music, edited by Kevin McGoff, OFM, and published by the Province, is in memory of Anthony Fedell, OFM, who died Dec. 26, 2003. The goal is to make Anthony’s music known to a new generation of music directors in the Province’s ministries.
The name Immortal Love comes from one of Anthony’s pieces, written by John Greenleaf Whittier and included in the music book both in concertato and hymn versions.
In an editor’s note, Kevin explained the genesis of Immortal Love. “Former Provincial Minister John Felice, OFM, asked me to organize an effort to ‘do something’ with Anthony’s music as a remembrance of him and the unique role he played in the worship life of our friars, with hopes that his contribution will continue to live on.”
In 2005, Kevin received four cartons of Anthony’s personal music effects from Ronald Pecci, OFM. One carton contained musical scores of other composers, another the choral scores and Anthony’s copy of Deep unto Deep: Odysseys and Ascensions, a cantata on the words of St. Bonaventure, and the final two contained all of the liturgical scores “for which he was most well-known among our fraternity and beyond,” wrote Kevin. He designed the book whose cover shows a photograph of stained glass at St. Francis Chapel in Providence, R.I., of St. Francis before the crucifix of San Damiano.
In the note, Kevin described some of the challenging moments in compiling the volume: “As a brilliant pianist and improviser, Anthony’s playing was rich and symphonic, and his music took great vitality when he was at the piano. … I did my best to infuse (his manuscripts) with the spirit of his playing, whenever possible.”
A page in the book titled “In Memoriam” provides a list written by Richard Husted, OFM, of 13 phrases about Anthony; all begin “we remember.”
Anthony, a native of Salamanca, N.Y., spent most of his friar life as vicar of St. Elizabeth Church in Denver, Colo. Before moving West, he had served as a music instructor at St. Bonaventure University and director of music and liturgy at Holy Name College in Washington, D.C.
In a memorandum distributed to guardians, pastors and directors, Provincial Secretary Michael Harlan, OFM, wrote, “This special volume … is the fruit of Kevin McGoff’s hard work as editor. We are grateful to Kevin for his time, energy and commitment to the completion of this project.”
For copies of the book, contact Sharon Berrios at the Provincial Office, by phone (646) 473-0265 ext. 301, or by e-mail: sberrios@hnp.org. An online version of Immortal Love is planned for the Province’s Web site.
— Rebecca Doel is communications coordinator for Holy Name Province.