music.wikisort.org - Composition

Messe brève no. 7 is a missa brevis in C major by Charles Gounod, composed in 1877 for two vocal parts and organ, and expanded in 1890 to four choir parts and organ. It is subtitled "in C aux chapelles".

Messe brève no. 7
in C aux chapelles
Missa brevis by Charles Gounod
The composer in 1890
Text	Order of Mass
Language	Latin
Composed	1877 (1877) / 1890
Movements	5
Vocal	SATTBB choir tenor and bass
Instrumental	organ

History

Charles Gounod, known for operas, was a prolific composer of sacred music.[1] In 1877, he composed the missa brevis in C major, without a Credo and Benedictus but with an added "O salutaris hostia". This first version was scored for two voices (solo and choir) and organ.[2][3] He wrote a version for two soloists, tenor and bass, four-part choir and organ in 1890.[2][3] At that time, "aux chapelles" (for chapels) was added to the title. It was first published in 1893. It was published again by Carus-Verlag in 1987, edited by Günter Graulich.[2][3] In that edition, the music of "O salutaris hostia" is printed with the missing liturgical text Benedictus, adapted by Thomas Kohlhase.[3]

The mass has been included in a recommendation for small choirs.[4]

Composition

Of the Order of Mass, Gounod omitted the Credo and Benedictus,[3] but added a setting of "O salutaris hostia". The vocal parts of the mass are performed by two soloists (tenor and bass) and a choir of four parts in the final version.[2] The soloists sing short versions within the structure, often both as a duet.[3][1]

In the following table of the movements, the markings, keys and time signatures are taken from the choral score. All movements are in common-time.[3]

No.	Part	Marking	Key
I	Kyrie	Moderato, (sans lenteur)	C major
II	Gloria	Allegro, Andante, Allegro	C major
III	Sanctus	Andante	C major
IV	O salutaris hostia	Adagio	F major
V	Agnus Dei	Moderato	C major

The style is characterised by tone repetitions similar to liturgical chanting. The composer follows the declamation of the words also in motifs.[2] The mass is intentionally simple, with some surprising harmonic developments.[1]

Recording

The mass was recorded as part of a collection of Musica Sacra, sacred music by Gounod, published in 2005 by Carus. It was performed by the chamber choir I Vocalisti [de], conducted by Hans-Joachim Lustig, with Tobias Götting as the organist.[5][1]

References

Sources

• Messe breve No.7 (Gounod, Charles): Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
• Free scores of Messe brève no. 7 (Gounod) in the Choral Public Domain Library (ChoralWiki)

---