Product Description
Mass of Divinity
The Mass of Divinity as delivered, consists of organ accompaniment with melody and SATB vocal parts for the Penitential Act, Gloria, Gospel Acclamation, and the Liturgy of the Eucharist, including Memorial Acclamations for cycles A, B, and C, Great Amen, and Lamb of God.
The Mass of Divinity is a setting written with easy-to-sing melodies for the congregation and interesting, non-complicated harmonies for the choir. The simplicity of the organ part provides solid accompaniment and allows embellishment by accomplished organists. All parts of the Mass are through-composed to be sung by the congregation along with the choir. Supporting parts for
C-instruments will be provided, if requested.
The Penitential Act has the choir and congregants echoing the Presider on the Lord, Have Mercy/Christ Have Mercy sections. The organ part consists of simple chords with quarter and eighth note phrases to keep continuity of rhythm throughout. For those Presiders who don't generally sing, the organ plays the note for the Presider to start singing on, as part of a simple introduction to the piece. Starting at May almighty God..., the choir supports the Presider with beautiful background vocals to the end.
The Glory to God is broken into 3 sections, as is commonly done, with an excursion to the relative minor in the middle section. The seemingly wrong voicing for the A-minor key is intentional, having the bass move up a half-step to subtly change the chord. The ending Amen can optionally be sung a capella by strong choirs.
The Gospel Acclamation inspires the congregants to stand up and sing Alleluia to the Glory of God to prepare for hearing the word of the Lord. There are three separate verses, one for each cycle of the church year, A, B, C.
The Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy) is kept short without extra phrases. Rich SATB harmonies provide a full sound.
There are three Memorial Acclamations, one for each cycle of the church year, A, B, C. The Presider may sing the short intro, which leads into the rest of the acclamation. The key of F-minor is kept throughout. Resist the urge to use the Picardy third in these. That has been saved for the Amen and the Lamb of God.
The Amen has a written vocal, starting with Through Him, and with Him..., for Presiders comfortable with singing. The section has a simple melody, accompanied by sparse chords and rhythms to keep continuity. If the Presider does not sing, the organ intro starts at measure 19. The Amen is to be sung loud (FF) to finish the Eucharist on a high note. It ends with the Picardy third, adding a restful consonance on the word Amen.
The Lamb of God has a vocal part for the Presider and, similar to the Penitential Act, the organ part consists of simple chords to keep continuity of rhythm throughout. Given that the piece is basically the same clause repeated 3 times, for variety the second time uses different harmonies. The ending uses the Picardy third for a peaceful sound on the Peace.
This product was created by a member of ArrangeMe, Hal Leonard's global self-publishing community of independent composers, arrangers, and songwriters. ArrangeMe allows for the publication of unique arrangements of both popular titles and original compositions from a wide variety of voices and backgrounds.