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- Lennox Berkeley
Missa Brevis (1960)
- Chester Music Ltd (World)
Dedicated to Michael and Julian Berkeley and the boys of Westminster Cathedral Choir
- organ
- also available in version for Anglican service
- SATB
- 11 min
Programme Note
This work was written in 1960 and first performed in that year by Westminster Cathedral Choir under Francis Cameron.
As with many other 20th century works with this title, Missa Brevis here implies no more than a Mass of modest proportions with organ accompaniment. The vocal scoring, for instance, never expands beyond four-part. This simplicity of texture, however, combined with the conservative dimensions belies a consummate musical technique and affinity with the text. The style is based upon imitative polyphony which serves both to give the work a generally contemplative nature and also to highlight the more assertive homophonic passages. Of special interest is the Sanctus which, particularly at ‘Pleni sunt coeli’, employs the rather more dissonant, fourth-dominated harmony with which Berkeley was experimenting at the time.
© James Rushton, 1982
As with many other 20th century works with this title, Missa Brevis here implies no more than a Mass of modest proportions with organ accompaniment. The vocal scoring, for instance, never expands beyond four-part. This simplicity of texture, however, combined with the conservative dimensions belies a consummate musical technique and affinity with the text. The style is based upon imitative polyphony which serves both to give the work a generally contemplative nature and also to highlight the more assertive homophonic passages. Of special interest is the Sanctus which, particularly at ‘Pleni sunt coeli’, employs the rather more dissonant, fourth-dominated harmony with which Berkeley was experimenting at the time.
© James Rushton, 1982
Media
Missa brevis, Op. 57: Gloria
Missa brevis, Op. 57: Kyrie
Missa brevis, Op. 57: Sanctus
Missa brevis, Op. 57: Benedictus
Missa brevis, Op. 57: Agnus Dei
Discography
- LabelPriory
- Catalogue NumberPRCD 385
- ConductorC Brayne
- EnsembleBristol Cathedral Choir
- LabelAbbey
- Catalogue NumberCDCA 592
- ConductorC Matthews
- EnsembleWarwick St Mary's Collegiate Church Choir
- SoloistS Lole
- LabelAbbey
- Catalogue NumberCACA 592
- ConductorC Matthews
- EnsembleWarwick St Mary's Collegiate Church Choir
- SoloistS Lole
- LabelNaxos
- Catalogue Number8.557277
- ConductorChristopher Robinson
- EnsembleChoir of St John's College, Cambridge
- SoloistJonathan Vaughn, organ
- LabelPriory
- Catalogue NumberPRED 003
- ConductorStephen Darlington
- EnsembleChoir of St Alban's Abbey
- LabelMeridian
- Catalogue NumberCDE 84216
- ConductorTim Brown
- EnsembleChoir of Clare College Cambridge
