The Mass Through History

For a very long time talented composers have been writing music for the Catholic service. It all started with monophonic settings we now call Gregorian chant in honor of Pope Gregory who took the office in 590. These single line prayers served well until the invention of organum in the Middle Ages, the first experiments in polyphonic textures. Around 1200, two Parisians, Leonin and Perotin, were responsible for major contrapuntal breakthroughs that affected all religious music from then on. Before you know it, worshipers were being treated to four-, five-, and six-part settings of the mass with Palestrina at the pinnacle. Masses were usually sung a capella, meaning without instrumental accompaniment until the Protestants showed up in the 16th century and allowed instruments into the mix. The Requiem mass is a service for the dearly departed. Mozart was finishing his Requiem when he died in December 1791.

Machaut Messe de Notre Dame

Dufay “L’homme armé” Mass

Josquin Missa Pange Lingua

Palestrina Pope Marcellus Mass

Monteverdi Mass for Four Voices

Vivaldi Gloria

Bach Mass in B minor

Mozart Requiem

Beethoven Missa Solemnis

Verdi Requiem

Puccini Messe

Faure Requiem

Durufle Requiem

Stravinsky Mass

Britten War Requiem

Penderecki Polish Requiem

Ligeti Requiem

Part Berliner Messe