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Mass (Stravinsky)

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description Mass (Stravinsky) Overview

Igor Stravinsky's Mass is a setting of the Latin Mass Ordinary composed between 1944 and 1948 for mixed chorus and a double wind quintet of oboes, English horn, bassoons, trumpets, and trombones. Written for liturgical use, it comprises the Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei. Its restrained sonorities, syllabic declamation, and austere contrapuntal writing reflect Stravinsky's neoclassical period while evoking older European sacred music.

help Mass (Stravinsky) FAQ

When did Igor Stravinsky compose his 'Mass'?

Stravinsky composed the work over a four-year period between 1944 and 1948. During this time, he was living in the United States and heavily exploring various neoclassical musical styles.

What instruments did Stravinsky score his 'Mass' for?

Rather than a traditional orchestral or organ accompaniment, Stravinsky scored the Mass for a mixed chorus accompanied by a double wind quintet. This instrumental ensemble includes oboes, English horn, bassoons, trumpets, and trombones, creating a stark, piercing sound.

Was Stravinsky's 'Mass' written for church use?

Yes, despite his Russian Orthodox background, Stravinsky explicitly wrote this Mass for the Roman Catholic liturgy. He reportedly became interested in writing a liturgical mass after seeing some Mozart manuscripts, desiring to capture an objective, purely religious aesthetic.

What movements are included in Stravinsky's 'Mass'?

The work sets the standard five movements of the Latin Mass Ordinary: Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei. Stravinsky deliberately set the text syllabically to ensure the words were clearly intelligible, omitting traditional orchestral interludes.

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