Suggestions welcome: Classical Mass settings or Vespers
  • melofluentmelofluent
    Posts: 4,160
    We will have the opportunity to perform a major choral/orchestral work that is underwritten by a benefactor. We've done Requiem (Mozart), Gloria (Vivaldi), Magnificat (Bach) and the Faure and Rutter Requiems in the past.
    Suggestions and advice invited, thanks.
    We're hoping for a June concert as time is concern.
  • Andrew Motyka
    Posts: 946
    I don't know about your choir's ability, but the Schubert Mass in G is very approachable.
  • Adam WoodAdam Wood
    Posts: 6,482

    African Sanctus

    /thread
    Thanked by 2Andrew Motyka gregp
  • R J StoveR J Stove
    Posts: 302
    Here's a Michael Haydn Mass setting I don't recall ever hearing of (much less hearing) before: would it be of interest? Except for the occasional soprano top-A which could be problematic, it doesn't look overwhelmingly difficult in vocal terms:

    http://sausage.whatbox.ca:15263/imglnks/usimg/3/3a/IMSLP149734-WIMA.1dbe-Missa-Sancti-Gabrielis_Partitur_2.pdf
    Thanked by 1SamuelDorlaque
  • noel jones, aagonoel jones, aago
    Posts: 6,611
    Berliner Messe Arvo Part

    Thanked by 1Chris Hebard
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,193
    Maurice Duruflé - Requiem, op. 9

    Thanked by 4gregp Spriggo BrophyBoy Chris Hebard
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,193
    Anton Bruckner - Mass No. 2 in E minor
  • CGM
    Posts: 699
    I love the Vaughan Williams Mass in G-minor. It's a cappella, though, so maybe not the best use of your benefactor's money - unless you want to hire ringers to beef up your choir.
  • Blaise
    Posts: 439
    If you had more time, I would suggest commissioning a work--but then I noticed your June deadline.

    I endorse the Durufle Requiem in that case.
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,193
    I was on the verge of suggesting the Vaughan-Williams Mass in G minor paired with his Five Mystical Songs and Festival Te Deum (all of which I have sung in the past).
  • gregpgregp
    Posts: 632
    Stravinsky's Symphony of Psalms.
    Thanked by 1BrophyBoy
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,193
    I haven't sung the Symphony of Psalms, but I played 5th flute and piccolo in a performance at the University of Wisconsin conducted by Robert Shaw. :)

    Anton Bruckner also composed a very good Requiem in D minor, as well as some Psalm settings. The Bruckner Te Deum is a late work, probably far too large in scale.
  • MaryAnn Carr WilsonMaryAnn Carr Wilson
    Posts: 1,738
    Charpentier Te Deum
    Groovy
    Thanked by 1SamuelDorlaque
  • JulieCollJulieColl
    Posts: 2,465
    Bach's Mass in B minor.
    Thanked by 1Chris Hebard
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,193
    The scale of the B minor Mass is rather huge and takes lots of preparation as well as vocal resources.
  • JulieCollJulieColl
    Posts: 2,465
    Maybe just the Kyrie and Gloria then? I just can't resist putting in a plug for my favorite Mass which has been described as "The Greatest Musical Work of All Times and All People." Have you ever been in a performance of it, Charles, by any chance? That must be quite an experience.
  • Spriggo
    Posts: 122
    Bernstein's Chichester Psalms

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8gKSqVAXrg
    Thanked by 1BruceL
  • kevinfkevinf
    Posts: 1,191
    Morten Lauridsen's Lux Aeterna is lovely and useful beyond a concert performance. Two of the movements can serve as pieces at Mass. I love his writing even though some say he has wrung everything out of a major second that could be.
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,193
    Julie, I have indeed been in a performance of the Bach H-moll Messe ... it was the experience of a lifetime. It's also a splendid work to hear performed.

    If one is contemplating just parts of a major work, there are always parts II and III of Handel's "Messiah" that make for good program in springtime.

