Mass in Eflat - J. Rheinberger

Josef Rheinberger composed 14 masses, in addition to three Requiem masses and several youthful mass compositions. He wrote the Mass in E-flat major, titled Cantus Missae ex octo modulatione vocum concinnatus within a few days in January 1878. and dedicated it to the new Pope Leo XIII on 20 February.

Rheinberger set the parts of the mass ordinary in six movements:

• Kyrie (Moderato)

• Gloria (Allegro moderato)

• Credo (Moderato)

• Sanctus (Lento)

• Benedictus (Andantino)

• Agnus Dei (Lento)

Similarly to other vocal works by Rheinberger, the melodies are singable (cantabile). Rheinberger's student Joseph Renner described the mass as the culmination of Rheinberger's a cappella works, "permeated with a truly religious atmosphere, with blooming polyphony".

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Sunrise Mass - Ola Gjeilo

Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilo (b. 1978) created this 30 minute work in four sections: The Spheres (Kyrie), Sunrise (Gloria), The City (Credo), and Identity and The Ground (Sanctus, Benedictus & Agnus Dei). Gjeilo himself said:

 “The reason I used English titles, seemingly unrelated to the (mostly) Latin texts, for the movements in this setting of the Mass has mainly to do with the initial idea behind Sunrise Mass. I wanted the musical development of the work to evolve from the most transparent and spacey, to something completely earthy and grounded; from nebulous and pristine to more emotional and dramatic, and eventually warm and solid – as a metaphor for human development from child to adult, or as a spiritual journey.”