Gloria (from Mass 1992)

Two Equal Voices with body percussion

Duration 2:30

Text from the Mass

Notes

The final project for my Master’s Degree in Music Composition back in 1992 was to write a Mass. I experimented with sounds that the human body and voice can make that are not often used in traditional choral music. Each movement uses different techniques. The entire Mass has never been performed together, however most movements have been performed separately.

In Gloria, I incorporated various body percussion. Snaps, claps, stomps, etc. I have performed this piece very successfully with my own high school choirs several different times with mixed voices and treble voices. An explanation of body percussion notation is included with the score.

Text

Gloria in excelsis Deo
et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis.
Laudamus te,
benedicimus te,
adoramus te,
glorificamus te,
gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam,
Domine Deus, Rex caelestis,
Deus Pater omnipotens.

Domine Fili unigenite, Iesu Christe,
Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris,
qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis;
qui tollis peccata mundi, suscipe deprecationem nostram.
Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris, miserere nobis.

Quoniam tu solus Sanctus, tu solus Dominus, tu solus Altissimus,
Iesu Christe, cum Sancto Spiritu: in gloria Dei Patris. Amen.