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Mass (Bernstein)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


MASS (formally, "MASS: A Theatre Piece for Singers, Players, and Dancers") is a
musical theatre work composed by Leonard Bernstein. Commissioned by Jacqueline K
ennedy, it premiered on September 8, 1971, conducted by Maurice Peress.[1] The p
erformance was part of the opening of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Perform
ing Arts in Washington, D.C.[2] Mass premiered in Europe in 1973, with John Mauc
eri conducting the Yale Symphony Orchestra in Vienna.[3]
Originally, Bernstein had intended to compose a traditional Mass, but instead de
cided on a more innovative form.[citation needed] The work is based on the Tride
ntine Mass of the Roman Catholic Church. Although the liturgical passages are su
ng in Latin, Mass also includes additional texts in English written by Bernstein
, Broadway composer Stephen Schwartz,[4] and Paul Simon (who wrote the first qua
train of the trope "Half of the People"). The work is intended to be staged thea
trically, but it has also been performed in a standard concert setting.
Initial critical reception, including a review in the New York Times, was largel
y negative,[1] but the Columbia Records recording of the work enjoyed excellent
sales.[5]
Contents [hide]
1 Cast of characters
2 Synopsis
3 Movements
4 Instrumentation
5 Recordings
6 FBI warning
7 References
[edit]Cast of characters
The original cast consisted of a Celebrant, three choirs, and altar servers. A f
ull classical orchestra performed in the pit, while onstage musicians -- includi
ng a rock band and a marching band -- performed and interacted onstage.
The Celebrant â The central character of the work, a Catholic priest who conducts th
e celebration of the Mass.
Formal Choir â A mixed choir (SSAATTBB) in upstage choir lofts who sing the Latin po
rtions of the Mass.
Boys Choir â A children's choir (SSAA) that processes on and off stage various times
, performing alone, in antiphon, or in concert with the Formal Choir and the Str
eet Singers.
Street Singers â Downstage and often performing around the Celebrant and the stage i
nstrumentalists, a broad group of female and male singers representing the congr
egation (and occasionally the musicians), who variously participate in the praye
rs of the Mass, or alternately counter those prayers in a modern context.
Acolytes â Assistants to the Celebrant, who perform dances and altar assistance thro
ughout the Mass.
[edit]Synopsis
In the beginning all of the performers are in harmony and agreement. During the
course of the Mass, however, the street choir begins expressing doubts and suspi
cions about the necessity of God in their lives and the role of the Mass itself.
At the play's emotional climax, the growing cacophony of the chorus' complainin
g finally interrupts the elevation of the Body and Blood (the consecrated bread
and wine). The celebrant, in a furious rage, hurls the sacred bread, housed in a
n ornate cross-like monstrance, and the chalice of wine, smashing them on the fl
oor. At this sacrilege the other cast members collapse to the ground as if dead
while the Celebrant sings a solo. This solo blends the chorus's disbelief with h
is realization that he feels worn out and wonders where the strength of his orig
inal faith has gone. At the end of his song, he too collapses. A bird-like (Holy
Spirit) flute solo begins, darting here and there from different speakers in th
e hall, finally "alighting" in a single clear note. An altar server, who was abs
ent during the conflict, then sings a hymn of praise to God, "Sing God a Secret
Song[6]". This restores the faith of the three choirs, who join the altar server
, one by one, in his hymn of praise. They tell the Celebrant "Pax tecum (Peace b
e with you), and end with a hymn asking for God's blessing. As in the actual Mas
s, the last words of the piece are: "The Mass is ended; go in peace."
