Un Milagro de Fe Border CrosSing & Ahmed Anzaldúa

• Beatriz Bilbao (b. 1951): Fiesta de San Juan:
• 1 Bilbao: Fiesta de San Juan 14:48
• Ariel Ramírez (1921 - 2010): Misa Criolla:
• 2 Ramírez: Misa Criolla: I. Kyrie 04:43
• 3 Ramírez: Misa Criolla: II. Gloria 07:10
• 4 Ramírez: Misa Criolla: III. Credo 03:08
• 5 Ramírez: Misa Criolla: IV. Sanctus 02:30
• 6 Ramírez: Misa Criolla: V. Agnus Dei 05:16
• Mary Lou Williams (1910 - 1981): St. Martin de Porres:
• 7 Williams: St. Martin de Porres 12:46
• Osvaldo Golijov (b. 1960): La Pasión según San Marcos, Pt. 1:
• 8 Golijov: La Pasión según San Marcos, Pt. 1: XIV. Eucaristía 04:33
• 9 Golijov: La Pasión según San Marcos, Pt. 1: XV. Demos gracias al Señor 05:05
• Total Runtime 59:59

Info for Un Milagro de Fe

Un milagro de fe (A Miracle of Faith) presents the spectacular debut recording of the choral ensemble Border CrosSing, based in the Twin Cities, and led by Mexican-Egyptian conductor Ahmed Anzaldúa. Their kaleidoscopic program presents vibrant readings of works of faith by Beatriz Bilbao, Ariel Ramirez's Misa Criolla, Mary Lou Williams's St. Martin de Porres, and selections from Osvaldo Golijov's La Pasión según San Marcos.

Faith takes courage, especially in the face of adversity. The people of Latin America have certainly faced their share of adversity: centuries of colonization, violence, natural disasters, corrupt governments, exploitation, and one tragedy after another. That the people of this region remain among the most religious in the world is a miracle. It is a powerful testimony to the value of faith.

Recording this album was itself an act of faith. We came together to record during a global pandemic, after more than a year of not performing for live audiences. Our recording sessions were postponed time and again as we waited for conditions to improve. The process was complicated and frustrating. We were forced to learn to compromise, aware at all times that a breach in our safety protocols could be enough to halt the entire project. Making music under these conditions was also a cathartic experience, and I believe that the performances reflect these unique circumstances.

Border CrosSing Choir and Instrumental Ensembles
Ahmed Anzaldúa, conductor, artistic director

Border CrosSing
Founded in 2017, Border CrosSing envisions fundamental change in classical music culture, so that every concert, every audience, and the artists on stage truly reflect the cultural reality in which we live. Our work provides opportunities for people from different communities to understand each other in new ways through our multi-lingual Puentes concert series, educational programs in schools, and collaborations with Minnesota’s most important cultural organizations, including The Schubert Club and Minnesota Orchestra.

Ahmed Anzaldúa
is a Mexican choral conductor, classical pianist, and music educator of Egyptian descent. He performs frequently in Mexico and the United States as a soloist and conductor with choirs, orchestras, in recitals, and as a collaborative pianist. He currently lives in the city of St. Paul, Minnesota, and is the director and founder of Border CrosSing, a co-editor of the Justice Choir Songbook, and Director of Music Ministries at Unity Church - Unitarian in St. Paul.

Booklet for Un Milagro de Fe