''Mass of the Children'' is a major work of English composer

John Rutter Sir John Milford Rutter (born 24 September 1945) is an English composer, conductor, editor, arranger, and record producer, mainly of choral music. Biography Born on 24 September 1945 in London, the son of an industrial chemist and his wife, R ...

and a non-liturgical

Missa brevis ; plural: Missae breves) usually refers to a mass (music), Mass composition that is short because part of the text of the Mass ordinary that is usually set to music in a full Mass (liturgy), Mass is left out, or because its execution time is rel ...

, with the traditional Latin and Greek Mass text interwoven with several English poems. ''Mass of the Children'' consists of five movements: #

Kyrie ', a transliteration of Greek , vocative case of ('' Kyrios''), is a common name of an important prayer of Christian liturgy, also called the ( ; ). In the Bible The prayer, , "Lord, have mercy" derives from a Biblical phrase. Greek , ...

# Gloria # Sanctus and Benedictus #

Agnus Dei is the Latin name under which the "Lamb of God" is honoured within Christian liturgies descending from the historic Latin liturgical tradition, including those of Roman Catholicism, Lutheranism and Anglicanism. It is the name given to a spec ...

# Finale (Dona nobis pacem) The Finale uses additional text from the Agnus Dei which was not used in the preceding movement, as well as two prayer adaptations by Rutter and a poem by Bishop

Thomas Ken Thomas Ken (July 1637 – 19 March 1711) was an English cleric who was considered the most eminent of the English non-juring bishops, and one of the developers of modern English hymnody. Early life Thomas Ken was born in 1637 at Little Be ...

(''An Evening Hymn''). Another of Ken's poems was incorporated into the Kyrie (''A Morning Hymn''), and a poem by

William Blake William Blake (28 November 1757 – 12 August 1827) was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. Largely unrecognised during his life, Blake has become a seminal figure in the history of the Romantic poetry, poetry and visual art of the Roma ...

('' The Lamb'', from '' Songs of Innocence and of Experience'') is interwoven with the Agnus Dei. ''Mass of the Children'' exists in three different instrumentations, with all versions are for adult mixed (SATB) choir, children's choir (SSA), baritone and soprano soloists. The first version is for full orchestra, the second for chamber ensemble and organ and the third for concert band with optional vocals. The first two versions have been recorded: the full orchestral version on Rutter's own Collegium label conducted by the composer and the chamber version on the

Naxos Naxos (; , ) is a Greek island belonging to the Cyclades island group. It is the largest island in the group. It was an important centre during the Bronze Age Cycladic Culture and in the Ancient Greek Archaic Period. The island is famous as ...

label conducted by Timothy Brown. ''Mass of the Children'' was first performed on February 13, 2003, at

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

Carnegie Hall Carnegie Hall ( ) is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It is at 881 Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh Avenue, occupying the east side of Seventh Avenue between 56th Street (Manhattan), 56th and 57th Street (Manhattan), 57t ...

. The 2003 album was recorded with soloists Joanne Lunn (soprano) and Roderick Williams (baritone).

References

{{italic title Choral compositions by John Rutter 2003 compositions Masses (music)