Mass for Saint Cecilia's Day Cover Image

Mass for Saint Cecilia's Day: Vocal Score

$10.50 USD
$10.50 USD
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Mass for Saint Cecilia's Day Cover Image
Mass for Saint Cecilia's Day: Vocal Score

Mass for Saint Cecilia's Day: Vocal Score

By Lou Harrison / Edited by Nicole Paiement

Item: 98-EP67907
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Additional Details
Series: Edition Peters - Peters Contemporary Library
Publisher: Edition Peters
Page Count: 36
ISBN10: 0-300-75633-X
ISBN13: 979-0-300756-33-2
SKU: 98-EP67907

More about this title

About the Composer: Lou Harrison

Lou Harrison (1917-2003) was an American composer, percussionist, and theorist whose work bridged Western classical tradition with non-Western musical systems. He studied with Henry Cowell and Arnold Schoenberg, yet remained independent in his aesthetic, drawing inspiration from Indonesian gamelan, Japanese music, and world instrumental traditions. His output spans orchestral works, chamber music, and vocal pieces that combine accessibility with genuine compositional rigor.

Why we love this

Harrison's Mass for Saint Cecilia's Day brings freshness to sacred choral writing without abandoning liturgical substance. The vocal score reveals a composer comfortable setting texts with both clarity and lyrical generosity, making this work rewarding for choirs seeking 20th-century sacred repertoire that avoids serialism and other forbidding techniques.

What to expect

The Mass unfolds with serene conviction, drawing listeners into a spiritual space that feels both contemporary and timeless. Harrison's harmonic language is consonant without being sentimental, creating an atmosphere of reverence grounded in genuine musical substance.

Who it's for

This work suits choirs with intermediate to advanced musicianship and access to a conductor experienced with 20th-century repertoire. It serves programs seeking sacred music that honors Saint Cecilia while embracing modern compositional language. Suitable for festival performances, concert programs, or liturgical use in progressive parishes.

How to get the most out of it

  • Study the vocal lines independently before sectional rehearsals; Harrison's melodic writing is singable but benefits from secure individual preparation.
  • Balance the relationship between text declamation and sustained musical phrases; the work demands equal attention to both intelligibility and line.
  • Use the vocal score to establish harmonic understanding before introducing any orchestral or instrumental accompaniment, ensuring choral voices anchor the texture.

How to use it

Program this as a centerpiece for a concert devoted to American sacred music, or pair it with choral works by Copland and Barber to frame a concert arc from mid-century modernism. Its modest forces and singable writing make it suitable for both concert hall and church performance contexts.

Skills your students will build

  • Reading 20th-century harmonic language and non-functional chord progressions
  • Sustaining legit vocal lines through longer phrase structures
  • Balancing text clarity with musical line in sacred music settings
  • Interpreting dynamic and expressive markings that define modern choral style

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