Machpela (2020)

John Patrick Thomas (b. 1941) — Machpela (2020) for organ

“Then Jacob gave them these instructions: ‘I am about to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite, the cave in the field of Machpela, near Mamre in Canaan, which Abraham bought along with the field as a burial place from Ephron the Hittite. There Abraham and his wife Sarah were buried, there Isaac and his wife Rebekah were buried, and there I buried Leah. The field and the cave in it were bought from the Hittites.’ When Jacob had finished giving instructions to his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed, breathed his last and was gathered to his people.” (Genesis 49:29–33)

American composer John Patrick Thomas (b. 1941) was born in Denver, Colorado and began his musical studies as a member of the American Boychoir (Princeton, New Jersey). He studied at the Aspen Music School (with Darius Milhaud and Charles Jones) and at the University of California at Berkeley (with Andrew Imbrie and Seymour Shifrin). In 1971, he began a concert and opera career as a countertenor specializing in contemporary music. Thomas has taught at the State University of New York in Buffalo, the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen, the Stage School in Hamburg, and the Schule für Schauspiel Hamburg. He was a founding member of the Five Centuries Ensemble (1971–1984) that was active in Europe. For several years, he was a vocal coach for the Hamburg production of “Cats.” Thomas remains active as a private teacher, translator, and composer.

Published by Are Musik Verlag in “Found Music and Other Works for Organ”