Mass settings in English

Handfield · Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 12:00 am Post subject: Mass settings in English

Which communion settings or masses in English does your parish use? Which do you think are the best?

We mostly sing Latin masses but occasionally do Howells' Coll Reg , Darke in F or Stanford in B-flat. Our DoM adapted the latter for the modern rite, though I gather the composer added his own Benedictus & Agnus Dei in 1910.

I would love to do the beautiful Baroque verse service by Pelham Humfrey, but alas it is BCP (responses to the commandments, Creed, Sanctus, Gloria). Sigh.

lancecornea · Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 5:15 am Post subject:

Your's isn't what one would call your average parish church. Around the metropolitan parishes, there's a lot more "congregational" settings to fit in with AAPB, and I suppose the most popular of these would be Michael Dudman's service, or another one is Mass Shalom.
For a good parish choir these are deadly dull unison settings.
As far as "cathedral" style settings go, Ireland in C, Darke in F, and Howells Coll. Reg. are my favorites, but there are plenty of good contemporary settings. I'm sure Jason Evans or Tom ("stocky") can give you some worthwhile examples.

Lance

Handfield · Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2006 11:37 pm Post subject:

Thanks for that, Lance. I know Dudman well - we use it for our 9:30am mass. I must check out the Ireland some time. Do you know if it's still in print?

Everyone else - this thread has been viewed 50 times and just one reply! Come one, share your thoughts.

lancecornea · Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 12:41 am Post subject:

Yes Ireland in C is still available, published by Novello.
I'm sure Simon Colvin at Fine Music in McKillop St. Melbourne can help you.
Cheers
Lance

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wickedchorister · Joined: 27 Jun 2006 Posts: 175 Location: Britain

What about Jackson in G? Darke in E?
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Handfield · Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 5:03 am Post subject:

Hmm, I know of both of those, but haven't heard either. Can anyone tell more about Jackson in G?

stocky · Joined: 10 Mar 2006 Posts: 317 Location: Truro

Hi Handfield!!

Now, being an ex-cathedral boy myself, i could go on for hours about mass settings etc! Im not sure what standard your choir is but there are some very hard mass settings out there! but have a look at:

Hassler mass for 8 voices
any of the Palestrina/Byrd (although some tend to be quite difficult)
Berkley - missa brevis

to be honest, the list is endless! i could go on for ages, but for a very easy, quite effective setting, my dads choir does Thorne(?) i think.... Darke in E creeps in now and again and the Jackson is always nice.

If you are wanting hardcore masses:

Langlais - Messe Sollenelle
Widor
Mozart coronation
etc....

im sure you get the idea!
hope that was kinda helpful!

cheers, Tom