We were at the “More than a Song” conference run by the As One Voice people in Sydney last weekend, which was very good indeed, but Jetstar decided to move our flight home forward so we missed the closing mass that featured Amanda McKenna’s new “Mass of Love.” That was very annoying, particularly as I didn’t get to hear what it is supposed to sound like. Nonetheless, I’ve had a go at making backings to learn it, from the music she sent out to those attending the conference. You can buy the mass here.
My backings are typically cluttered and noisy but I don’t think even I can completely destroy her work. I’m not doing the Kyrie because we don’t sing that locally.
The Gloria is a straight through setting so doesn’t take all day, and despite repetitive motifs to aid participation it has enough flare to be memorable, including triplets and unexpected timings (eg Lord God Heavenly King). She very kindly leaves us lots of spaces to breathe. The rush to final lines is actually exciting.
Glory to God in the highest, 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. Lord, Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, You take away the sins 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. 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! Amen!
The Gospel Acclamation switches to waltz time and is repeated with the inflection going down on the last note on the repeat.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! (rpt)
The Holy Holy slows down somewhat but retains familiar phrases from the Gloria. There is some mild syncopation, which is fine and she has found a new way to sing the words “holy, holy, holy” and that’s a feat.
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of Hosts. Heaven and earth are full of your glory, Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
We do the “When We Eat This Bread” Acclamation so that’s what I’ve done here. Again she is using familiar motifs throughout the mass to hold things together.
When we eat this bread and drink this cup, We proclaim your death, O Lord, until you come again.
The Amen keeps to the style of the other responses but ends on the high C of the Holy Holy not the low C of the Memorial Acclamation.
Amen! Amen! Amen! Amen!
The Agnes Dei uses the triplets from the Gloria and the same tune for each line until it ends on a very indeterminate and pleading A. A lot of Lamb of God’s are just minor chords but they don’t predominate here.
Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us. Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us. Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world, Grant us peace.
My first impressions are that she has produced a very practical mass setting and that is not surprising considering her long years of work playing in schools and churches. I also sense under a somewhat up-tempo collection of tunes a melancholy that is quite touching, which may be why her Lamb of God doesn’t have to overdo that side of things. Even the initially joyous Gloria seems to hedge its bets. I rather suspect that a less hamfisted approach than mine would reveal the subtlety of her songs a lot better. As I’ve said about other Australian masses I’ve blogged, I hope in doesn’t get lost in the tidal wave.
I suspect As One Voice will have sound samples up soon, so we can all hear what it is meant to sound like, but in the mean time, you can at least sing along with her mass and see what you think. I think it’s great.