Missa IV Inquiry
  • toddevoss
    Posts: 162
    This mass setting seems to me to be relatively remarkable compared to the 17 other mass settings for reasons I can’t articulate. I do not have any education in music theory and can only read music. The only articulation I can manage is it seems to possess a remarkable unity in addition to its beauty. So my questions for this expert group are:
    1 Is this only my subjective experience and is there nothing objectively remarkable about it?
    2 If there is something objectively remarkable can you explain it as best you can to someone of my lack of musical education?
    3 In any case, does anyone know the provenance of this mass setting (time, place, etc.) – i.e. Its history.

  • chonakchonak
    Posts: 9,160
    CMAA President Bill Mahrt wrote a piece about the Kyrie of Mass IV in our journal in 2011:
    https://media.musicasacra.com/publications/sacredmusic/pdf/sm138-2.pdf

    Here a composer comments on the trope and provides a recording:
    http://toddtarantino.com/hum/kyriecunctipotens.html
    Thanked by 3sdtalley3 toddevoss BruceL
  • Andris Amolins
    Posts: 152
    I have noticed that the incipit of Gloria IV is 2nd most likely (after Gloria VIII) to be known to an average priest, so that he can sing it.
    Thanked by 2madorganist toddevoss
  • madorganist
    Posts: 906
    I have noticed that the incipit of Gloria IV is 2nd most likely (after Gloria VIII) to be known to an average priest, so that he can sing it.
    I asked about this in a previous thread (sorry, I don't have the link handy) and someone pointed out that the incipit was one of only several in the Medicean editions. I've found that it works well as an intonation for chant or polyphony in practically any mode or key.
    Thanked by 3Andris Amolins toddevoss Joseph Michael
  • davido
    Posts: 874
    The typical Anglican “Glory be to God on high” intonation is also related to the Gloria IV intonation.
    Thanked by 2madorganist toddevoss
  • mahrt
    Posts: 517
    I surveyed the frequency of Mass Ordinary compositions in the tradition of manuscripts (as seen in the indexes of the students of Bruno Stäblein) and Mass IV was by far the most frequent.
    Thanked by 4GerardH CHGiffen MatthewRoth toddevoss
  • toddevoss
    Posts: 162
    Thanks all.
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