OT ALL sacred music is appropriate for use during the liturgy. For example, some pieces are too long (cf. Pius X Tra le Sollecitudini, §23) or too theatrical (idem §6). Examples would include Beethoven’s Missa solemnis, Mozart’s Requiem, Verdi’s Requiem, and Bach’s Mass in B Minor. Even though it cannot be used during the liturgy 1 it remains glorious music.
For me, one of the greatest masterpieces ever written is Bach’s Mass in B Minor. My favorite recording, in spite of a few minor flaws, has always been the 1947 version conducted by Robert Shaw. (see below)
I cannot convey to you how highly I value this music and how much joy it has brought me through the years, so I won’t even try.
The following mp3 files are courtesy of archive.org. Enjoy!
KYRIE
01 Kyrie eleison (Chorus)
02 Christe eleison (Duet: Sopranos I and II)
03 Kyrie eleison (Chorus)
GLORIA
04 Gloria in excelsis Deo (Chorus)
05 Laudamus Te (Aria: Soprano II with Violin obbligato)
06 Gratias agimus (Chorus)
07 Domine Deus (Duet: Soprano I and Tenor)
08 Qui tollis pecata mundi (Chorus)
09 Qui sedes ad dexteram (Aria: Alto with Oboe d’amore obbligato)
10 Quoniam tu solus sanctus (Aria: Bass with Corno da caccia obbligato)
11 Cum sancto spiritu (Chorus)
CREDO
12 Credo in unum Deum (Chorus)
13 Patrem omnipotentem (Chorus)
14 Et in unum Deum (Duet: Soprano and Alto)
15 Et incarnatus est (Chorus)
16 Crucifixus (Chorus)
17 Et resurrexit (Chorus)
18 Et in spiritum sanctum (Aria: Bass with Oboi d’amore obbligati)
19 Confiteor (Chorus)
SANCTUS
20 Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus (Chorus)
21 Osanna in excelsis (Chorus)
22 Benedictus (Aria: Tenor with Violin obbligato)
AGNUS
23 Agnus Dei (Aria: Alto with Violin obbligato)
24 Dona nobis pacem (Chorus)
J. S. BACH: Mass in B minor, BWV 232
Anne McKnight, soprano I
June Gardner, soporano II
Lydia Summers, contralto
Lucius Metz, tenor
Paul Matthen, bassRCA Victor Chorale and Orchestra
Robert Shaw, Conductor
Recorded in 1947
NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:
1 Bach’s Mass in B Minor was probably never intended for use during an actual Catholic liturgy. If this seems strange, consider the cultural importance of the Catholic Mass going back 1600+ years. Even during the 20th century, non-Catholics like Igor Stravinsky composed Masses.
