Mass

Definition

a choral composition performed at Catholic liturgical service

it is originated in the medieval period and persists till the present day

the texts are sung primarily in Latin (sometimes Greek)

the ordinary mass consists of five main sections:

Kyrie 垂憐經	Kyrie, eleison. Christe eleison. (God, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.)
Gloria 光榮頌	Glória in excélsis Deo (Glory to God in the highest)
Credo 信經	Credo in unum Deum, Patrem omnipotentem (I believe in one God, the Father Almighty)
Sanctus 聖哉經	Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth. (Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of hosts)
Agnus Dei 羔羊頌	Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. (Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.)

Special types of mass

Passion 受難曲

a mass that tells the story of Jesus’s crucifixion

performed in church on Good Friday

Notable works: J. S. Bach’s St. John Passion (1724) and St. Matthew Passion (1727)

Requiem 安魂彌撒曲

a mass to bring peace to a deceased person during a funeral service

 

---

Listening

Johann Sebastian Bach, Mass in B minor, BWV 232 (1733–1749)

In 1733 Bach composed the “Kyrie” and “Gloria” as a Lutheran mass. The other movements, including the “Credo”, “Sanctus” and “Agnus Dei”, were probably written towards the end of Bach’s life, compiling these movements to make up a complete Roman Catholic mass. As a typical Catholic mass, the texts in every movement are in Latin.

Instrumentation: 3 trumpets, 2 flutes, 2 oboes (oboe d’amore), 2 bassoons, a string orchestra, basso continuo, and a five-part choir.

Bach includes diverse musical styles within this works, probably intending to showcase his compositional prowess and to express his religious faith in the most elaborate manner.

 

Kyrie

Kyrie eleison

0:00  A slow introduction called the Exordium