Choral conductor and organist Kent Trittle, New York’s most prominent church musician, will be leaving his long-time post at St. Ignatius Loyola on Park Avenue to become music director of St. John the Divine Cathedral effective September 1. In a conversation with Daniel Watkin for the Times, he lists as among the reasons that he’s gay. “It’s tangential, but to be in a place where all people — I was...

On the Fox show “Glee,” the teenagers Kurt (Chris Colfer) and Blaine (Darren Criss) are an adorable young couple who aren’t drenched in shame, being beat up or suffering from a disease. Best of all, they sing to each other. Besides the positive nature of their portrayal, a touching part of this pair is that they’re members of the high school glee club.  Choirs – at school and church – were for...

Lou Harrison Scenes from Cavafy: Music for Gamelan (New World) I was lucky enough to spend some time with Lou Harrison in the year or two leading up to the premiere of “Rhythms with Silver,” the score he wrote for Mark Morris. Two of the gayest artists I’ve ever known, they had a natural affinity. Though he’s one of the most musically smart and sensitive choreographers out there, Morris seldom commissions new scores...

Nico Muhly “A Good Understanding,” Los Angeles Master Chorale, Grant Gershon conductor (Decca) “I Drink The Air Before Me” (Decca/Bedroom Community) New music’s Boy Wonder Nico Muhly. It’s not enough that he landed a commission from the Metropolitan Opera while still in his 20s (Two Boys, premieres in London in June at the English National Opera and shows up in New York in the 2013-14 season), but now he’s...

It’s about love and sentiments across distances. It was filmed on cell phones and webcams while the San Francisco-based Chanticleer was on tour.  The music are lyrics are by Erika Lloyd, arrangement  by Vince Peterson. For beautiful voices and beautiful men, we give thanks.

Where would church music be without the centuries of contributions from gay men? Actually where would the church itself be, including the priesthood… but that’s another discussion. Virgil Thomson wrote his share of sacred music and a big batch of it is included in the new collection “Heaven is Music,” (Albany Records).  The performances by the Gregg Smith Singers are from throughout the choir’s long history, presumably...