A Thanksgiving Mass – for ordinary heroes

A Thanksgiving Mass – for ordinary heroes, was written during the months of lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic and shortly afterwards. This is a short mass (missa bevis) scored for S.A.T.B. choir – a setting of the Kyrie and the Gloria, the latter in three sections as “hymns for choir” inspired by the music of the West Gallery tradition. There is an accompaniment and symphonies for instrumental musicians.
Duration: about 15 minutes

This is intended to be a joyful setting of the words of the sung mass, offered as an expression of thanksgiving. There may be prayers between each sung piece, possibly along the following lines:

Prayer 1 (between the Kyrie and the Gloria) linking God’s mercy with our desire to praise our glorious God
Prayer 2 (between the Gloria and the Domine Fili/Agnus Dei) linking our praise with our gratitude for God’s gifts – including gifts of God received through the sacrifice of others (such as those of key workers and others during the pandemic) as well as our gratitude for the gift of God’s son and his sacrifice
Prayer 3 (between Domine Fili/Agnus Dei and the Quoniam) linking the sacrifice of the Lamb of God, now with the Father, with the gift and sacrifices of those we have known and loved who have died and, we believe, are now also with the Father

lyrics : audio : score

Lyrics:

Kyrie eleison. Lord have mercy.
Christe eleison. Christ have mercy.
Kyrie eleison. Lord have mercy.

Glory to God in the highest and on earth be peace to people of goodwill.
Gloria in excelsis, in excelsis Deo! Et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis. Gloria!
Laudamus te. Benedicimus te. Adoramus te. Glorificamus te.
We praise thee, bless thee, adore thee, glorify thee.
Praise to thee for thy great glory. Thanks to thee for thy glory, Praise for thy great glory.
Gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam. Gloria!
Laudamus te. Benedicimus te. Adoramus te. Glorificamus te.
We praise thee, bless thee, adore thee, glorify thee.
Lord God, the King of Heaven, God the Father Almighty.
Domine Deus Rex caelestis, Deus Pater omnipotens. Gloria!

Domine Fili unigenete, Jesu Christe, Domine Deus.
O Lord, Lord Jesus Christ the only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Hear our prayer. Have mercy on us. Hear us. Receive our prayer.
Agnus Dei, Filius Patris, qui tollis pecata mundi, mudi.
Lamb of God, Son of the Father who takes away the sins of the world. Hear our prayer. Have mercy on us. Hear us. Receive our prayer.
Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris miserere nobis.
Thou that sittest at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. Hear our prayer. Have mercy on us. Hear us. Receive our prayer.

Quoniam tu solus Sanctus, tu solus Dominus.
For thou alone are holy. Thou only are the Lord. Amen.
Tu solus altissimus Jesu Christe.
Thou alone are most high Jesus Christ. Amen.
Cum sanctu Spiritu in gloria Dei Patris.
With the Holy Spirit in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

lyrics : audio : score : top

Audio:

Audio recording of A Thanksgiving Mass – for ordinary heroes (full work including prayers)

Disclaimer: This audio recording, and those below, are shared only to illustrate the piece – not as definitive recordings.
(The recordings were made under “Covid restrictions” using over-dubbing and transposed/pitch-shifted vocals – a “one tweaked voice” production!)

Audio recording of the Kyrie elesion:

Audio recording of the Gloria in excelsis Deo:

Audio recording of the Domine Fili, Agnus Dei:

Audio recording of the Quoniam tu solus Sanctus:

lyrics : audio : score : top

Score:

Download this score:

To download, please click HERE to open the pdf in your browser.

If you do choose to use this work, please consider making a small donation to The Friary, which is a charity in West Bridgeford, Nottingham, working locally to end homelessness. (Charity registration number: 1056825) The URL of its website is: https://the-friary.org.uk/

Its “JustGiving” page is: https://www.justgiving.com/friarydrop-in