By Jasmine Franklin
The United and Lutheran church will join forces this Good Friday to perform a cantata composed by a local man.
George Jason of Ponoka spent two months composing what he hopes will be a musical representation of the meaning of Good Friday.
“I was surprised how quickly the music came to me,” Jason said. “It just happened; I didn’t want to stop.”
The 30-minute musical performance uses alternating choirs and four soloists accompanied by a piano and organ to tell the powerful story of Jesus’ crucifixion. There are about 15 different sections the composer said.
“When I was about 15 or 16 in England, I heard a Good Friday Cantata that was very dramatic, moving and powerful,” Jason said. “I was very much inspired by this.”
Cathy Shumacher, conductor for the choirs, said Jason did a “fabulous” job of expressing the important Christian event.
“The cantata is very rich and talks about the passion of Christ,” Schumacher said. “It lends itself to beginning the celebrating of God’s rescue plan for all of us.”
The piece can be heard free of charge April 2 at 10 a.m. at the United Church and again at 7 p.m. at the Lutheran Church.
“I’ve never composed a piece as large as this,” Jason said. “I am grateful for the support from both the churches and the community.”