Mass for Notre-Dame (2025)

Three years ago, well before the celebrated re-opening of Notre-Dame Cathedral, I was invited to write music for the Cathedral's choir school, La Maîtrise Notre-Dame de Paris. It was a substantial request; a setting of the entire Mass, plus the two Motets (a liturgical psalm and a communion hymn) which also form part of a Catholic service.

The setting is for upper voices (mostly in two parts, occasionally three) and organ. The motets, one in English and one in French, are God be Gracious (Psalm 66[67]) and Éternel est Son Amour! (Psalm 135[136]).

Although all this new music will receive its world premiere in a concert performance in Notre-Dame on April 14th, I entirely envisaged it while composing as music for worship, for use in a church service. As a result the settings are generally contemplative, lyrical and unhurried. The organ music also has a chamber character, gently amplifying the choral sound, with an occasional prominent solo; which is my attempt at a "typically French" manner of choral accompaniment.

Judith Weir
March 2026