[edit]Movements
Antiphon: Kyrie Eleison
Hymn and Psalm: "A Simple Song"
Responsory: Alleluia
Prefatory Prayers (Kyrie Rondo)
Thrice-Triple Canon: Dominus vobiscum
In nomine Patris
Prayer for the Congregation (Chorale: "Almighty Father")
Epiphany
Confiteor
Trope: "I Don't Know"
Trope: "Easy"
Meditation no. 1
Gloria tibi
Gloria in excelsis Deo
Trope: "Half of the People"
Trope: "Thank You"
Meditation no. 2
Epistle: "The Word of the Lord"
Gospel-Sermon: "God Said"
Credo
Trope: "Non Credo"
Trope: "Hurry"
Trope: "World Without End"
Trope: "I Believe in God"
Meditation no. 3: De profundis, part 1
Offertory: De profundis, part 2
The Lord's Prayer, Our Father
Trope: "I Go On"
Sanctus
Agnus Dei
Fraction: "Things Get Broken"
Pax: Communion ("Secret Songs")
[edit]Instrumentation
Vocal forces: Celebrant (high baritone), Boy soprano, SATB robed choir (ca. 60),
Boys Choir (ca. 20), Street People (singer-dancers, ca. 45), 20 soloists from S
treet People.
Stage orchestra (in costume, acting as cast members): 2 flutes (both doubling on
piccolos), two oboes (second doubling on English horn), three clarinets (doubli
ng on soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, E-flat clarinet, and b
ass clarinet), two bassoons (second doubling on contrabassoon), 4 horns, 4 trump
ets, 3 trombones, 1 tuba, 2 percussionists (playing bongos, 2 drum sets, finger
cymbals, temple blocks, 2 tambourines, and glockenspiel), street percussion (3 s
teel drums, claves, bottles, tambourine, gourds, and tin cans), Kazoos, 1 Acoust
ic Guitar, 2 electric guitars (one doubling on banjo), electric bass guitar, and
2 electric keyboards
Pit orchestra: timpani, 3-4 percussionists (playing snare drum, tenor drum, bass
drum, bongos, 4 tuned drums, cymbals, suspended cymbal, triangle, 2 cowbells, c
himes, tam-tam, anvil, temple blocks, woodblock, tambourine, xylophone, glockens
piel, marimba, and vibraphone), harp, celesta, Piano, 2 Allen organs, pre-record
ed tape, and strings
[edit]Recordings
1971: Alan Titus (Celebrant), Norman Scribner Choir, Berkshire Boy Choir, Studio
Orchestra, Leonard Bernstein (Conductor) - Sony Classical
2004: Jerry Hadley (Celebrant), Rundfunkchor Berlin, Berlin Cathedral Chorus, De
utsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Kent Nagano (Conductor) - Harmonia Mundi
2008: Randall Scarlata (Celebrant), Tölzer Knabenchor, Chorus Sine Nomine, Tonkünstler
-Orchester, Kristjan Järvi (Conductor) - Chandos
2009: Jubilant Sykes (Celebrant), Morgan State University Choir, Peabody Childre
n's Chorus, Morgan State University Marching Band, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra,
Marin Alsop (Conductor) - Naxos (The 2009 version is Grammy Nominated)
[edit]FBI warning
The FBI kept a file on Bernstein because of his leftist views. In the summer of
1971, the Bureau warned the White House that the Latin text of the mass might co
ntain anti-war messages, which could cause embarrassment to President Nixon shou
ld he attend the premiere and applaud politely. Rumors of such a plot by Bernste
in were leaked to the press. According to Gordon Liddy, White House counsel John
Dean stated that the work was "definitely anti-war and anti-establishment, etc.
" Nixon did not attend the premiere; in the press he had this described as an ac
t of courtesy to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, because he felt the formal opening
"should really be her night".[7]
[edit]References
^ a b Schonberg, Harold C. (September 9, 1971). "Bernstein's New Work Reflects H
is Background on Broadway". The New York Times.
^ Schonberg, Harold C. (September 2, 1971). "Kennedy Hall Gets Acoustics Workout
". The New York Times.
^ Yale Symphony Orchestra - Our History
^ The Official Leonard Bernstein Web Site page on Mass. Retrieved February 12, 2
009.
^ Peter Gutmann, Bernstein Mass, Inkpot #92, 24 January 2000
^ http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94965140
^ Alex Ross, The Bernstein Files, The New Yorker News Desk, 10 August 2009
Categories: Compositions by Leonard Bern

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