Mass for the Brokenhearted - Agnus Dei

Covenant College sophomore Justin Johns directs a short mass (which he also composed) at the Southeastern Composers League Forum, held at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga on Sunday the 17th of February.

"Mass for the Brokenhearted" began as a failed attempt to write a piece for women's choir in high school for a scholarship, and themes from this attempt have survived both in the Gloria and Sanctus movements. It is a traditional mass in the sense that the text and forms follows that of a "Missa Brevis", or "Short Mass". However, since this is the "Mass for the Brokenhearted", the general feel is much more somber than a typical mass. Overall, the piece tells a story of brokenness, repentance, and forgiveness. The Kyrie begins with a feeling of a wail, which is followed by the deeply contemplative Gloria movement. The flute heard in this movement, which is the only accompaniment in the whole piece, is dedicated to the composer's younger sister who plays the flute. The piece reaches the height of sorrow in the Benedictus, after which the Agnus Dei finally gives the warmth of forgiveness that comes after brokenness.

TEXT and TRANSLATION:
Agnus Dei, qui tolis pecata mundi, miserere nobis. Agnus Dei, qui tolis pecata mundi, donna nobis pacem.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, grant us peace.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• student
• composition
• latin
• short
• mass
• for
• the
• brokenhearted
• missa
• brevis
• agnus
• dei
• covenant
• college
• cappella
• acappella

[DelendaEstCarthago1]

Not bad, there. Keep it up...the Church needs more compositions like this, and composers like you.

Chesterton said: "It is of the new things men tire: of fashions and proposals and improvements and change. It is the old things that startle and intoxicate. It is the old things that are young."

Let us keep the old, beautiful traditions with us as we grow.

[gasness1]

Justin, continue what you are doing. I cannot wait to listen to rest of this mass.