I thought this would be an interesting topic, given how so many composers have set the Order of Mass to music over the centuries.
Do you have a favourite part of the text, generally speaking? What parts of the Order of Mass (below) do you think have been successfully set by composers? Give examples and discuss as you wish.
1. Kyrie eleison ("Lord, have mercy")
2. Gloria ("Glory to God in the highest")
3. Credo ("I believe in one God"), the Nicene Creed
4. Sanctus ("Holy, Holy, Holy"), the second part of which, beginning with the word "Benedictus" ("Blessed is he"), was often sung separately after the consecration, if the setting was long.
5. Agnus Dei ("Lamb of God")
Speaking of myself, I do tend to like the Gloria as set by various composers. Some I can think of are by Mozart in his Great Mass in C, Ariel Ramirez in his Misa Criolla and also Poulenc's and Vivaldi's settings of it in their stand alone Glorias.
I also like creative settings of the texts, even when the feel of the music goes against the text a fair bit. An example is the Agnus Dei in Puccini's early Messa di Gloria, which speaks less to the traditionally obligatory angst and more to a kind of earthy joy.
I must admit that at times I struggle with how composers set the Credo, but its less their fault and more an issue with the text being so long. What I do like about this part is when the resurrection is mentioned. A cliche used by many composers with this bit is in effect to suddenly turn up the light. You get out of the darkness, or at least the more churchy vibe for a moment. One example I like of this kind happens in Frank Martin's Mass for Double Choir. Martin creates such a magical moment here, out of the barest musical elements - its all in the voices, no accompaniment. Amazing stuff.
What about you? Feel free to say what you think about this topic!
Do you have a favourite part of the text, generally speaking? What parts of the Order of Mass (below) do you think have been successfully set by composers? Give examples and discuss as you wish.
1. Kyrie eleison ("Lord, have mercy")
2. Gloria ("Glory to God in the highest")
3. Credo ("I believe in one God"), the Nicene Creed
4. Sanctus ("Holy, Holy, Holy"), the second part of which, beginning with the word "Benedictus" ("Blessed is he"), was often sung separately after the consecration, if the setting was long.
5. Agnus Dei ("Lamb of God")
Speaking of myself, I do tend to like the Gloria as set by various composers. Some I can think of are by Mozart in his Great Mass in C, Ariel Ramirez in his Misa Criolla and also Poulenc's and Vivaldi's settings of it in their stand alone Glorias.
I also like creative settings of the texts, even when the feel of the music goes against the text a fair bit. An example is the Agnus Dei in Puccini's early Messa di Gloria, which speaks less to the traditionally obligatory angst and more to a kind of earthy joy.
I must admit that at times I struggle with how composers set the Credo, but its less their fault and more an issue with the text being so long. What I do like about this part is when the resurrection is mentioned. A cliche used by many composers with this bit is in effect to suddenly turn up the light. You get out of the darkness, or at least the more churchy vibe for a moment. One example I like of this kind happens in Frank Martin's Mass for Double Choir. Martin creates such a magical moment here, out of the barest musical elements - its all in the voices, no accompaniment. Amazing stuff.
What about you? Feel free to say what you think about this topic!