Missa Brevis for SATB Choir and Organ Cover Image

Missa Brevis for SATB Choir and Organ: Choral Works (inc. Oratorios)

$7.95 USD
$7.95 USD
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Missa Brevis for SATB Choir and Organ Cover Image
Missa Brevis for SATB Choir and Organ: Choral Works (inc. Oratorios)

Missa Brevis for SATB Choir and Organ: Choral Works (inc. Oratorios)

By Jonathan Dove

Item: 98-EP71780
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Description

Dove's 'Missa Brevis' was commissioned by the Cathedral Organists' Association for performance during their conference in Wells on 13 May 2009 and first performed by the choir of Wells Cathedral, directed by Matthew Owens. It has become a modern classic for choirs in a liturgical setting.

"Dove's vocal music seems to have a near-magical capacity to combine sensuous delight with great depth and clarity of expression, all without a hint of sentimentality"

(Kate Wakeling, BBC Music Magazine January 2022)

"Jonathan Dove's Missa Brevis, also of 2009 and for SATB voices and organ, is an altogether more extrovert affair. Dove is a highly accomplished writer in just about every genre, including his first love: opera. If a quiet, sombre atmosphere, underpinned by organ pedal drones, pervades the Kyrie and Agnus movements, Dove's theatrical sense of good timing is put to good use in the Gloria and Sanctus; both full of colour and sparkling organ writing (penned for performance at an annual convention of cathedral organists, Dove clearly knows his market!). This is immediate, vibrant music that simply jumps off the page demanding to be sung and played."

(Matthew Greenall, The Singer 31 July 2010)

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Additional Details
Series: Edition Peters
Publisher: Edition Peters
ISBN10: 0-57-708773-8
ISBN13: 979-0-57-708773-3
SKU: 98-EP71780

More about this title

About the Composer: Jonathan Dove

Jonathan Dove stands among Britain's most versatile composers, equally at home writing for opera, chamber ensembles, and choral forces. His theatrical training and instinct for dramatic pacing inform everything he touches, giving even liturgical settings a sense of immediacy and purpose. Dove's gift lies in crafting music that feels both intellectually coherent and genuinely singable, a combination that has made his work essential repertoire for cathedral and concert choirs.

His choral writing demonstrates a keen understanding of the human voice and the acoustic properties of worship spaces. Rather than treating organ and choir as separate entities, Dove designs them to complement and enliven each other. This approach, honed through decades of commissions and performances, has earned him a loyal following among musicians who value clarity of expression alongside musical substance.

Why we love this

Dove delivers something rare in contemporary liturgical music: movements that shift dramatically in character without ever feeling disjointed. The Kyrie and Agnus Dei offer stillness and depth, while the Gloria and Sanctus crackle with theatrical energy and organ color. Your singers will respond to the variety and clarity of the writing, and your organist will have genuinely compelling material to work with rather than functional accompaniment.

What to expect

The Missa Brevis feels like stepping into a living space where prayer and music coexist without strain. Dove's orchestration suggests both intimacy and occasion; there's grandeur here, but it's earned through clear harmonic writing and purposeful architecture rather than rhetorical excess. The piece breathes.

Who it's for

Cathedral choirs, collegiate chapel ensembles, and parish churches seeking contemporary settings that honor liturgical tradition without sacrificing musical substance. This also works for skilled amateur choirs with experienced organists who are ready to tackle writing that demands real musical partnership.

How to get the most out of it

  • Let the organ pedal drones in the Kyrie and Agnus anchor the vocal line without overwhelming it. Balance is everything in these quieter movements; the organ establishes harmonic foundation rather than competing for attention.
  • Bring theatrical clarity to consonant attacks in the Gloria and Sanctus. Dove's sparkling writing depends on crisp ensemble articulation to sparkle properly; muddled consonants kill the lift he's built into the rhythms.
  • Attend to the organ part as seriously as the vocal score. This is collaborative music; your organist's interpretation of Dove's registration and pacing directly shapes what the choir can express.

How to use it

This works beautifully as the anchor to a liturgical service, particularly for occasions when you want contemporary music that feels substantial without demanding experimental listening. It also pairs well in a concert setting with other twentieth-century choral works that prioritize clarity and craft. The span between Kyrie quietude and Gloria sparkle makes it effective as a complete program statement on its own.

Skills your students will build

  • Reading modern harmonic language with traditional functional roots
  • Ensemble balance and blend across exposed SATB writing
  • Coordination with organ accompaniment in both intimate and energetic contexts
  • Dynamic contrast and theatrical timing within liturgical structure

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