Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. I. Devotions Before Mass - 1.: Antiphon: Kyrie eleison
2. I. Devotions Before Mass - 2.: Hymn and Psalm: A Simple Song
3. I. Devotions Before Mass - 3.: Responsory: Alleluia
4. II. First Introit (Rondo) - 1.: Prefatory Prayers
5. II. First Introit (Rondo) - 2.: Thrice-Triple Canon: Dominus vobiscum
6. III. Second Introit - 1.: In nomine Patris
7. III. Second Introit - 2.: Prayer for the Congregation (Chorale: Almighty Father)
8. III. Second Introit - 3.: Epiphany
9. IV. Confession - 1.: Confiteor
10. Mass: IV. Confession; 2. Trope: 'I Don't Know'
11. IV. Confession - 3.: Trope: Easy
12. V. Meditation No. 1: Orchestra alone
13. Mass: VI. Gloria; 1. Gloria Tibi
14. VI. Gloria - 2.: Gloria in excelsis
15. VI. Gloria - 3.: Trope: Half of the People
16. VI. Gloria - 4.: Trope: Thank You
17. VII. Meditation No. 2: Orchestra alone
18. VIII. Epistle: The Word of the Lord
19. IX. Gospel-Sermon: God Said

Disc 2:

1. Mass: X. Credo: 3. Trope: 'Hurry'
2. X. Credo - 1.: Credo in unum Deum
3. X. Credo - 2.: Trope: Non Credo
4. X. Credo - 3.: Trope: Hurry
5. X. Credo - 4.: Trope: World Without End
6. X. Credo - 5.: Trope: I Believe in God
7. XI. Meditation No. 3: (De profundis, part 1)
8. XII. Offertory: (De profundis, part 2)
9. XIII. The Lord's Prayer - 1.: Our Father...
10. XIII. The Lord's Prayer - 2.: Trope: I Go On
11. XV. Agnus Dei: Agnus Dei...
12. XVI. Fraction: Things Get Broken
13. XVII. Pax: Communion: Secret Songs

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #18870 in Music
• Released on: 1997-10-28
• Number of discs: 2
• Format: Box set

Amazon.com
While critics at the 1971 premiere found the work derivative and even tasteless, audiences loved this ardent, resourceful, somewhat brazen, ultimately moving Theatre Piece for Singers, Players, and Dancers. Leonard Bernstein's affinity for his public and for the age in which he lived enabled him to successfully outfit his Mass with a stylish mix of contemporary and ancient modes--rock, jazz, electronic music, Gregorian chant--and place it in a context somewhere between Broadway and opera. Though it lacks the visual component of a live performance, the work holds up well on this Bernstein-led recording, the only complete version on disc. From the popular "Simple Song" to the Stravinskian rhythmic devices and abundant, memorable melodies, the vital creative force of Bernstein is never absent. --David Vernier

Customer Reviews

More than a Mass...
The most important thing to remember before listening to this piece by Leonard Bernstein is that it is not a "Mass" in the traditional sense. Sure, it has a Kyrie, a Gloria, a Credo, a Sanctus, and an Agnus Dei, but there's much much more going on.

"Mass" is described a "A Theater Piece for Singers" and thinking of the work in this light elucidates much of the structure of this recording. For example, the "Things Get Broken" segment on Disc 2 (one of the more controversial parts of "Mass") seems overly drawn out when listening to it on CD. The reason this seems so is because there is a lot theatrically going on. The focus of this segment is more on theater than music, and so it's less exciting musically (it's still a great segment, though).

Judging from what's been written about this work, this recording of "Mass" is the only complete recording available right now. It includes the original cast and is conducted by Berstein himself. Someone had foresight.

It's easier to listen to this work as a theater piece. Sections of a traditional mass are interspersed with solos (by singers with titles such as "Rock Singer", "Blues Singer", "An Older Man", "A Young Girl") that usually function as commentary or embellishment to the traditional religious setting. The best example of this is during the "Confession". Following the singing of a more or less traditional Catholic confessional (complete in Latin and English), the Rock and Blues Singers provide their own unique perspectives. The First Rock Singer complains that he's not sure how to confess, because he's so messed up he doesn't know what he wants or feels at any time:

What I say I don't feel
What I feel I don't show
What I show isn't real
What is real, Lord - I don't know

The First Blues Singer than chimes in to say just how easy it is to get blessed if one just goes through the motions or says what people want to hear. A second blues singer sings an almost outright paean to lust:

It's easy to keep the flair in your affair
Your body's always ready, but your soul's not there
Don't be nonplussed
Come love, come lust,
It's so easy when you just don't care

Doubtless passages such as this in the context of a religious mass served to heighten the controversy around the work as a whole.

