Albums

Requiem for the Forgotten
Messe des Malades

Cappella Records, CR-430, 2024

Benedict XVI Choir and Orchestra, Richard Sparks, with soloists Chelsea Helm, Savannah Porter, Cecilia Duarte, Helen Karloski, Timothy Hodges, Michael Hawes, and John Ramseyer. The Requiem (2020 to 2023), for SATB choir, low strings, organ, and harp, commemorates the displaced and the homeless and sets a poem on the Ukrainian priest Andrei Ischak, martyred by the Bolsheviks. The Messe des Malades (2022), for choir and organ, was inspired by the composer's late sister Carin, who lived with multiple sclerosis. With Diffusa est gratia. Sung in Latin and English. Debuted at number two on the Billboard Traditional Classical chart. Recorded August 15 to 18, 2023, at Lagerquist Hall, Pacific Lutheran University.

Messe des Malades: Kyrie · Gloria · Alleluia · Ego sum Pastor bonus (the Anointing of the Sick) · Sanctus and Benedictus · Agnus Dei. Diffusa est gratia. Requiem for the Forgotten: Introit · Kyrie · Commemoration, A Hymn for Ukraine · Offertory, I will lift up mine eyes · Sanctus and Benedictus · Agnus Dei · Meditation, O vos omnes · Procession to the place of rest, Pie Jesu

Mass of the Americas

Cappella Records, CR-425, 2022

Misa de las Américas. The Benedict XVI Choir's debut recording, sung by some of America's finest singers, many Grammy-nominated, with orchestra under Richard Sparks. Produced by multi-Grammy winner Blanton Alspaugh and Soundmirror, whose recordings have earned more than a hundred Grammy nominations and awards. Sung in Latin, Spanish, and Nahuatl. Released as a hybrid SACD in stereo and 5.0 surround, recorded in DSD, with a booklet holding William Mahrt's essay, the full texts and translations, the composer's notes, and photography. Debuted at number one on the Billboard Traditional Classical chart. Ted Libbey, formerly of The New York Times and NPR, named it one of his ten best classical albums of 2022.

El Cántico del Alba · Kyrie · Gloria · Offertory (Ave Maria) · Sanctus and Benedictus · Agnus Dei · Ave Verum Corpus · Aue Maria (Nahuatl) · Salve Regina · Alma Redemptoris Mater · Ave Regina Cælorum · Regina Cæli

In This Place

Enharmonic Records, ENCD12-025, 2013, 2013

Frank La Rocca's debut solo CD, recorded in 2012 and released in 2013. Christine Brandes, soprano; Jonathan Dimmock, organ; the Artists Vocal Ensemble; and Trio Strata (Audrey Andrist, piano, Nathan Williams, clarinet, James Stern, violin); with period strings in the Veni Sancte Spiritus. Produced by David DeBoor Canfield, engineered by Robert Shumaker, cover photographs by the composer of Partrishow Church, Wales. A 2013 Critic's Choice at American Record Guide; reached the top ten in classical CD sales on Amazon.

Veni Sancte Spiritus · In This Place · Meditation · O Sacrum Convivium · Credo · O Magnum Mysterium · Expectavi Dominum · Miserere

String Trio
Secret Thoughts

Originally on CRI; New World Records NWCRL567, 2011

Two early chamber works from his modernist years, shared with music by Jacob Avshalomov. The String Trio (1981), the piece Andrew Porter praised in The New Yorker, is played by Eric Pritchard, Paul Yarbrough, and Sandy Wilson; Secret Thoughts (1986) for solo cello by Lawrence Granger. Available as download or CD-R with the original liner notes.