Mass of the Children

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The Mass of the Children is a composition by the English composer John Rutter , composed in 2002 and 2003 and premiered in February 2003 at New York's Carnegie Hall . In Germany the work was performed for the first time on October 3, 2004 by the choir and children's choir of St. Bonifatius Wiesbaden under the direction of Gabriel Dessauer .

The text includes the Latin ordinarium without the creed , a form of measurement that is also known as the Missa brevis in the Anglican world . However, the composer added several poetic texts in English. The first and last texts are taken from Bishop Thomas Ken's famous morning and evening songs for the scholars of Winchester College . These give the Mass of the Children the framework of a daily routine, from waking up to falling asleep, between which further texts by William Blake and Lancelot Andrewes appear, such as the events of a day or turning points in a life.

This composition by Rutter shows all the strengths of his works: text and music go together in an ideal way, and classical compositional techniques are combined with popular harmony. Both melody and harmony in the Kyrie seem to take you into the world of musicals, and the catchy rhythm in the Gloria is reminiscent of South American dances. Other predominantly homophonic choral movements with cautiously inserted fugal insertions and solo parts give the work a special color and a contemplative character. In Dona nobis pacem , Rutter quotes the song Glory, to thee, my god, this night by Thomas Tallis .

Recordings

  • "Mass of the Children", The Cambridge Singers and the City of London Sinfonia , Conductor: John Rutter, 2003, Collegium Records COLCD 129
  • "Mass of the Children", Limburger Domsingknaben , 2005, Production Dabringhaus and Grimm No. 7-60623-13702-5
  • "Mass of the Children", Choir of Clare College Cambridge, Farnham Youth Choir, Clare Chamber Ensemble, Timothy Brown, 2006, Naxos CD 8.557922

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