    I hesitate to suggest "Protestant" works, but the German Requiem of Brahms is a fantastic work. So also are any of several Bach Cantatas, in particular "Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis" BWV 21 ... the trio "Seufzer Tränen" for soprano, oboe, and cello is especially moving.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ln9MBa8lXV4&feature=kp

    Thanked by 1JulieColl
  • MaryAnn Carr WilsonMaryAnn Carr Wilson
    Posts: 1,738
    What do you think of my suggestion, Charles?
    French baroque is so.... well... mellifluous, and there's some good stuff for soprano.
    Thanked by 2SamuelDorlaque CHGiffen
  • SamuelDorlaque
    Posts: 318
    Charles, I would second the Charpentier TE DEUM and the Michael Haydn "Missa Sancti Gabrielis." Purcell's TE DEUM or Handel's Dettingen TE DEUM or Vivaldi's "Magnificat" might be other realistic choral/orchestral possibilities. It sounds like an exciting opportunity.
    Thanked by 1R J Stove
  • MarkThompson
    Posts: 768
    Nobody has yet mentioned Mozart's Coronation Mass (seen here used in a live Mass at St. Peter's with JPII), which is well-liked and very approachable.
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,414
    One set of pieces that is much under-done is Handel's Chandos Anthems. One or more of these would be a genuine treat. (Especially, Let God Arise.)
    Also, I would second Vaughan Williams' g-minor mass. Rarely done here, and full worthy of greater popular renown.
    Aso, I would second the Symphonie des psaumes
    Also, I would second Charpentier's Te Deum (with period French Latin accent!
    And, dont forget several very grand poly-choral anthems by Schutz, et al.
    Thanked by 2CHGiffen BruceL
  • R J StoveR J Stove
    Posts: 302
    Duruflé's output is still in copyright, so his Requiem - like the Stravinsky Psalms - could well be a very expensive proposition for a one-off occasion.
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,193
    One would hope that having the concert underwritten by a major benefactor would make the rental of orchestral parts (and purchase or rental of vocal scores) feasible for a work still under copyright.
  • SalieriSalieri
    Posts: 3,177
    Joseph Haydn's Masses are wonderful, especially the Harmoniemesse, the Heiligemesse, and the Lord Nelson Mass.

    Speaking of poly-choral music, many great works out there by the composers of San Marco - the Gabrielis and Monteverdi

    Handel's Carmelite Vespers is good, too.
    Thanked by 3CHGiffen R J Stove barreltone
  • melofluentmelofluent
    Posts: 4,160
    I had thought of a personal fave, Vespers of the Vigil of S.John Baptist Nativity, Claude GreenMountain. But, I don't know if early Baroque has pull of the classical era.
    I'm thinking of Lord Nelson, Coronation or M's Solemn Vespers.
    I sung the Stravinksi's, Chichester here with local symphony, and Psalms under Ozawa when in SF. I LOVE the latter, but again, what appeal for CenCA.?
    Please keep ideas coming, friends.
  • CGM
    Posts: 699
    How "major" is "major" ? The Britten War Requiem is another major, and astounding, work. (And majorly challenging.)
  • Liam
    Posts: 5,093
    I suspect that, unless the major warhorses are already in your repertoire, that you need to scale back a bit for June concert at this point.

    My suggestion: one of the major Haydn Masses. The Harmoniemesse, which was Haydn's last Mass setting (1802), is less performed in the US than Missa in Angustiis ("Nelson Mass" (1798) or Missa in tempore belli ("Paukenmesse") (1796), but you should check the compass of the parts to see which matches your choristers best, and also the orchestration to see what best matches available resources.

