Mass of God’s People by Erica Marshall

This is one of two masses by Erica Marshall published by Willow and available for sale at As One Voice.  They describe it thusly:

This Mass is easy to learn and will be enjoyed by both student and parish assemblies. It is a new setting arranged for keyboard and assembly. The style is simple, without much syncopation and set in a comfortable melodic range. The chant-like Lord, Have Mercy is easily introduced by a Cantor. The Glory to God runs straight through with no Refrain. The Gospel Acclamations may be adapted in length to allow for a Gospel procession and, while a simple verse is given, assemblies are encouraged to use the verse of the day on the simple tone provided. The Holy, Holy, Holy and the three Memorial Acclamations are linked musically as are the Lamb of God and Lord, Have Mercy so making the ‘set’ complete.

You should listen to the snippets of the mass available here, which demonstrate with vocal and piano a simple mass that is perfect for parishes with few resources. When it says little syncopation above, read none, and so for music groups who cannot do syncopation this will be perfect.

I’ll post backings for the parts of the mass we use, so no Kyrie nor Our Father I’m afraid. The words are not altered at all from the set text so I won’t post the words.

I’m not sure how popular Erica’s mass will be.  She is known for the songs she has published in AOV collections.  The mass is efficient and singable and perhaps a little more memorable than Paul Taylor’s Mass of St Francis. It is certainly worth consideration and since the music of each mass at Willow is so inexpensive it would be worth your church, as ours has done, buying a few on spec and getting your musicians to see what they think. Parishes outside Australia might do well to think outside the square (ie GIA, OCP, WLP) and try the masses available to buy at As One Voice.

My questionable effort to rock up all the masses was just not feasible here. I couldn’t find a satifactory fudge for the 6/8 Gloria and Gospel Acclamation in Band in a Box and the whole thing went a bit country. This is nothing like what appears to be her intention but the backings are mainly just to learn the songs in any case.

 

 

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