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So ... either I've lost my mind, or I've had a brilliant idea.

I've been dreaming, for ages, to write a Mass. A proper, bona fidae Mass. I love classical music, I can even write and orchestrate, somewhat. However: it takes FOREVER to orchestrate (as we musicians know only too well), and there is no BIAB purely for classical music, so I thought I'd have to shelve the thought. Until tonight, when I just thought: "hey, to heck with it. Write the chords down, first; then find a style within BIAB that is closest to your classical vision ... and then, who knows what may come up?"

So ... here's the result. A Mass (or "Missa", in Latin) is usually an hour to an hour and a half long (if it's a Solemn Mass, or "Missa Solemnis", then it's nearer the longer limit ...), and I've just written three minutes' worth of music. Still ... it's a beginning, right? That's why it's called "Introit".

Have I completely lost my mind? Or is the idea worth pursuing? You decide.

Word of warning: don't put the sound on TOO loud, it's a pretty loud track (for my own ears, at least!), haha ...

MISSA: Introit

****** Song Summary *************
Title: Introit - 4 December 2023
File:Introit - 4 December 2023.SGU
Key=C , Tempo 70, Length (m:s)=3:11
No intro. 52 bar chorus, from bar 1 to bar 52. Repeat x1 chorus
No Melody
No Soloist track.
Song is saved with Volume, Pan, Reverb, Chorus, Bank0,
Style is _SHRIEK.STY (Shriek Heavy Funk Rock Ballad)

RealTracks in style: ~1636:Bass, Electric, JazzFunkBreezy Ev16 075
RealTracks in style: 633:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm PopAmericanMuted Ev 120 (A:sync)
RealTracks in style: 2644:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm ModernPopHardMurray Ev16 075
RealTracks in style: 2644:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm ModernPopHardMurray Ev16 075
RealDrums in style:PopRock16ths^01-a:Snare, HiHat , b:Snare, Ride

*******************

Thanks, PG Music, for making even THIS particular crazy idea of mine become reality

The track sounds good.
An interesting start.
Haven't heard you "do Rock" before... I like it.

fj

That's a rocking progression.

But... Writing a Mass is setting text to music, unless you're going to write your own words, too.

And I have no idea how an Indroit is going to sound against that.

Especially since the particular Indroit depending on what day it is. (That's one reason why it's easier to do a Requiem instead.)

I had a friend write Mass settings (only a handful of parts are generally sung) and I arranged the backing using BiaB. It worked because it was contemporary music, not classical. You're not going to get an orchestra into the church every Sunday.

But... why write a Mass? If you're thinking of it as an hour plus of work to compose, IMNSHO that's just the wrong way of thinking of it. It just sounds like a dreary chore.

And who are you writing it for?

I attended a seminar on Gregorian Chant, and the lecturer told us there was no need for new music, as there were enough existing settings already written by the best chant composers to last a lifetime. So the form wasn't just dead, it was hermetically sealed. Beautiful music, but no point in trying to be a composer in that field.

You haven't set any words yet, but since you're throwing around Latin, I assume that's the target language. And... why? I've occasionally sung Schubert's Ave Maria at funerals. Yes, I know... they were desperate.

Anyway, often, there's not enough time to sing the second half of the song. And since the second half includes "Pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death" - the reason it's in the funeral in the first place - it's pretty egregious to leave it out.

But nobody notices, because no one speaks Latin. Which is probably why no one notices the first half of the song literally says everything twice, often by just repeating the last couple of words. And I do mean literally:

   Hail Mary, full of grace
   Mail Mary, full of grace
   Hail, hail, the Lord
   The Lord is with you
   You
   And blessed
   And blessed is the fruit of your womb
   Your womb, Jesus.
   Hail, Mary

That's not to say it's not a beautiful song. For me, that's the hardest part of singing it - other people have done such a wonderful job of it.

But once you know what the words are... So. Much. Repetition.

Clearly, even in Ye Olden Times Schubert understood that repetition was the key to popular music.

You find that same sort of repetition in Gregorian Chant as well:

   Alle-
   Alle-
   Alle-lu-
   Alle-lu-
   Alle-lu-ia
   lu-ia
   lu-ia
   lu-ia
   iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiia

With that level of repetition, you can easily fill 15 minutes without getting past the Indroit.

Anyway, do whatever floats your boat.

James,

That's a good choice of instruments and a good mix. Love the rock edge this one has.

It sounds like you have some very ambitious goals for this project. Good luck - I know you can do it!

Bob

James,

You have put together some terrific background music. Not being Catholic, I had to look up the definition of "Introit". Thus, I have learned something new!

I have been to a Catholic mass but once - my girlfriend in high school was Catholic - I am Lutheran. One thing I learned about a Catholic Mass, and more so for a catholic funeral, is "Pack a lunch, you might be there for a while!"

As far as the music for an Introit, I cannot judge or properly comment on the suitability for one. But I can comment on the music you've presented here.

You have a solid base for a high-powered rock piece - the first time I've heard rock music from you. It presents the opportunity for several approaches to a vocal compliment. You've left room for interpretation in various approaches. It's a really good musical base - powerful and dynamic.

Keep up the good work!