Berstein's incredible music pervades "Mass" - the stunningly beautiful "A Simple Song"; the incredible "Meditation No.1", "Gloria Tibi", the boy's choir-led "Sanctus". A mishmash of musical styles somehow blends together to form a coherent whole. There's traditional classical music (orchestra and choir), rock music, scat, jazz, blues, spoken word, quadrophonic tape, music for the stage, and others that weave in and out of the musical mesh. One gets the impression that Berstein was an incomprehensibly astute composer. This work alone proves that.

This piece was commissioned for the Kennedy Center opening (supposedly by Jacqueline Kennedy herself in honor of JFK - I have yet to read anywhere what she thought of it). That fact along with the highly religious context made this a very controversial work. The juxtapositions of the sacred and the profane were not appreciated by various religious communities at the time. "Mass" was called "Vulgar" and "sacreligious". Seeing that an altar is desecrated during the end of the piece, by the same character that sang "A Simple Song", there was probably much fodder for criticism. In truth, the piece is about crisis in faith, and it is a religious, though a very probing, work. Much of the commentary probably rings true for many: the hypocrisy of certain popular manifestations of religion and the double standards people sometimes apply to their religious and daily lives. In the end, "Mass" is more critical of people who claim religiosity than it is of religion in general. It is a beautiful, challenging, and inspiring piece of music. It does not deserve to be buried under trite controversy. Give it a listen, read the text, and, if nothing else, drown in the music.

Misunderstood Work, Misunderstood Composer
Leonard Bernstein has never recieved the recognition he deserves as a composer. He is known by his weaker music; namely, his broadway scores, like West Side Story and On the Town. His MASS strikes most listeners as being wierd. Those who have actually listened to it usually come to the conclusion that it is an expression of Bernstein's disdain for Catholicism. Allow me to obliterate both of these notions for you. What it really is is the story of the celebrant; he is an island of piety in the midst of a agitated and doubtful congregaion. He manages to keep things more or less together through the first hour and a half or so, but when disgruntled members of the congregation begin to throw accusations at God, he finally suffers a crisis of faith himself, during the hair-raising 'Trope: Things Get Broken.' He dissapears from the scene. The congregation is left to try and worship without him. After a rather awkward beginning, the entire congegation ultimately ends up singing, in a gorgeous canon (that's a round), and reaffirming their faith. At this point the celebrant rejoins them, reaffirming his faith as well. Then, they all (including the stage orchestra) sing a beautiful, contemplative chorale that is a prayer.

Some of the music may not be for everyone, but its profoundly moving message of reconcilliation is certainly one that is for everyone.

Original Cast member
I was a very fortunate lad of 13 and singing in the Berkshire Boys Choir in the summer of 1971 when some of us were told that we were to go to Wash. DC to sing with Lenny Bernstein. Most of us knew who he was but really didn't feel the significance of it. After the first rehearsel(which Ted Kennedy and family attended) we understood. Mr Bernstein was a marvel.He had so much energy and somehow knew exactly how things should be. The work itself is a grand scheme.With pit orchestra, stage brass,woodwinds,and rock bands, mixed choir,boy choir,street singers and the Alvin Ailey dancers; the stage logistics were enormous.Then there is the music: starting with quad tape in a kind of serial vocal colage' going straight into a "simple" folk tune. Musical genres of every kind follow;folk,scat,blues,12 tone,plain chant. Only a master of composition on the order of Bernstein could/would attempt such a thing. The storyline of wrestling with faith is a powerful and relational experience. Everyone goes through it(for most of our lives). We all finally come to the point where we have to talk to god with a "secret song". Bernstein knew these issues of faith all too well.And so do you. Being a oringinal cast member, I disqualify myself as a reviewer. Needless to say it was the greatest experience of my life. It changed my life the way few pieces can.