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Listen: Missa Brevis Pacem (Benedictus)

Missa Brevis Pacem (literally a 'Short Mass for Peace') was commissioned by the National School Band Association, and received its first performance at the Snape Maltings Concert Hall in April 1988 in a performance conducted by the composer. It is scored for large forces: boys' voices (often divisi), baritone soloist and large symphonic wind ensemble with an array of percussion.

The idea of writing a work for boys' voices, baritone solo and symphonic wind came about as a gradual process. In the back of my mind was the wonderful Stravinsky Mass of 1948 for similar (though smaller) forces. Stravinsky's preference in his mixed choir was for the purity of boys' treble voices. For a long time I had wanted to set the text of the Latin Mass, but in themselves the words were too abstract for my purpose and so, gradually, the idea of a central English text emerged, as did the thematic element. The concept of Peace (particularly of finding a personal peace) became the basis of this text, and was written by my wife, Susan Gregson.

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