Missa Brevis Minor Mode

This work is an English-language Mass setting, including Lord Have Mercy (Greek and English versions), Holy Holy Holy, and Lamb of God, with a supplement of Mystery of Faith acclamations and Amens. I composed this Mass for the Church of the Nativity in Menlo Park, California, and dedicated it to music director Jill Mueller and the parish choir, in response to the 2011 Roman Missal translation.

I set the work in D minor throughout, and omitted the Glory to God, giving it a restrained, penitential character. The idiom is warm and tonal, grateful to sing, and scaled for a working parish choir with organ. This Mass is suitable for Advent, Lent, and other penitential seasons. For Ordinary Time and feast days, I refer you to my Opus 31, Missa Pro Menlo, in this catalog.

This setting gives congregation and choir distinct but interlocking roles. In the Lord Have Mercy, a singable congregational refrain anchors the movement while the choir develops the material around it. The Holy Holy Holy and Lamb of God are set for choir.

The audio sample is the complete Kyrie Eleison. Here are the texts:

Kyrie Eleison

Kyrie eleison.
Christe eleison.
Kyrie eleison.

Lord Have Mercy

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Holy Holy Holy

Holy, holy, holy Lord God of hosts.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

Lamb of God

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace.

Mystery of Faith

(A): We proclaim your death, O Lord, and profess your resurrection until you come again.
(B): When we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim your death, O Lord, until you come again.
(C): Save us, Savior of the world, for by your cross and resurrection, you have set us free.

Opus 32 | SATB with organ | English | 5:15
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