    Mozart and Bach are overtrod ground in the American sacred music concert repertoire (and I *adore* Bach), though it's nice to be able to have a choir have the Major Warhorses undere its belt (spending much time on Bach will fix many other problems with a choir; just like Palestrina, interestingly, whose work seems to have a magical effect on improving pitch, like a tune-up). Haydn much less so, treated unjustly as filler. Haydn is one of the rare composers who never wears out your welcome. The Apostle of Humane Sanity.
    Thanked by 1melofluent
  • melofluentmelofluent
    Posts: 4,160
    Yes, very well aware of the time element, Liam, and there is a time window factor that is in play here, so the Haydn's J/M are very much on the radar. thanks.
    Out of curiosity, if you were to do the Mozart Solemn Vespers, what piece(s) would you program as another course, Liam et al?
  • ronkrisman
    Posts: 1,394
    Finding something calling for similar orchestral forces may be difficult. Gian Carlo Menotti's Missa "O Pulchritudo" (about 35 minutes) would make a delicious pairing with the Mozart, but it requires woodwinds as well as strings.
    Thanked by 1melofluent
  • melofluentmelofluent
    Posts: 4,160
    Oh, I love Menotti (Old Maid and the Thief, got to be "Thief") and was Baltazhar in Amahl.
    Thanks, Padre, will check that out!
  • MaryAnn Carr WilsonMaryAnn Carr Wilson
    Posts: 1,738
    I hope you'll let us know of any winner(s).
    Congrats on such a fun opportunity!
  • Liam
    Posts: 5,093
    I am thinking Magnificats.... I don't know offhand if there are any orchestrated versions(there are versions with continuo) of Schutz's final Magnificat, but it's a lovely piece for double choir, about 8 minutes long. (German, of course. Tremendous fun. The choirs get to do battle with God's strong arm. It's something of a meeting of Venetian and Germanic baroque traditions.)

    http://conquest.imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/e/e8/IMSLP54274-PMLP112234-Schuetz__Heinrich_-_Deutsches_Magnificat_SWV_494.pdf

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKA5zIx5KK8
  • BruceL
    Posts: 1,072
    What about Bach Magnificat? Lots of solos, so you could do it (with your orchestra) and then add a few smaller choral or instrumental pieces for variety.
  • melofluentmelofluent
    Posts: 4,160
    Did it two years ago, BruceL, thanks.
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,193
    A few years ago, we did Haydn's Theresienmesse (Mass in B-flat), Hob. XXII:12 and it was a resounding success. It's really an extraordinary work, with Papa Haydn at the height of his compositional powers.

    By comparison, the Missa in augustiis and Missa in tempore belli are probably overworked (with catchy nicknames, Nelson and Paukenmesse) and, depending upon your point of view, not quite in the same league as the Theresienmesse.

    There are fewer winds than usual (as in the original Nelson mass), just two clarinets and two trumpets, along with strings, tympani, and organ. Haydn uses these forces with great dexterity.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwMFKIU8QQk

    Thanked by 1Liam
  • Liam
    Posts: 5,093
    Ah, the Theresienmesse. I had neglected that chestnut, never having heard it live, just on recordings and it's been a long time since.
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,193
    Liam, the Deutsches Magnificat is really an a cappella double choir work, although performance practice of that (and other times) would often include a bass continuo playing the lowest part, usually for intonation and preserving pitch.

    Probably too large a scale work is Schuetz's Magnificat anima mea SWV 468, nominally a triple choir work with instruments, but the only real work is for the Favoritchor, while the Choir 1 and Choir 2 have more of an accompaniment role, and the score indicates that some of these parts might be played by instruments. This was not uncommon (also with Hassler and Gabrielli). In Choir 1, one might only use Soprano and Bass voices, with the Alto and Tenor assigned to instruments ... and in Choir 2 might have Alto and Tenor voices, with the Soprano and Bass assigned to instruments. Additionally, there are Violin I, II, Trombone I, II, III, Violone (cello &/or double bass), and continuo parts in the accompanying orchestra. The possibilities for using some instruments in the Choir 1 and 2 are almost endless and may be tailored to fit the available resources.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJCFGKS4PWI

    Thanked by 1JulieColl
  • Simon
    Posts: 158
    A vesper of renaissance settings of psalms and Magnificat? Make your own selection from various composers or use the (maybe too familiar) Monteverdi?
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