Glendalough Mass – Glory to God

This mass was written by Liam Lawton, a priest from Ireland. You can order the mass from his website or you can download it from GIA.

One day I’ll get around to doing the Kyrie of a mass, probably when a church I go to finally gets around to singing it, but for now I’ll start with the Gloria.

Fr Lawton’s Gloria is in 6/8 time and is meant to be “moderately fast, with abundant joy!”

He has played around with the refrain, which is repeated rather than being a sing through Gloria.

Refrain

Glory to God in the highest,

Glory to God in the highest,

Glory to God, glory to God,
and on earth peace to people of goodwill

 

We praise you, we bless you,

We adore you, we glorify you,

We give you thanks for your great glory,

Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father.

 

Refrain

 

Lord Jesus Christ, only  Begotten Son,
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
you take away the sin of the world,
have mercy on us;

You take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father,
have mercy on us.

 

Refrain

 

For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

 

Refrain

Firstly, I can never quite get the light dancing 6/8 quality I want into my backings, but it will give you an idea of the tune.

There is much to applaud in this melody. The notes rise and fall memorably and pleasantly and the few leaps in the melody fit well enough.  There are phrases that are echoed throughout the verses that I’m sure will become quickly familiar. It is certainly joyful with a delightful Irish lilt.

It has a fairly wide range and the high E’s in the third line of the refrain might be a challenge.  The music splits and adds a lower harmony at that point and the groaners like me might be able to be taught that part. Mercifully the high parts are never held notes and I think that might allow them to get through.

The unhurried first line of the first verse is masterful. The descent from B to C# is like a relaxed sigh after that energetic refrain and the trick is repeated in the second verse to similar effect. On the down side I struggle with an amen followed by a last refrain, although the descant might make it worthwhile. Getting this text to fit music is a struggle which perhaps justifies both the amen to round out the third verse and the repetitions in the refrain.

This is a good start if you are brave enough to tackle a few high notes. The music does suggest the verses are for a cantor or section, but participation by the assembly is a given where I attend and that is not going to happen.  The piece has to be singable by the assembly and I’d love to hear it sung with gusto. This parish has a go, and even has a crack at the descant: