Missa de Angelis: Sanctus (SATB Harmonization)
  • AdteBeateJoseph3
    Posts: 90
    Pax!

    I worked on a little project of mine that I had been thinking about for a long time. I harmonized the Sanctus of the Missa de Angelis for SATB choir. I would love to hear your feedback and opinions about it and hope it may be of use.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qS6uasjrMHE

    https://emmanuelmusicasacra.com/b/mdasanctussatbharmonization
    Thanked by 2CHGiffen m_r_taylor
  • ContinuousbassContinuousbass
    Posts: 398
    It’s great. Tell the tenors to hush a little. J/k.
    Thanked by 1AdteBeateJoseph3
  • AdteBeateJoseph3
    Posts: 90
    Thank you! Praise God. Yes, they’re stealing the thunder from the basses ;)
  • m_r_taylor
    Posts: 384
    Very nice! I'm conflicted about the notation; while modern noteheads without stems work fine for single voice chant, I think they run the risk of confusing some singers, giving the music director more explaining to do to keep it together. Most of it will be easy with homophonic movement, but I foresee a difficulty in the "Sabaoth" section, which features stemless notes with ties, independent moving lines, and three different kinds of notehead, precisely what modern notation is good at being clear about.

    It will not look as pretty and uncluttered - but I think I'd prefer, as a director, modern notation with stems.
    Thanked by 1AdteBeateJoseph3
  • AdteBeateJoseph3
    Posts: 90
    Thank you for the feedback! It makes sense now for me to put stems since in chant notation you don’t have whole notes. I went back into Musescore and adding the stems just made the rhythms more clear.
  • GerardH
    Posts: 692
    Agreed with the above. Check out Durufle's approach to plainchant in modern notation as used in his Messe 'cum Jubilo' as an example which still communicates grouping of notes in the Solesmes style.
    Thanked by 2AdteBeateJoseph3 CHGiffen
  • AdteBeateJoseph3
    Posts: 90
    I've replaced the original score now with stemmed notes for those interested. Henceforth, the other movements shall be stemmed!
  • probe
    Posts: 202
    That's nice, but will nobody think of the altos ;)?

    Perhaps swap some melody about : 3 and/or 4 to tenors, 5 ad/or 6 to altos. See the Durufle Requiem for ideas. Maybe try 6 with more unison to emphasise the hosanna?

    Thank you @adtebeatejoseph3!
  • AdteBeateJoseph3
    Posts: 90
    I gave the altos special predilection for a few phrases :)
    Good ideas! My main inspiration was the way I play the Missa de Angelis on the organ. I don’t use any accompaniment so I am always improvising but using more or less the same harmonic structure.
    Thanked by 1probe
  • SponsaChristi
    Posts: 783
    That's nice, but will nobody think of the altos ;)

    The altos have more than six different notes. It’s not like it’s all F’s with the odd E thrown in for good measure. Don’t hoard all the notes.
    Thanked by 1probe
  • probe
    Posts: 202
    My (alto) wife once commented that one of my exercise pieces had a not very interesting alto line. My composition teacher rather unsympathetically said "Well, that's what the altos signed up for!" :-D
Add a Comment