Alan

As Al said "As far as the music for an Introit, I cannot judge or properly comment on the suitability for one. But I can comment on the music you've presented here."

This is a super rock piece. Good instruments.

On my monitors around the 1:28 mark the right channel looses a lot of volume. Around the 2:10 the volume returns. Is that supposed to happen?

James, I found this an interesting listen with some really nice harmonic movement. Don't know any thing about the mass musical form, but I suspect from David's post that he's forgotten more than I will ever know. If you're looking for encouragement, I say go for it. Anything that inspires creativity is a worthy endeavor in my view. Happy composing!

Hi James,

You put me on the wrong leg with your intro of Mass, or Missa introit (!)
I thought: I'm going to listen to heavy classical Catholic music, but then the Rock music came in.
So that was the wrong leg
I also didn't know a rock mass exist, but now I know one! (my Google translator persists translating Rock mass as a massive pile of rocks...)
But to be honest, I don't know what to think about it. I can't see it as being an intro for a mass and I don't know if i like it or not.
I like that Rock melody and the used instruments, but I also hoped someone started singing a Rocky song.
Therefore I think that 'Introit' needs a follow up to become more attractive (for me).
But your ideas are very creative and I really like that!

Hans

What a daunting task you have ahead of you, James. I encourage you to continue. The Bard didn't write 154 sonnets in a week. YES!! If anyone can do it, my money is on you. This is a totally new appraoch to the Mass, and I'm looking forward to the day when you finally write "Go in peace." Seriously, sir. I'm looking forward to your progress.

Oh my word. I had no idea that this idea of mine would generate so much interest! Where to start?

floyd: thanks! It's certainly an unconventional start ... glad you liked it!

David Cuny: . That's the whole point of my attempt ... if I write according to old form and convention, etc., I might as well give up - it's been done, and done exceedingly well, before.

Words? I'd rather paint a picture, musically speaking. Everyone knows the words to the Mass - at least, everyone who goes to Catholic Church, haha. I don't want to "set music to words", necessarily - I want to paint what that particular section of the Mass tells me, or means to me. With, or indeed without, the words (Latin or otherwise ).

Why I want to write it? Honestly, no idea, apart from the fact that I seem to be drawn to the idea, like a moth to a flame. I've decided to give it a go - I reserve the right to stop at any time, but let me give it a proper shot, first? (I've also just about completed some of the Kyrie, by the time I type this ... I'll share it in good time, i.e. when I feel it's reasonably ready ).

Let's see what happens

Bob Dean: yep - an ambitious target. Sometimes, one has to go public with the target, so that one feels committed to carrying it through, at that point, haha Thanks for your kind good luck wishes!

Alan: Yes - Catholic Masses can be notoriously long, and (dare I say) sometimes dreary! So, like I wrote to David, above: I won't write massive pieces. It's long enough! Rather, I want to paint vignettes (very short, if needs be!) of what each section of the Mass tells me. The cumulative length of the final work may be reasonably long, but the movements themselves will be short ... that's the idea, anyway Also, each movement will be in a different style, I hope, so it's not going to be an "all rock" piece . The Kyrie, which I'm working on now, for example, is a country piece ...

Thanks for such kind words of encouragement!

Mario: thank you! Yes, the "loss of signal" is deliberate. I've panned, alternatively, left and right, and reduced the sound to a sudden pianissimo on the first pan left, then mezzopiano on the pan right, mezzoforte on the next pan left, forte on the next pan right, and then back to the normal level, when it's back to its original sound (i.e. no panning). That's what I TRIED to do, at least ... hopefully, it's worked? Thanks so much!

Ron: "anything that inspires creativity is a worthy endeavor, in my view". Perfectly said. I don't think that I, nor anyone else, could put that any better. Yes, the Mass form is but an excuse, a form (again), for what I want to create Let's see if it takes shape, but it's worth a try? Thanks for your incredibly kind and helpful encouragement!

Hans: it's not a conventional Introit, of course not. And the following Kyrie is a total contrast. But ... I don't want to write a formal, conventional Mass. As I wrote above: I want to depict what those sections of the Mass may mean to me . For the Introit ... I see more of a rock concert than a conventional Mass. Imagine when the Pope comes to celebrate Mass in a full stadium, for example? That kind of a feeling. Or, like in a wedding mass, when the groom arrives, just as the service starts. The contrasting Kyrie could be the entry of the bride, the "wedding march", in other words. But ... I don't want to prompt people too much with my own vision ... see in the music whatever it makes you feel and see in it, yourself? I'll post the Kyrie soon ... thank you for your kind words, not least about my creativity (too kind!)

Marty: as always, you get my intentions 100%. Thank you. It's an attempt, but yes ... it's exactly alike the Sonnets, in the following sense: short pieces of work, that, put together, may perhaps create a larger whole. Let's see! THANK YOU for your incredible kindness, understanding and encouragement!

James, this has a solid rock sound and I can see how this will work for your project. It’s a unique idea worth working on. I like what I hear so far, Tom

An epic stadium feeling rock song indeed.

We'd say more but this entire noble goal is waaaaaaaay beyond our comprehension.
Well, our collectives heads have finally stopped spinning after reading your and David's discussion. Took a while

J&B