Use Restrictions

Public Domain. There are no known restrictions.

Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions.

Preferred Citation

"Missa Choralis Unisona canenda cum Organo pro Parrochiali Ecclesia S. Joannis Baptiste Bajovarie" choral mass settings, C0498, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchased by Steve Gerber, George Mason University Libraries Music Liaison Librarian, from Schubertiade Music & Arts in September 2017.

Processing Information

Processed by Elizabeth Beckman in April 2022. Finding aid published by Elizabeth Beckman in April 2022.

Historical Information

The mass ordinary and the propers are two major parts of the Catholic mass that are frequently sung. The mass ordinary consists of the Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Benedictus, and Agnus Dei. The text of these prayers does not change throughout the year - they are the same from day to day and week to week at every mass. In contrast, the text of the propers, which consist of the Introit, Gradual, Alleluia verse or Tract, Sequence, Offertory, and Communion antiphons, changes to reflect the liturgial character of the day or the feast being celebrated (see Choral Public Domain Library, "Mass").

Scope and Content

Two handwritten settings of the mass ordinary, probably written for mass at a Bavarian church named after St. John the Baptist in the 18th century (according to the dealer's notes). The title, originally in Latin, translates to "Unison choral mass to be sung with organ for the parish church of St John the Baptist Bavaria." The first setting includes the Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus (without Benedictus), and Agnus Dei, while the second includes the Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus (without Benedictus), and Agnus Dei. Both masses are written in square notation on a four-line staff, probably a form of mensural notation as mentioned in the dealer's notes, and they also include some rhythmic indication (dots). Both masses alternate between unison singing and harmony - the first includes unison and two-and-three part singing. The Kyrie and Gloria in the second mass setting alternate between solo and tutti voices, and the whole mass shifts between unison and two-part harmony.

Arrangement

This is a single item collection. The pages of the mass are arranged in liturgical order.

Related Material

The Special Collections Research Center holds other manuscript liturgical music, including two pages of Gregorian chant propers from the 15th/16th century (C0499 and C0500).

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Agnus Dei (Music)
• Bavaria (Germany)
• Credo (Music)
• Gloria in excelsis Deo (Music)
• Kyrie eleison (Music)
• Mass
• Music
• Sanctus (Music)