Musica Sacra is one of New York city's major professional choral ensembles. It was founded in 1968 by Richard Westenburg. It was originally a ministry of the Central Presbyterian Church on Park Avenue, New York. However, since then it has evolved into a professional chorus with orchestra. It has a repertoire that is unlimited as to period, ranging from medieval to the latest contemporary music, though it especially mentions its championing of contemporary music. It lists among its premieres works by Charles Ives, David Diamond, Aram Khachaturian, Ned Rorem, Benjamin Britten, Dave Brubeck, LaVahn Maesch, and Alan Hovhaness. For RCA records and other BMG labels he has recorded Handel's Messiah, Songs and Romances by Brahms, and Songs and Psalms of the Divine, recorded in the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine. For BMG's Catalyst label, it has produced a contemporary album called "Of Eternal Light," with music by Messiaen, Meredith Monk, Ricky Ian Gordon, Kim Sherman, Robert Moran, and the "Lux Aeterna" by George Ligeti a composition famous for its inclusion in the soundtrack of the film 2001, a Space Odyssey.
