Hi everyone,

I'm back with another rep question!

I've been cycling through the same Mass settings for a little while (Victoria's Missa O Quam Gloriosum, Missa Ascendens Christus in Altum, and Missa O Magnum Mysterium) and am looking for more options. I generally work in small groups (between quartet to octet) with professionals in a pick-up setting, so typically not more than one 2-hour rehearsal before we go. I provide music ahead of time, a minimum of a week but longer if possible, and I do have the option of scheduling an additional separate rehearsal, but it can be difficult to balance everyone's schedules (plus the commute! which in the LA area is terrible no matter what) so I try to keep it lean.

We most recently did Palestrina's Missa Papae Marcelli for Assumption, in combination with his Surge Propera from Canticum Canticorum and Victoria's Vide Speciosam, and found that we had to cut the Credo and use a chant one instead because of time (which I had anticipated might happen). On the bright side, it's pretty easily readable which is nice, but the problem was more the sheer length rather than difficulty which led to us running out of rehearsal time, I think. Despite cutting the Credo, Mass ran quite a bit longer than normal--luckily, I work for priests who are more than happy to stand and listen to the beautiful music, and prioritize beauty over a strict timetable. But I'd still like to stay within a reasonable timeframe because of practical limitations with vocal fatigue and rehearsal time.

So, I'm looking for some more options of complete Mass settings (because we're typically using them for solemn high Masses) that are beautiful and interesting to sing, but also not super long. All three of the ones I mentioned above fit into that category; I've also used Lassus' Missa Venatorum as well. (I think I've also used Hassler's "Missa super Dixit Maria" but kind of found it less interesting, to be honest.) I've searched through the archives here, but I've found that most people also have the limitation of a mostly volunteer group, or only SATB--I'm open to up to SSAATTBB, though I don't typically do double choir (because I'm usually singing too and I find trying to "conduct" and sing is hard enough without introducing a double-choir element). Research elsewhere usually ends up with me running into the time issue again, because people are often thinking about concert repertoire and not doing a whole Mass setting within the context of an actual liturgy. I'd love to hear everyone's suggestions, as I've found this place to be a treasure trove of information. Thanks!